This may sound strange, but do any of you have ranch-type or western horses that also jump? I love the idea of getting a real nice QH (or other breed) that is super sane and has the experience of trail riding, cow work, etc., but that I can also teach to jump for some fun. I know a lot depends on conformation, but has anyone done this?
I’ve had a lot of ranch bred QH and APHA in H/J training with me. Some of them were FABULOUS at jumping. I’ll attach some pics.
Cutting bred
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/6090_1178807199100_1495740009_30500523_2891129_n.jpg
All-around APHA bred
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/5890_1208922591966_1495740009_30611539_7116342_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/180166_1840418338965_1495740009_32134667_6365729_n.jpg
WP bred (the palo/paint was started WP)
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/2562_1097698051422_1495740009_30299958_2966576_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/182836_1840420899029_1495740009_32134680_1540011_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/31746_1473002673803_1495740009_31280286_6625065_n.jpg
Dani, that little cutting-bred is adorable!! 
My appaloosa QH was great at clearing fallen trees and ditches. I always said he would have been a great hunter jumper. Many of the Appendix bred quarter horses (thoroughbred in the blood lines) make great jumpers.
My hubby’s foundation bred paint has a lovely round jump, is very careful, and tucks her knees up so cute. We haven’t done any jumping training with her, just hopping over logs and ditches on the trail, but she has natural style for sure. She seems to enjoy it too. I think I’m going to get another one like her for my next horse. 
Thanks, all. And dani, thanks for the cute pics! We’re any of the horses started as ranch/western horses?
This 15.2 hand quarter horse, King Ranch/ Skipper W breeding, foxhunted for 20 years after showing western pleasure ages 2-6 (shown here competing in a pair race, he did beat tb’s over 4 mile courses at that, yes they were faster in the open, but he could pole bend in the woods!):
http://api.ning.com/files/TXfxeUQfNnSzlU1Ehi3ADWHg6x60U*TfJJiMjYwpiJU_/bev11.jpg
This grandson of Leo packed my son around, and I whipped in off of him (don’t seem to have any jumping pics handy, but he won the novice at the only event I ever entered him in, in 1997, when he was 16)
http://api.ning.com/files/TXfxeUQfNnTj-HdTp49OkBM75v6g1K*ePCpmByOE2Zw_/bev10.jpg
This fellow, by Pawnee Eagle out of my grade mare (I knew her bloodlines at one time but can’t recall now!), I hunted in the field, whipping in, jumped him 4’6" one day just for grins, and he once took a journalist foxhunting- in the hilltopping field. Said journalist had never ridden a horse before.
http://api.ning.com/files/TXfxeUQfNnRK-9blvi8GlE23Bbxyf9eRNRHhAhgeN60_/bev9.jpg
So, to answer your question…Yes!
Right now I have an appendix that I have NOT schooled over fences owing to some conformation issues that wouldn’t hold up to a lot of jumping. But my little quarter horse mare, cutting horse lines, I have played with enough to know she’d be just as fine as the above over fences!
Great pics, Beverly. Thanks for sharing. I think I will look for a horse that does ranch-type work and train it to jump. But I like the idea of having a horse that has been working “out in the field” and is sane and quiet. I don’t like some of those h/j horses that get all uptight if you leave the arena. :). I want to enjoy a trail ride without worrying about a spooky horse.
The only one of mine who was not started and worked western first was the little grey. He was afraid of cows so they sold him as a yearling as a hunter prospect.
[QUOTE=dani0303;6315766]
WP bred (the palo/paint was started WP)
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/2562_1097698051422_1495740009_30299958_2966576_n.jpg
Umm…I am in love!!!
My gelding is a halter bred APHA gelding. He isn’t exceptional at any one thing, but is pretty good at a lot of things!
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2384656880043029495eEMRiV
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2785124360043029495lrTBFo
Thanks, overohunter. Very nice. That’s sort of what I want, jack of all trades, but need not be master of any one. :). Sane is key.
[QUOTE=ParadoxFarm;6317064]
Thanks, overohunter. Very nice. That’s sort of what I want, jack of all trades, but need not be master of any one. :). Sane is key.[/QUOTE]
That definitely describes my guy. He does great at the local shows, teaches kids to ride, and is a lot of fun for me to ride!
Count me in with an honest to gosh ex-ranch horse who jumps like a fool! She’s very little but easily flies over 3ft jumps and loves it.
I think lots of western horses like to jump and do so fairly well, even if not quite in the form of pro hunter/jumpers! :winkgrin:
I have jumped a few money earning NRHA reiners and they did quite well.
A friend took a former western (reining built type, short, squat and a tank type of horse) and put her under saddle english and she did well jumping and seemed to enjoy it. She was quite athletic, so I don’t think what tack she had on mattered.
Sounds promising. And as far as jumping, I typically do jumpers as opposed to hunters so form is not a huge criteria if they can still jump athletically. And I only do local shows. Nothing big time. Too expensive for me. 
Thanks, all!
I’m not sure about my horse’s past (picked him up from a dealer) but his training points towards a work/ranch bred horse. He’s solid, sturdy, and is 100% comfortable out of the arena.
He really can do anything. We’ve jumped 3 ft courses, done dressage, gone XC, trails, gaming, cattle, western pleasure, jumpers, hunters, eq. The only thing we haven’t done is gone foxhunting, and that is because mr spazzy thinks he needs to buck, rear, twist, etc, when galloping in a group.
O’lenas can
I’ve had 3
2 geldings both grandsons on Smart Chic Olena-1 [15 hds] is going Prelim Eventing this yr @ age 8 the other 13 yrs [14.3 hds] belongs to an amatuer family and jack of all trades. I competed him to 3’6.
Currently riding a daughter of, 15 hd 10 yr old mare Evented to training switched last yr to 4’ jumpers.
DD has an 11 yr old, Great-Gdaughter of Doc O’Leana and Peppy San Badger, Grand Daughter of Smart Little Lena and Daughter of Smart Like Juice. Definitely cutting/reining bred she won money as a reiner. Has jumped 3’ w/DD, is a training level dressage champion and got a 65 on her first 1st level test. Last year won 3rd at her first 3 day.
All your horses sound great. Any more pictures anyone would care to post? Doesn’t have to be jump pics.
