Breed Ideas & Info

[SoCalGal]

TWH’s are lovely animals and I have quite a few friends who own and love them. However I don’t like their look or the gait…just a personal preference thing.

As far as Khemo Arabs, they seem to fall into two distinct categories: the workhorse (there are tons of cutting/reining horses from this bloodline) and the nutball, LOL! I’ve known several of each…probably has a LOT to do with the bloodline they are crossed on, I am sure!

I don’t want hot as in, wanting to bolt, shy or run away…but I do want some forward and go…nothing worse than a sullen horse who needs tons of leg to move forward

I have never really been around MFT’s, people do seem to love them…

[cb06]

It will probably just come down to the individual horse and what is available in your area (So. Cal?), if you don’t want to travel far. You’ve already had some great suggestions, maybe start perusing ads in your area and see what’s out there?
This may help narrow down your preferences…

Do you want a breeds that is strongly gaited (less tendency to trot)…how ‘stout’ would you want them to be?..TWH, MFT tend toward the broader end…Rocky Mountain in the middle, Paso’s tend to be finer boned…and lots of grade gaited horses all over the map.

Do you want both a solid but smooth trot and ALSO a smoother ‘gait’? Some saddlebreds and some grade gaited horses might fit that bill…if you can find them…

…or just a smooth trotting horse? Saddlebreds, Arabs, Morgans, crosses… can all be in this category depending on the individual.

Any of these can be nice, sane, safe trail horses…

Here is a nice looking possibility…
http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-316049

…and a cute ‘5 speed’ that is at the same barn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxt53eTOr4U

[SoCalGal]

I’d be curious about any gaited breed…and people’s experiences with them…with the exception of the TWH.

I am pretty sure right now that a trotting breed is really “out” for the next year or so even though it seems so odd to me to even say that! I just don’t think it’s best for my hip and all the muscles that got strained/atrophied, and we’ll be working on that probably for another year.

[AlfalfaGirl]

So sorry you got hurt. OMG that must have been painful…what a pita pony!!! My friend and barn manager has 2 little Halflingers and they are precious - she really doesn’t ride them…she bought them to drive.

She also owns an Arabian mare (she manages the barn full of Arabians) that is super athletic but can sometimes be a little spooky. She trained the young mares there and they are wonderfully calm - they are good on the trails. I ride with people that are riding QH’s (I have two really gentle sweet QH’s), Arabians, Rockies, Paints, Tennessee Walkers, a half Morgan half Friesan, and my cousin rides a half Arab half Quarter horse. All of us would snap up Dan the Rocky Mountain Horse in a heart beat. He is a wonderful trail horse. His owner is a 13 year old little girl that I have said I would adopt along with both her parents to get the horse! My friend’s Tennessee Walker is a darling boy.

My own dream horse is a Rocky Mountain followed by a Missouri Fox Trotter. Don’t know if that will ever happen but I think it depends on the horse! Ride different breeds and see which is most comfortable. Even though TW are supposed to be Cadillac’s my friend’s boy can be pretty rough to ride. My husband’s little QH has the smoothest little trot and canter that I have ever seen! Ride quiet a few to see which one your hip loves the most!

Can’t wait to see what you get (oh…and I love my Aussie Saddle - it is good on my old beat up bones!)

[cb06]

Sounds like you are leaning towards something like a MFT or RMH…both nice gaited alternatives to a TWH. I’ve ridden a MFT, very smooth but still forward…been around several RMH, sweet, laid-back personalities. My experience with Paso’s are they were extremely smooth, but tended to be a little hotter and smaller/finer…though I would not rule them out as I’m sure there are individuals that may fit your needs. Then there are always grade gaited horses (Heinz 57s that can be nice. Good luck with your search, looking forward to seeing what you find!

ETA - You may also try looking into SSHs (spotted saddle horses), though they are similar to TWHs.

[Halcyon_Days]

The different gaits and breeds will affect your hip in different ways, you will need to ride a lot of individuals within the breeds to get an idea of what works for you. Some people love the MFT, while others don’t like the “pop” of the hocks breaking and prefer the push/glide of the TWH, while others say it makes their backs hurt from the swing. Definitely don’t rule out the TWH, each one feels different, just stay away from the real loose moving show bred wash outs, since they will be on the pacey end, it’s a great breed, and you’d be selling yourself short by not at least looking at some. I LOVE my McCurdy Plantation horse mares, tough, smart, lots of personality and a great gait, easily cruising through 50 mile endurance rides, and great mountain/trail horses as well. Paso Fino friends adore their little horses, some are smooth, some not so much, your hip will have to tell you what it thinks. I know way too many Peruvian owners who are heart broken and lost their precious, beloved horses to DSLD to recommend that breed. The Icelandics are a kick, great minds, and the ones that do gait are just adoreable, some just trot though. Happy shopping! Keep an open mind and look at the individuals–you want a gaited horse that GAITS, and it’s suprising how many don’t, I’m not big into excuses either, if the owner can’t make the horse gait, and it won’t gait for you, just pass, there’s plenty of good, naturally gaited horses out there

[ridingagain]

Connemaras? They seem to be sane, sturdy, smart and good for just about anything… and easy keepers!

[jeano]

[QUOTE=Halcyon Days;5269648]
The different gaits and breeds will affect your hip in different ways, you will need to ride a lot of individuals within the breeds to get an idea of what works for you. Some people love the MFT, while others don’t like the “pop” of the hocks breaking and prefer the push/glide of the TWH, while others say it makes their backs hurt from the swing. Definitely don’t rule out the TWH, each one feels different, just stay away from the real loose moving show bred wash outs, since they will be on the pacey end, it’s a great breed, and you’d be selling yourself short by not at least looking at some. I LOVE my McCurdy Plantation horse mares, tough, smart, lots of personality and a great gait, easily cruising through 50 mile endurance rides, and great mountain/trail horses as well. Paso Fino friends adore their little horses, some are smooth, some not so much, your hip will have to tell you what it thinks. I know way too many Peruvian owners who are heart broken and lost their precious, beloved horses to DSLD to recommend that breed. The Icelandics are a kick, great minds, and the ones that do gait are just adoreable, some just trot though. Happy shopping! Keep an open mind and look at the individuals–you want a gaited horse that GAITS, and it’s suprising how many don’t, I’m not big into excuses either, if the owner can’t make the horse gait, and it won’t gait for you, just pass, there’s plenty of good, naturally gaited horses out there[/QUOTE]

Both of my gaited horses trot–the racker has a wonderful, smooth, sittable trot but only rarely trots under saddle, and the walker has a boneshaking miserable trot at times but also does a dressagey kind of sitting trot when he’s feeling especially pleased with himself–I am no great shakes as a rider, and cant get either horse to trot the way I want, when I want, with any consistency. I rode the walker for OVER TWO YEARS before he started delivering the running walk reliably.

I’ve always thought he would make a dandy endurance horse if my own body could tolerate high mileage and a lot of trotting. As it is, I tend to ride the racking horse when the orthopedic issues are bothering me, and the walker when I want to cover some ground and my joints feel good. I have also noticed that whatever kinks get put in my back by one horse get massaged out by the other one. They both do a running walk but the feel is different, mostly, I think, from the walker being very narrow while the racker is quite wide and round barreled. Talk about stretching the hip joint!

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=howardh;5267342]
This is a request from a friend that will fit in nicely here. I know someone looking for a Saddlebred. Apparently you can find breeders that do not necessarily breed for show, but produce the all around family horse from long ago. I suppose like the foundation quarter horse…

Can anyone point us in a direction to find any of these breeders?

We are northerners and all our Saddlebred barns are big time show only…[/QUOTE]

What area of the “north” are you in?

And yes, Saddlebred Rescue has plenty of nice broke trail horses retired from Amish life.

[Ridge_Runner]

I did not read all the posts but consider Spanish Mustangs or another landrace within the Colonial Spanish horse family. Many are gaited…not all…most are a smooth ride, smaller in stature, tough, and smart…just great using horses and wonderful on trails. Some of the Spanish Mustangs have also done very well in endurance.

[SoCalGal]

In my lifetime of horses, I’ve owned and trained QH, mustangs, Spanish mustangs, Morgans, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and a Paint.

There are varying degrees of disposition and comfort with each of course!

My issue with the hip isn’t so much that the movement of the hip is troublesome, but that the rehab of the muscles and joints is so significant that after I post, I have severe pain. It puts so much tension on the structures that were injured during the fall and later atrophied during my time on crutches. Additionally I had to have abdominal surgery last week, which will heal in about 5 more weeks but…all that to say, I just want COMFORT without the need to post or strain on trail

So, anything that doesn’t entail posting is great.

I am curious about the MFT, as they’re not common here, and would love to try one out, now how to do that? I have also never tried a Rocky but think they’re darling, I have not tried a Fino but DO have a farm lined up to do so…I adored the Peruvians but have since learned enough and heard enough bad press about soundness to avoid them, as delightful as they are.

As for the TWH, I just don’t like their looks or gait much…for me personally. I have friends who love them and I know generally they are lovely, just not my taste.

Saddlebreds, I do have quite a bit of experience with and they are not gaited (except the show gaits) and often are very flighty. They can be prone to soundness issues and are really not known as surefooted trail mounts although, I am sure that they do exist within the breed.

I definitely need a horse with papers because at such time that my right leg no longer gives me trouble, I may want to resell and go back to a trotting horse…I don’t know but I need to keep that option open

[rainechyldes]

my dad owned a MFT way back when I was a younglin. so - I don’t remember much about her gaits, but she was gaited and had an incredibly fast walk. She was also fairly hot, but the good type of hot as in she wanted to work, - not act stupid. Back then my father was a very beginner type rider, and she and him always managed to come home so… sorry not much help other than that on that breed

[tabula_rashah]

If you are looking for a lot of bold go you could also look at a gaited Morgan

[SoCalGal]

Gaited Morgan? What on earth is that? I once had a Morgan whose canter was awful and she vastly preferred trotting to cantering…is that a gaited Morgan?

[candyappy]

I have lived in Missouri on and off for the last 20 years. I had a friend who had several MFT horses. She just liked to get on and go with the group . No training or other riding for her in between, and she was well taken care of. They are also popular in the magazine " The Trail Rider" that i get and you should be able to find breeders and info on their website also. you might also look into a cross breed like walkaloosa that will give you gaits and also some fancy color!!

[Ridge_Runner]

Spanish Mustangs (real ones anyway) do have papers and have a registry that is now over 50 years old. Finding gaited ones is a bit harder but they are out there. They are a rare breed however and not as available as something more popular. I just thought I’d mention them as you said you were over hot blooded high strung horses.

I’d really be cautious on Morgans also. The breed is known for being forward and active…while not hot necessarily…that might not be the sort of horse you are seeking.

[tabula_rashah]

[QUOTE=SoCalGal;5270490]
Gaited Morgan? What on earth is that? I once had a Morgan whose canter was awful and she vastly preferred trotting to cantering…is that a gaited Morgan?[/QUOTE]

Here is a link to the Morgan Single Footing Horse Association. Morgans in general are super-tough smaller horses with a total can-do attitude. They are not for everyone though as someone easily intimidated would probably not be a good match for them. I personally call my one Morgan mare the energizer bunny on crack- she can cover some miles! She’s not gaited, but she is the smoothest horse I’ve ever ridden

[NortheastSHG]

I second the recommendation to consider a Shagya Arabian. I discovered the breed about 10+ years ago when I was searching for a sane, sound, people oriented, relatively attractive, sporthorse that I could potentially ride or drive - that also had to have good enough character to enjoy for pleasure if and when not competing.

Here are some links (in no particular order) of USA websites which have more info about the breed.

http://www.shagya.net/
http://www.performanceshagyaregistry.org/
http://shagyaregistry.com/

Good luck in your search. Whatever the result - I hope it turns out to be as much fun & successful as mine.

[SoCalGal]

Definitely whatever I get has to have good resale value as I don’t know how long I will be riding a gaited horse. Perhaps I’ll fall in love and it could be forever! Or, I could get my leg back totally and want to jump again who knows

Do the MFT’s do that head bob? That was something about the TWH I did not like. Again it’s all personal preference…all my life being someone who rode trotting horses, the head bob is a sign of lameness, LOL. Now, I KNOW it is not a sign of lameness in the TWH it’s just that mental thing like “Uh-oh, bobbing head!”

[ambar]

I grew up with Paso Finos, and I love Arabs, and I think you’d do well to check out a Paso. Sounds like you’ll want the more round-barrelled type, but they’re sturdy and just a joy to live with.