I have ridden horses for many years and competed mostly in dressage. I used to trail ride and drive too. My horse died in the spring after owning her for 23 years. I am just starting to think about buying another horse. My horse was an Arab/Trakehner cross and she did very well in dressage, but she was always hot on trails. Now that I am getting older, I'd like to get a quieter horse.
I plan on doing mostly trail riding, and maybe working up to endurance or competitive trail (neither of which I know much about). I have only ridden a TWH a couple of times, and it seemed like I would need to learn to ride all over again to ride a gaited horse correctly . So I've been thinking I should get something like a quarter horse, because they tend to be quieter than Arabs. Looking on the internet though, it didn't seem that quarter horses are usually suited for endurance.
I have been enjoying looking at ads for horses for sale, but now I need to narrow down what I am looking for. Disposition is most important to me. I had a bad fall many years ago when my friend's horse bolted and I was dragged. I refused to stop riding, but it took me 10 years of riding 4-5 times a week before I wouldn't tense up every time a horse made a sudden move at a canter. I have improved a great deal, but some of that fear is still there. So I don't want a spooky horse. But after riding dressage for so many years, I still want a horse that will move along at a good clip. I know very little about endurance or competitive trail, but they interest me and I would like to have that option available with my new horse. I am competitive, so my goal would be to finish well if I do end up competing.
So . . . what breeds tend to do well in endurance and competitive trail? Are their specific traits or conformation I should look for when buying a horse for endurance or competitive trail? How about age? How old should a horse be to start training, and how old is too old?
Thank you!
Mary
I plan on doing mostly trail riding, and maybe working up to endurance or competitive trail (neither of which I know much about). I have only ridden a TWH a couple of times, and it seemed like I would need to learn to ride all over again to ride a gaited horse correctly . So I've been thinking I should get something like a quarter horse, because they tend to be quieter than Arabs. Looking on the internet though, it didn't seem that quarter horses are usually suited for endurance.
I have been enjoying looking at ads for horses for sale, but now I need to narrow down what I am looking for. Disposition is most important to me. I had a bad fall many years ago when my friend's horse bolted and I was dragged. I refused to stop riding, but it took me 10 years of riding 4-5 times a week before I wouldn't tense up every time a horse made a sudden move at a canter. I have improved a great deal, but some of that fear is still there. So I don't want a spooky horse. But after riding dressage for so many years, I still want a horse that will move along at a good clip. I know very little about endurance or competitive trail, but they interest me and I would like to have that option available with my new horse. I am competitive, so my goal would be to finish well if I do end up competing.
So . . . what breeds tend to do well in endurance and competitive trail? Are their specific traits or conformation I should look for when buying a horse for endurance or competitive trail? How about age? How old should a horse be to start training, and how old is too old?
Thank you!
Mary