I’m on my 3rd Dutch Warmblood. Each.and.every.one has had the best mind ever and 2 of the 3 have been super comfy and easy to ride in that they would happily dial down to where I was. They are all individuals but I’d buy another with Anrijetto/Afrikaner breeding any day of the week.
It really depends on the type of rider but an Iberian horse may fit. They (if trained correctly) are typically light, easy to sit, sensible, and good all arounders. They can be sensitive, but not stupid. I have a particular PRE gelding that is as spooky as the day is long, but he’d never leave you in the weeds. I think he will be less weird/sensitive once he matures with age. These horses are also smart and incredibly creative, so you have to be able to train and enjoy that trait too.
If I wanted something a little more mellow I’d opt for a sporty Quarter Horse. However, you never know what you might find, even in a breed that may not be at the top of your list.
I’ve actually come across some very comfortable Arabians that performed well in the sand box and also were great on hacks.
It has already been stated here, but with a must-have list like that, don’t count out some of the more uncommon breeds or crosses and even grade horses.
Has she thought about gaited horses? I bought my QH mare from a super sweet lady in her mid-70s that just couldn’t handle her choppy trot any more. She got herself a TWH and never looked back. Seems like the TWH mare she found fit your unicorn list.
Fjords are also super nice and do pretty well in the dressage arena…
What about a Cheval Canadien? I’ve ridden 4 and they all pretty much tick off all of your friend’s requirements. Some are hotter, but the breed in general is very mellow. With that occasionally comes the need to convince them to work, but in all fairness each of the three were ridden by a number of different riders, some who didn’t demand it. Takes about five minutes for them to recognize that you do, and then they are great.
So many good thoughts here. Thanks to all.
I agree to assess the individual but it doesn’t help to look in the right places. Right off the bat, from your friend’s requirements, I’d look at a QH.
There’s a lot of stereotyping about QHs but believe me there is so much variety in the breed it is quite incredible. The WP horse is just completely different than a ranch horse, same goes for the racing QHs, etc.
We have two of exact horses your friend is looking for… One is a QH and the other is a TB. Neither for sale :lol:
My second suggestion would be to look into the Iberian breeds, or as another poster mentioned, Friesians and Morgans.
The Morgan I ride is lovely and has made a world of difference in building up my confidence.
Depending on the size of your friend, looking into a large pony might be a good idea, especially the broader, draftier pony breeds that tend to be less reactive but more comfortable than a larger draft cross.
Again, I hate to re-state the obvious, though, but temperament can be a very wide spectrum. Right now, I personally know a very hot Quarter Horse and Welsh Cob. The Morgan I lease isn’t hot, but I’ve met some very hot Morgans. It’s important to enter into the search with an open mind.
1 Like
Agree with focusing on the list, not the breed. There are spectrums of temperament in any breed. I’d just mention, since it hasn’t been said yet, to consider Haflingers. Many of the modern types being bred today are suitable for dressage and doing well in competitions. They have famously wonderful personalities – curious, intelligent, friendly – and are wonderful all-purpose horses. We own one who is just SO easy. Healthy, sound, happy to sit, happy to work… just a happy dude.
Glad the OP is finding this useful. I’ll add some perspectives about Andalusians and Lusitanos that I’ve heard from multiple informed FEI trainers about whether the breed is a match for amateurs (and I agree wholeheartedly with their points). For sensitive, quiet amateurs who are unfazed by quick reactions and like sensitivity, these breeds can be a wonderful fit. But they are not necessarily “easy”, even though they can be easy to sit and comfortable. It is challenging from a riding/training perspective to make these horses through and correct, and I know this is not a process that everyone enjoys! Also, they can be too quick/reactive for more fearful or tight riders who prefer a more quiet reaction to life.
Yes, a lot depends on what exact dialing down to a quieter horse means to the rider!
To me it sounds like she wants safety and comfort without compromising entirely on performance, but really what exact balance that turns out to be is very individual to the rider.
I know a number of Iberian and Iberian cross horses and wouldn’t recommend a pure bred for a true adult beginner or re-rider starting over.
I have however now seen two Andy/warmblood crosses work out admirably in that situation, both from a conscientious regional breeder that I would recommend by pm if anyone is interested (bonus Canadian exchange rate)! And I’ve seen some nice Andy/Qh crosses which are quite common on the US West coast.
But if the rider in question is experienced and tactful and has good balance, a full-blooded Iberian horse may be just what she wants.
The gaited horses are an option but will make it harder to do dressage. We don’t have many TW or ASB here but Icelandics are becoming popular with trail riders.
I would also look at ASBs! BTW I do have an EASY to sit WB mare, but not necessarily easy to ride. More of a push ride, but man is she easy to sit!
I also like the Azteca’s very much. An ASB/Arab cross could also be a nice prospect and not break the bank. Just be sure with ANY draft cross, but especially those with Belgium or Perch in them do DNA test for PSSM. Found heavily in these two draft breeds, not in Clydes or Shires (those bred in the UK). My friend bought a Perch/TB and low and behold she is PSSM1. She had no idea about PSSM and drafts.
1 Like
I rode in Austria with a trainer from the Spanish Riding School. For what its worth, he said they are the bounciest horses to sit! They sure didn’t look like it when he was on them, but I’d take his word for it! Notice that there is not a chorus of people sending you toward them…
I think your friend needs to consider horses as individuals rather than stereotyping by breed. It isn’t fair to say that all TB’s are … or all WBs are… On the other hand at 60 perhaps she has just made up her mind. Are all 60 year olds …?
7 Likes
Most comfortable horse I ever rode was a QH x ASB gelding. He got tremendous refinement, great lift in front and incredible intelligence and sensitivity from the ASB and smooth, easy gaits from the QH.
If you’re going to look at a Morgan, I would look at the ranch bred lines, not the saddleseat lines. Living in VT I’ve seen and ridden a LOT of Morgans and while this is still a generalization nonetheless, I have found the traditional action of the Morgan makes it very easy for them to look to be in very nice form without actually having to lift their backs, so many don’t actually give you a nice place to sit and it’s often difficult to get to that just-right place without falling into false collection.
Many Appendix QH are very nice as well - it’s a great combination, I never rode one I didn’t like.
I also love a good Iberian, however good breeders are harder to find in the states and my personal opinion is the quality stock tend to be thinner pickings. I see fewer and fewer of these horses with the breadth to their joints, especially the hocks, and depth of their loin couples that they should have.
Oh boy. I wasn’t going to add to this one because I’m obviously biased;). Also N=1 so your mileage may vary BUT…
Oh heck yeah an Andalusian!! So without contradicting what Scribber and DressageGirl may have experienced with other Andalusians, from this one AA re-rider of a certain age, your friend’s unicorn is a PRE, especially if she can get one from Coves Darden Farm in SC. Built for dressage but sensible AA-friendly brains and manners. Not cheap but I think I got very good value for body (tall but built like a brick sh*thouse), brains (smart enough to learn), temper (but wouldn’t dream of trying to outsmart you), and training already on him. Stacey Hastings was finishing their horses when I bought him and he was light and easy from day 1. And yet, even though Stacey never ever gave him a reason to, he can take a joke. Not that he ignores a bad cue - he tries to give you what you asked for even if it wasn’t what you meant - but its more like “Oh, that bobble wasn’t a weight aid for half pass? Ok lol, did you want something else? No? Ok, we can just trot along NP. LMK if you need anything.”
So you’ve got power steering, great suspension, easy ride, corners great. Acceleration will depend on what your friend wants. Mine goes, but never without my wanting it which is exactly what I am comfortable with. He’s not a push ride like you have to KEEP pushing, he’s a push ride that you have to push the Go button on purpose. Not hot. But sensitive and balanced enough that he moves his own legs forward, carries his own self, moves his own body around, over, whatever. Super light. Rider provides aids, not manpower. Which is probably what your friend at 60 with some wear and tear wants. Also what a sane older rider wants is respect and manners since we don’t recover from getting barged into the way we used to. CD puts manners on them from day one which makes them very pleasant and easy to be around. And yet they are mooshey sweet with lots of personality. And smart enough to know when to keep the personality to themselves - not nuisances.
He’s going barefoot and not taken a NQR step in the 8 months I’ve had him. Not a sniffle. A sarcoid (yay, love those grays) but 1 injection of Immunocidin and he is back to perfect.
I can’t say she’s necessarily going to get a trail broke horse from them since that’s not their market. They get the young horses out, but they aren’t aiming to sell you a trail horse. Are they sane enough to be great at it eventually, I don’t see why not. Mine will startle but he doesn’t go anywhere. He is level headed but he is still 5 and low mileage (they back them late and I don’t think mine got hacked out while he was with Stacey), so no BTDT yet. But I have no doubt we will get there no problem.
Not cheap but good value. His sire and dam were imports but he is home grown, so the genes are there but no money went to import fees. It was for conformation, brains, and training. Highly recommended.
1 Like
Personally I’d probably look at something like a Morgan or maybe a Connemara or GRP in terms of comfort. While I love the Baroque type horses, I find them extremely uncomfortable to ride - they’re absolute murder on my back. You can also find some flashy little QH’s - check out the ranch riding types. They tend to be a little bigger moving and not so downhill. My friend has a ranch/cow bred mare that could easily be mistaken for a GRP. She has lovely gaits and a great temperament in that she’s sensitive but level headed.
1 Like
Just get a Morgan or an ASB. They take care of their people. They have the mind you are looking for and almost all of them are super willing and can make it to third, maybe not with amazing scores but have the brain for it.
I have an adorable welsh x appendix that is a perfect match for the description, also have a 15.2h paint that fits as well. They are def. out there in the non-standard but well moving and comfortable varieties.
I will echo looking at American Saddlebreds. They tend to have the smart, kind, willing, ‘take care of their rider’ temperament and the sporty ones are competitive in dressage. There are several Saddlebred dressage or sporthorse facebook groups that highlight saddlebreds in sporthorse disciplines and also sport types for sale. Some of the ones that come out of the hunter pleasure division can have nice basic w/t/c training and show experience that transitions well to dressage, for very, very reasonable prices (<10K).
Full Saddlebred was 8th in the country in Intermediare I at US Dressage Finals this past year.
Another nice young saddlebred in a Dressage suitability class. They are worth a look and affordable.
[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:"https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/009058817398/media/113778654770/medium/1521467350767/enhance)
1 Like
