horsey suggestion for my man...

alright people, so my man and I both want to get him into riding. He has ridden a quarter horse twice and is actually pretty instinctual with the whole thing. My question is, would you suggest a gaited horse as his first real riding horse (I prefer them because not only is it like riding a cloud but they are mostly all just absolute sweethearts ) or would you all suggest a non gaited horse until he gets his experience with those? I am torn in this decision. Part of me wants to say "gain your experience on a non gaited horse so you know how to ride that first, and then we can move on to gaited" but the other part of me wants him to be comfortable in the saddle and have him keep up with me on rides (i ride a mft mare). Now here's another factor to the puzzle...he and I are expecting our first child this July/August so it's not like I can ride with him anyways. Should he just practice with a non gaited horse for now? He can't ride my horse she's a tad to experienced and smart for him haha plus she's just my horse and boy does she know it!...that and she's a typical blonde being completely fine with tarps flapping in the breeze then spooking at a rock...so I want him to be safe too. Opinions?

I would let him try out horses and see what he prefers, provided they are safe enough for him. I wouldn't rule out a safe, sound, sane horse because it was or wasn't gaited. Of course, help his decision to make sure he doesn't end up over horsed or anything. I've seen one rank horse all but ruin horses for people.
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What Nightside said.

When we get my boyfriend a horse, I've already told him to look and see what he likes, show it to me, and we'll decide if it's something he can handle or not. This is when I wish my horse wasn't quite so flashy. My boyfriend doesn't like to be outdone and he likes "pretty" things, so it's going to be a challenge to get him to see past color and look at the horse underneath.
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Oh I agree! If the horse was relaxed and kid safe I could care less. Getting him to see past color though has so far been tough...the one horse he really started to fall in love with was an un-broke 4 year old black arab mare that had serious trust issues. Then there was a nice (albeit VERY fat) paint/arab cross I found that was kid safe and his response.."ehh I like Pepper more" (Pepper is the black arab mare). His heart is set on a blue or bay roan haha My heart is set on something safe and tolerant of beginner flubs. I will have him try some other horses. I know that where my mare is at now there is a horse that the land owner said is an amazing gelding that he can ride and I trust her opinion whole-heartedly with it. Hopefully we can get him on and have him start learning :) I will for sure be posting updates on his lessons! Or somehow convince him that belonging to an online forum of passionate horse owners isn't totally geeky :) he gives me that look when I talk about my "online horse friends" bahahaha I can't help but laugh at it

Exactly about the color thing! I found two perfect horses for him: a 9yo bay QH gelding (my best friend knows the horse personally and loves him...in fact, she's the one who brought him to my attention) and a friend's dark brown (looks dark bay) OTTB gelding. He said "Eh. I like Aires better." Yes, dear, but Aires is 4, green as grass, and you have already said that how tall he is frightens you (Aires is 16.1hh, pushing 16.2hh). *facepalm*
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Having ridden with gaited horses, on my non-gaited boy, I gotta say, it makes for tricky times. I'm constantly asking my slow poke to trot up. Much more relaxing and pleasant to ride with similar-strided horses, for sure.

If you can aim for safe and gaited, I'd go for it. In reference to developing skill, if he can ride HIS horse and you two enjoy putting miles behind you, who cares?

The kid thing is tricky. If finances are flush enough that having a child won't strap horsie activities too tight, then giddy up! You won't be benched for long and your kiddo just might be joining you very soon. Our son took his first rides on his pony outside the arena during his 3rd autumn. We dally him with me and head out on all kinds of trails!
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This made me LOL!!

I've just been through this exact same thing. My hubby's deal was a buckskin or palomino. I told him numerous times it shouldn't matter. He needed a horse that was good for him. Finally, after the last time I said it he got exasperated with me and said ... "I'm not an idiot! I DO know this. But since this is my first horse and probably my last (these are our retirement horses), I want the color that I like! Is that such a crime? I do have to look at him every day."

Errrrr needless to say that kind of shut me right up. How can I argue with that logic? We went about finding him the right horse AND the right color. He's happy LOL

Only get a non gaited horse if your MFT is willing to go slow with his horse. It will turn him off of riding real fast if he gets his butt beat up trying to keep up.

Whoops! Admittedly I am just like your hubby, BBBCrone. If I'm going to spend money on something, I want to like the way it looks! I am notorious for oogling color but at least I have enough sense not to buy for color alone.
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Haha yeah I think that BBBCrone's hubby and my man have this in common. If my man is going to get something he wants it to be perfect because he wants to own it for a looong tiiiime...However, the possibility of us finding a small gaited horse that is bay or blue roan, close to our state, in our budget, under the age of 12, without any major problems health or vices, and that is calm, oh and a gelding, is going to be like sifting through sand hoping to find a 1ct. Diamond. Haha

At least he can get a feel for riding before I start riding again. And mark my words- the moment my body heals from birth I WILL be riding ;) ...even if it is just at a walk :)