Which horse breed should I think getting?

Question

Ok I'm looking for something that has a lot of endurance and doesn't need a lot of upkeep. I would like it to be small so it can get easily through my thick woods, but size isn't really a factor. It also needs a sweet obeying disposition and can't be very scittish or shy. I was also thinking of something good with cattle, dogs and possibly cats. I'm not thinking about getting a horse until I move out next year and get a good paying job so you don't have to answer back real soon because it'll be a while before i acually go out and buy one.

Answer 1

If you want something with a lot of endurance, the best choice is an Arabian since that's what they were bred for. They are also smaller horses that would easily navigate through thick woods. Arabians have PERSONALITY and some can be a bit high strung, but you should always judge the horse as an individual, don't base your decision on breed alone. Most Arabians I have known are gentle and very affectionate, they love people. Quarter Horses are another good choice, they are generally easy keepers and are GREAT trail horses. Shop around and find a horse that suits your needs and matches your personality, no matter what breed it is. Good luck.

Answer 2

I would suggest a small quarter horse. They are by far the best horses for begginers. And since you are a begginer I would suggest that before you buy one take lessons from an accredited trainer. That alone will tell if having a horse is the best choice for you. The last thing you want to do is buy a horse and find out that they're too much of a hassle to take care of. You could also look into the option of leasing. You would basicly rent the horse from the owner for a year and that would give you an even better idea of if this is for you or not. As for an arabian, I've found them to be hot headed and hard keepers so I would stay away from them.

Answer 3

We have 6 horses. But then again we can afford them as well as their upkeep. We have 2 arabians, 1 quarterhorse {which was used about 3 yrs as a cutting horse, hes a joy to ride as long as your experianced} we also have one Paint {black and white} ,Tennessee Walker, and a Belgian draft horse. I would recommended the tennessee walker though they can be expensive mine is as gentle as they come as well as a quarterhorse. However If your looking for an animal that doesnt require alot of upkeep find another breed a horse isnt for you. Any horse can be scittish, shy, or have a good disposition just depends on the horse. In fact my daughter who is handicapped rides our male arabian 2-3 times a week but I'd never put her on the female she's a "B****" when it comes to little kids.

Maybe you should just go to a local stable and rent a horse when you want to ride would be alot cheaper and they do the upkeep. Also if you MUST have your own horse go for an older horse that has been riden by children they are usually the most gentle, atleast from my understanding and make sure you dont come across one that is barnsour! Had that experiance amusing looking back, annoying at the time. And just like a car, take it for a test ride and if they wont let you ride it for more then 5-10 minutes do NOT buy it in general you can not always tell how good of an animal you are getting w just a 10 minute ride. I always ride mine atleast 30 minutes and not just in a small inclosed area prior to purchase. In fact when I bought my walker the breeder let me ride him as long as I wanted on trails out on his ranch. Even told me that if I wanted he'd take them down to a local horse trail and let me ride him around other horses so I knew his true disposition.He's really a joy and beautiful and I hope to get another one, but not anytime soon, like I said rather expensive

Only horse I want but do not own is a buckskin, and they are few and far between

Answer 4

To the first person who answered and said horses are usually shy and skittish....... I'm not sure how you can say that if you actually have a horse! Each horse has its own personality, and yes some are shy, but some are clowns too! As far as the rest goes, a horse in general needs upkeep, just like any other pet.. like mucking the stall, feeding, etc...... really think about it~ when it;s cold outside do you really want to be outside caring for a horse? Carrying the water outside (if you don't have another source of H2O for your horse) because the water they have is frozen? As far as size and endurance, an Arab is a great choice... and a Shagya Arab is great for endurance! If you decide you really want a horse though, spend some time really looking hard at your prospective horses, and take someone who knows a lot about horses (and preferably someone who has bought horses before so they know what to look for) and don't worry.... if you have a hard time picking our your right horse, the right horse will pick you out!

Answer 5

A good endurance horse would be an Arabian. They can pack you around for a long time without water and little rest. An older Arabian, say 15-20, would be better for you if you want something with little up keep and a sweet disposition. That all really depends on the horse, though. Look around on different websites for horses and search using your requests. Some good horse websites are bayequest.com and dreamhorse.com

Answer 6

First off, keep in mind that while some horses are easier keepers than others and require less work, every horse needs a LOT of upkeep. Horses require feeding at least twice a day, making sure they have water, they are up to date on farrier care and deworming, blanketing them in the winter, mucking their stalls/paddocks, grooming, and keeping up their paddock/barn area. If you're looking for something easy to keep in the sense that a dog or cat is easy to keep, you won't find a horse like that.

Also, it is important to have experience with horses and riding before you buy your own. Spend the time until you get your own horse taking lessons from an experienced rider with lots of knowledge about keeping horses. Buying a horse is expensive, and you want to be sure that you really do want to continue riding and that you can care for it in such a way as to keep it healthy for the entire time you have it. Unless you have the knowledge you need, you're likely to harm yourself and your horse between riding and caring for it. An experienced horseperson can teach you how to ride correctly and how to care for your horse. You'll also want them to help you pick out a horse when the time comes, as they will be able to spot behavior problems and things like lameness that a newer horseperson might miss.

When in comes to horse breeds, there are some generalizations that can be made about breeds, but horses - like humans - have individual personalities and builds so that two horses of the same breed may be very, very different from each other. Thoroughbreds and Arabs are generalized as "hot" breeds - breeds that are more skittish, have more energy, and are more difficult to handle. In general, they are not the best breeds for beginners. Quarter horses or drafty breeds tend to be at the other end of the spectrum: they are generally fairly calm and steady, and not terribly spooky. Within each breed, however, it is very possible to find a range of horses - some which are very calm, and some which are very skittish. For this reason, it isn't necessarily a good idea to be totally closed-minded towards any breed as you are looking for a horse. Older horses will usually be calmer and better trained than younger horses, which is why a newer rider should usually look for an older horse with lots of experience (probably at least ten years old, but that isn't a solid rule. Just keep in mind that a three or four year old horse will probably not have the training necessary to safely carry a newer rider).

For endurance and trail riding, arabians are often good choices, since they are bred to have a lot of stamina. However, because arabians have a tendency to be more skittish, another breed or a part-arabian horse may be a nice choice. My horse, for example, is an arabian/quarter horse cross. Because of this she has the stamina of the arabian, but isn't as skittish as some arabians are. The best thing to do, though, is to get a professional to learn to ride from, and have them help you choose a horse that is suitable for your riding ability and needs. Good luck!

Answer 7

I have owned both Arabians and Mustangs they both have the endurance and stamina to do what you want. As far as upkeep all animals need to be taken care of and they all reqire time and money as far as the first person she may own a horse but she is against everything heck she is probably against dogs and cats too. HA HA Hope this helps and make sure to research the horse before you buy.

Answer 8

I would get a Quarter Horse. They're sturdy, come in varried sizes, are great workers and companions, and have a wonderful disposition. Arabians are known for their endurance, but you have to be careful with them. I've worked with them, and they are great horses. But, they are not known for being calm and level headed, and they don't always have a sweet obaying disposition. You can find a wonderful Arabian that is erfect for you, but I think that a QH would be easier to find and not cost quite as much.

Answer 9

Try to find an arabian stock cross. Quarab, Pintabian, or Arappaloosa I think would be the best bet. You'd get the endurance and heart of the arab and the gentle, strong willingness for the stock breed. The stock would also calm the arab down a bit. Also the stock would bring in the cowiness you are looking for.

Answer 10

Arabians are nice horses and are pretty tough. I've never owned one but every stable I've been at has had plenty of em'. I've always had quarter horses (good for beginners) and thoroughbreds. We just got our first Appendix horse about a year ago. (Appendix horses are half quarter horse and half thoroughbred). And he has both qualities of both breeds. He's awesome for beginners & kids and has the stamina of the thoroughbreds. Different breeds have different traits and qualities but it also depends on who raised them and trained them. I've seen a Missouri Fox Trotter on a farm herding cattle and that would have been one of the last horses I'd thought to see doing that.

A good place to check around in your area are local stables so you can see the different horses.