Rx Very Best Horse You Can Imagine for Older Rider

Hi everyone! I'm about to start riding (again, from the very beginning) in March. My goal is to ride in my local hunt by fall. What would be the ideal horse for me ... list as many qualities as you can, there are a few for lease! Thanks!

It wont really be a breed but....

Something calm and quiet. Goes easily in a group. Can stand without fidgeting a whole lot. Sure footed, as you never know what kind of terrian you will be going through. Level-headed.

Above all, you want to make sure that you get along with the horse and they are controlled easily. You might need to stop NOW or you could cause an accident.

A lot of the horses in my hunt club are draft crosses, with a few TB's.

Agreed. Temperament and training will be so much more important that the individual breed. Also consider functionality; would you like to have a shorter horse for ease of tacking and mounting or would you like something a little taller for length of stride and probable jumping ease?

Me, personally, I would look for a horse that had a nice, flowing, smooth way of traveling. Nobody wants to spend all their leisure time sitting astride a jackhammer .

Haha. My hunt has a lot of *ahem* older riders, so there is always a stool around for a mounting block, but that is actually a VERY good point.

Hmm. Being older myself, these days I want something closer to the ground. However, if you wish to hunt, then you'll need a horse of the type mentioned by others, and hopefully, one which maybe has also followed the hounds.

A nice solid cob type, with some hunting experience, might be a good choice. I have a friend in the UK, who hunts regularly with her Gypsy and I believe the mare is only about 14 something hands. Gypsies love to jump. I think she just leased her out while training her second Gypsy.

What ever horse you get, it should be thoroughly vetted and have excellent feet. Should also be sure footed, since hunting will likely take you though many different type of terrain.

Good luck with your search and do let us know what you find.

Lizzie