Best horse breeds for beginner riders

Finding the perfect horse for a novice rider whether it be a child or an adult can be a challenge.  Sometime the breed of the horse is not as important as the horse’s temperament.  Some horses no matter what the breed do not have the patience and temperament to tolerate an inexperienced rider.  A novice rider must decide if they want to ride English style or Western style before they start looking for a horse.  Some horse breeds are better suited for English style riding than others.  Some breeds are better suited for Western style riding.  There are exceptions in every breed.

All breeds of horses have reputations that go with the breed.  Arabians are considered hot headed, nervous and flighty.  The Appaloosa as a breed is considered temperamental and stubborn.  The Standard bred and Thoroughbred is said to explode for no apparent reason.  Many people say the Morgan and Quarter horse are quiet and steady at all times.  There are exceptions to all of these characteristics based on breeds.  Horses think and have minds of their own.  How they act and behave can depend more on how they are raised and trained and not what breed they are. 

If you are a novice rider looking for a horse it is never a good idea to get a young inexperienced horse.  Some older horses have not been trained properly so they are not suitable for a novice.  Take your time picking your horse.  Ride him several times.  If possible ride the horse in different situations.  Some horses will do great in an arena but are a handful when you ride them in the open.

Quarter horses are considered by many to be the best horse for a novice.  They are said to be calm and level headed.  They do make a great horse for a person that wants to ride Western.  If you want to ride English they will not be your best choice.  Always remember there are exceptions to the general rule.  There are Quarter horses that are not good for the novice and there are some that are good for English style riding.

If you want to ride English style the Hanoverian is a great choice.  They are usually large horses.  They are known for being calm and they do very well in Dressage competition.  The Oldenburg is also a good choice.  They are larger than the Hanoverian and can stand 17 hands.

Tennessee Walkers are usually a good choice for a novice rider.  They are what is known as a gaited horse.  Their gaits are very smooth.  They are known for being very calm and easy going.  The Tennessee walker makes a great trail and pleasure horse.

Many people think the Appaloosa has a terrible disposition.  This is not always true.  Some Appaloosas make great horses for the novice because they are quiet.  It takes a lot to make most Appaloosas spook.

Arabians have a reputation of being filthy but this is not always true.  Some Arabians can be great horses for the novice.  They usually have good dispositions.  Arabians will get very attached to their owner.  Arabians are great for trail and endurance riding. 

When you decide you want to learn to ride and buy a horse take your time.  You must first decide if you want to ride English or Western.  Pick your horse to go with the style of riding you decide on. 

Decide on what color horse you prefer.  The color is not that important but there are people that prefer a certain color and will not settle for anything else.  The color has nothing to do with how the horse performs.

Ride the horse before you buy it.  You can tell more about a horse when you ride it.  Some horses can be very calm, gentle and friendly but when you saddle them up and get on it is a whole different story.  By riding a horse before you buy him you would be able to tell if the horse is suitable for you. 

If you decide to ride English you can go into Dressage, Show jumping, 3-Day Event and Jumping.  You will have to pick a horse that is suitable.  If you decide to ride Western you can go into Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Trail Riding and Showmanship.  You will need to pick a horse that is suitable for these events.

When you have decided what you want to do with your riding you can pick your breed.  If you want to show-jumping/cross-country any breed of hose will work as long as it is calm.  If you decide Dressage is for you any breed will work.  There are some breeds that are better at it than others.  The Thoroughbred and Warm Bloods work best.  Any breed will work for a pleasure horse.

There is really not a best  breed for a novice.  All breeds must be considered.  The best horse is one that is well trained and has been handled with care and suits you.

Article sources:

http://www.sportales.com/equestrain/best-horse-breeds-for-beginner-riders/

http://www.horse-ridinglessons.com/blog/horseback-riding-lessons/which-is-the-best-hor...

http://www.horsemanmagazine.com/2009/04/best-horse-breeds-for-novice-adults/