The best horse breeds for beginner riders

All photos: FEI.org.

We will cover several horse breeds that are best for beginners.

Whether you are a beginner rider who is looking for a horse to rent or you decide to buy a horse, you should know that there are horse breeds that are better than others for riders with little experience.

While every horse is different, it’s best not to mate with breeds that are considered hot or difficult to work with.

Beginners and riders with little experience need a calm, forgiving and easy-to-work horse with a good memory and ability to learn.

We will talk about 7 breeds that are considered optimal for beginner riders.

1. Morgan horses.

Morgan horses top the list of recommended breeds for beginner riders.

Considered the first American breed, developed in the 18th century, the Morgans are known for their kindness and courage. They are responsive and diligent in their work, and strive to do whatever the rider asks them to do.

Muscular and strong representatives of this breed usually do not have serious health problems. Most often they are bay, black or red, with a thick mane and tail. They also make excellent driving horses.

2. Friesian horses.

Freezes are often compared to Labradors, they like to roll in the mud and swim. They originate from the northern regions of the Netherlands, a distinctive feature of the breed is a chic thick mane and tail, as well as thick brushes around the hooves. Friesian owners take time to care for the horse, but it’s worth it.

Friezes are very intelligent and flexible and can be found in many different disciplines of equestrian sports, especially dressage and driving. They are considered not shy and very loyal to their owners. This breed is great for those who want to develop a partnership with their horse.

3. Icelandic horses.

Many beginners are afraid to ride big horses, in which case the Icelandic horse breed is a good compromise.

Short horses of this breed are usually 130-145 cm at the withers, so this breed is well suited to insecure riders or riders of small stature. In addition, they are well suited to those who like to ride in the fields, because the small stature of these horses allows them to be mounted without a stand.

Due to the climate and landscape of their homeland, they tolerate harsh weather conditions well and move confidently over rough terrain. One of the most remarkable features of this breed is their trot, which is more like a brisk walk.

4. American Quarter Horse.

Hardly any other breed can match the American Quarter Horse when it comes to long walks in the fields. These workers always want to move forward, and they are very unpretentious.

With strong legs and body, they can easily be saddled all day, American Quarter Horses do not require frequent veterinary supervision, and they are especially popular as male pleasure horses.

They feel great both alone and in a herd. This breed is well suited for riding, outdoor recreation and other similar activities. These are universal horses, they are often filmed in films, because they are distinguished by their intelligence and reliability.

5. Tennessee walking breed.

This breed was originally used in America when working on plantations, so the Tennessee horse, like the American Quarter Horse, is ideal for practical horse owners.

This breed has such soft gaits that you can drink a cup of coffee while sitting in the saddle. If your muscles hurt from riding other horses, then this option is a great choice for you.

Great for walking in the fields, Tennessee horses are tall enough to suit tall riders or those who can easily raise their legs to mount.

6. Connemara pony.

This breed of horse comes from eastern Ireland and was used in farm work. Scandinavian and Spanish blood flows in it, the height at the withers is 133-144 cm, so this breed is suitable for short riders.

Connemara ponies are calm and patient with children, so they are ideal for young riders. They crave communication with a person, so the owners of this breed need to come to the stable daily to develop a good relationship.

Of the small breeds, these horses are the best jumpers, very athletic and well suited to all equestrian disciplines.

7. Welsh pony.

Originally from the UK, the Welsh Pony is created by crossing the Welsh Mountain Pony with larger breeds, including Thoroughbreds and Arabians.

Height at the withers – 120-150 cm, often the Welsh pony is chosen for young riders, but do not let your short stature fool you. The Welsh was used during the war and proved to be a reliable farm horse.

Known for their intelligence and friendliness, Welsh ponies are used in various equestrian disciplines and can often be found in European riding schools.

These horses are also suitable for carriages. They are hardy and move with ease over uneven terrain, but care must be taken not to overeat because this breed is adapted to a minimum food intake.

A few words in conclusion.

Young horses are contraindicated for inexperienced riders, as adult horses are more calm and well-trained.

Learn to read between the lines when you see ads for horses. Choose horses that have experience with new riders and avoid ads with the heading “horse recently broken” if you want to spend more time in the saddle rather than healing your new injuries.

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  July July 20 2020 city

  Who wrote it? Who recommended it? This is not true. Some kind of Connemara ponies, Tennessee … quarter horses. We have OUR beautiful horses in Russia. Many breeds for children’s, amateur, big sport. Orlovsky Trotter, Don breed, Budenov breed, Russian riding breed, Trakehner, Tver … Karachaev breed is great for training, the horses of this breed are comfortable under the saddle, calm, obedient, reliable, soft-breasted. For beginner riders, the horse must first of all be well-trained. Answer

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  Shamil 16 2020 of August

  The Kabardian breed is also a very good horse for both beginners and pros. And by nature they are very calm. Answer

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  Terra July 25 2020 city

  I wonder if PROKONI reads what they publish? This week just broke all the records for the delusional “articles”. Schoolchildren are having fun with graphomania? Answer

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  NataPr (nataliapravd) July 25 2020 city

  Somehow this article is disappointing. In addition to the fact that not quite the above are suitable for beginners, given the peculiarities of care and content, one must remember the main audience of the resource. Russian breeds are completely forgotten. In addition to the excellent breeds listed above, there are Vyatka and other local breeds that are great for beginner riders.