Help me find a QH breeder! (or maybe a Morgan)

[Pocket_Pony]

I’ve found myself with an empty stall . . . what to do, hmmmmmm…:winkgrin:

I grew up riding h/j, eventing, dressage, but lately have become interested in western and so am considering a new breed (until recently with my mustang, I’ve always had TBs).

There are so many QHs out there and so many breeders, I don’t even know how I’d find one that would have what I’d be looking for. I’m not looking to do any serious showing, and like to do a lot of different things: trails, cows, dressage (so maybe some ranch versatility stuff that puts it all together?) - just all-around type stuff. So where would I look? A ranch-type breeding program? What kinds of bloodlines?

I want to stay away from big QH with tiny feet. I also am not interested in horses that are going u/s at 2 years old, which I fear is common (correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think I am).

I’m also considering Morgans and have found a couple breeders, but would welcome suggestions there also.

[Louise]

Quarterhorses are great! Morgans are wonderful. And, I happen to be partial to Lippitts, the old style Morgan. Here’s a site that may help you find one. http://www.lippittclub.net/

[bugsynskeeter]

Look up Oasis Ranch on Facebook. They are located in Northern CA.

[ladyj79]

From a serious quarter horse breeder of performance or working horses, you are pretty much looking at horses that have been started under saddle as two year olds, unless you want to buy younger. Many won’t have had heavy work, unless they were headed to futurities though. I have personally never had any soundness issues related to this practice, but certainly have seen plenty of soundness issues in the halter bred horses, many of whom aren’t/weren’t under saddle. Those are the small feet/heavily muscled lines you should probably avoid.

Morgans are lovely.

That said, get a welsh cob

[quietann]

Here is a link to breeders of “working Western” Morgans. Several are located in California, and it’s a small enough world that even if someone doesn’t have a horse for you, they might know someone else who does.

http://www.morganhorse.com/programs/ranchhorse/

Morgans may be a bit more pricey than QHs, simply because there are not so many of them.

[ewells]

I 3rd the Morgan idea look for old style it’s out there. Amazing soundness / feet and will be all around horse your looking for.

[GAEventer]

Of the two, I’d choose a Morgan, I think you’d find more versatility to various disciplines than you might with a Quarter Horse. I also think it’s going to be difficult to find a well bred performance QH that hasn’t been started at 2.

Might also suggest looking into Connemara ponies. They’re not thought of as a breed for ‘western’ disciplines per say, but I do know that the ones that have been asked to try herding cattle, team penning, western trail, etc, have done very well at it. They do have talent for dressage and can certainly jump if you had the desire to. You’d get the same sturdy, versatile mount with excellent feet, soundness and a good brain. There are some breeders on the West Coast (although many more on the East).

[keepjumping]

I have two Morgans and absolutely LOVE them, hands down my favorite horses I have had! I show hunter/jumper and lots of pretty intensive trail riding and can’t say enough good things about them. The parents of my horses came from Marana Farms in Alberta, http://www.maranafarms.com/.

I have seen a couple breeders while browsing the Internet that had some gorgeous Morgans with similar bloodlines or similar type to my horses, I haven’t dealt with any of them personally, but saved the websites in case I am in the market for another horse.

http://www.rafterbardmorgans.com/
http://www.emrmorgans.com/

[Pocket_Pony]

Thanks for those links! Just got back from a trail ride with my two friends - one on her QH and the other on her Morgan. Love both of the horses. The Morgan is 21 years old, still spunky and going strong. If I didn’t know it, I’d have thought he was 8 or so. Gorgeous horse.

[rizzodm]

My dressage trainer is friends with a roper who loans her QH’s for her lesson program on occasion. She uses them for the newbies who come to the ranch. These horses will go all day and tolerate anything. There is one there right now that I love to ride because he will do anything without questioning me. I’ll ride him all week and then he will go do some roping on the weekend and come back and do some dressage. Very cool horse!

[titan]

Look up Spooks Gotta Whiz on Facebook. Her farm Hunter Equestrian Center is in CA and she was a H/J rider so knows what a good sport horse is.

[ehwaz]

Sent you a pm

[chestnuthunter]

QHs are awesome! Just stay far, far away from the halter and western pleasure bloodlines. That’s where you usually see the big bodies, tiny feet, OCD, navicular, etc.

Look for a good all-around QH that could go back and forth between disciplines. My QH was a reining cow horse for a long time, but in the past few years I’ve done all sorts of things with him. Dressage, hunters, jumpers, you name it. A horse like that might not be found at a breeder’s, so keep your eyes open.

As for the being started at 2 thing, usually it’s not an issue. QH people and WB people have very different opinions on that, but it is what it is.

[Fancy_That]

Hey PoPo - you already know my sentiments about Morgans And BTW, my Morgan just ROCKED IT at Twin Rivers last weekend…she was simply an angel and we had a blast!

I know you’ve been talking to Jo Johnson There are lots of great Morgan Breeders out west, and plenty from private sellers. JOin the Morgans For Sale FB page too There’s a drop dead gorgeous Lippitt Morgan mare for sale here locally in the Bay Area that I’d get in a heartbeat. She’s big for a Lippitt…I think like 15.2? Maybe 15.1. Liver chestnut and super typey with a really good horsemanship foundation/training put on her.

Here she is:
https://www.facebook.com/LippittClubMorganHorse/posts/666223926747457?stream_ref=10

[Beentheredonethat]

Well, just cuz I troll craigslist and see them, might want to look at these:
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/grd/4481086533.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/grd/4461285749.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/grd/4483985858.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/grd/4470742275.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/4481958486.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/grd/4481101995.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/grd/4479936292.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/grd/4477763040.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/grd/4468122170.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/4483212284.html

http://modesto.craigslist.org/grd/4485996612.html

[Fancy_That]

Also try Merriewold Morgans (near San Luis Obispo) Just saw a nice 3 year old buckskin by MEMC Tequila Cuervo (15.3 hands) posted on facebook.

Jo at JAF Morgans just posted a lovely coming 4 year old Morgan on facebook, too! Dark burgundy chestnut with flame mane and tail. Best foundation you could ask for with her training

[Pocket_Pony]

Why are there so many mares for sale right now!!! It seems every horse I think “oh, maybe…” is a mare! I have nothing against mares per se, but I just don’t think it would be a good idea with Mac because he gets attached and it would just cause too much drama at my barn. GAH!