What breed to get?

So I'm soon going to have the chance to get a horse of my own. I have no idea what breeds to look at.

I do (mostly) know what to look for in an individual horse and do have my coach helping me. However I have no idea about showing (mid/upper level) in anything other in dressage. I've done a little bet of everything in local schooling shows, from jumping to western pleasure, not anything big. I think with a bit of training I might be able to go in any direction.

So I was wondering if you folks have any ideas about breeds and their respective show circuits.

Are there any breeds where it's easier for anamateur to succeed?(rank, not riding ability) Are there insane amounts of 'politics' in any breeds? Can you actually win money? (Not that I'll be doing any of that )

Answers to above questions and any other tips, comments, ect are much appreciated!

I'm smack in the middle of GA, if that helps.

I don't really know anything about that either, but congratulations on getting a future horse!!!!

It depends on what YOU want to do. I'm a western rider and do the games, barrel racing mostly, but I've done a little team penning, heeling, and I'm looking to get into drill team soon enough, so my horse of choice is a flashy quarter horse or paint. Everybody and their mother has a chestnut or sorrel horse, so I honestly try to avoid them. I loved being memorable, and when I unloaded my horses from the trailer and people would say 'Hey, weren't you the one that did this and that last time?'

But of course, I also love the adaptability, speed, intelligence, and strength that seems to be so easy to find in even the quarters and paints without the best bloodlines or the highest pricetag. Some of my best horses were free.

LiveLaughLope: Thanks!

ColtHearted: that's the problem, I don't know what I want to do! My favorite part of showing is just feeling of pride you get from a well trained and well turned out horse. I should just become a full time groom... If only it paid better!

So what are your strong suits? Barrels have different sections, 1D, 2D, etc, so even newer riders have a shot at winning in their division.
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Well I guess you'll know what my preference will be. Gypsy Horses do just about anything you'd like and they love to jump. You can see some of them in action here...

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We also have a great drill team in Georgia at the moment, with more joining in all the time. There are even some stallions in the drill team, since they are so quiet and tractable.

I don't have pics on my page, but some are doing barrels now too. The breed is now seen in numbers, in shows all over the US and doing very well against other more well known breeds.

Prices have come down considerably and good, well-bred horses can be found reasonably. They come in all sizes and almost every colour one could want, except frame.

We have no horses for sale but I could maybe point you in the direction of an owner near you, where you could visit the breed and ride a few.

Lizzie

I've always thought gypsy horses and friesians were BEAUTIFUL- but I think I would have a heart attack owning all that HAIR! I was raised dressage and hunter- all horses must have whiskers, ears and legs clipped at all times. Not to mention mane pulling! XD

Why not try showmanship and halter? Arabs, quarter horses, and paints all have plenty of opportunities for amateurs and are all versatile breeds.

Gypsies in the US are shown in all diciplines now and except for braiding and cleaning up the face a bit, all are shown in full mane, tail and feather. Even in the UK, where previously most were shown with feather clipped off, more and more are now showing them as they were meant to be.

That said, certainly all that hair and feather does need a lot of care and a Gypsy is not for those not fully committed to it.

Lizzie

Are you thinking of only doing breed shows or more all around type stuff. Which do you see yourself doing more, jumping/dressage or western type events?

I personally love love a nice cowy quarter horse. They've got great minds and lots of athletic ability but they're mostly suited to western type classes (I like the little stocky ones, the don't jump too high or have that big English look). I've always thought if I were to switch to get seriously into english I would find a nice warmblood or even a tall polish type Arab.
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