Selecting the Ideal Horse for Your Riding Technique

A needle in a haystack is what it's like to find the right horse. In addition to making sure you physically fit the horse, you also need to make sure it meets your riding goals and skill level. A Clydesdale or Percheron, for example, is a heavy breed that is capable of towing heavy loads. These horses are typically brave and self-assured, but if they are not trained properly, they may become aggressive.

Characteristics

Horses have personalities and coping techniques just like any other animal. Although the basic features of each breed vary, there is variety within each. On one end of the scale, a horse's temperament could be flighty or skittish, while on the other end it could be bold and self-assured. These horses are naturally curious and enjoy interacting with people. Because they are steady, placid, and won't overreact in unfamiliar settings or with inexperienced riders, they are frequently easy to teach and ride. These big, powerful horses were used to pull enormous loads over great distances in waggons and ploughs. Their muscles are typically more developed, and they typically have a strong back and short legs for superior leverage. They are typically brave, self-assured, and resistant to fear. If handled without an appreciation for the significance of well-timed assistance and defined boundaries, they can also become aggressive and argumentative. They can benefit from a more experienced handler to the fullest extent possible, but they are generally regarded as safe and appropriate for riders of all skill levels.

Level of Activity

The personality type of a horse can greatly influence how easy or challenging it is to ride. Four basic equine characters have been identified by Grand Prix dressage rider and clinician Yvonne Barteau: social, scared, aloof, or challenging. Social horses are talkative, friendly, and responsive to their riders' cues. Horses that are afraid are usually tense or even hostile. This may be the consequence of mistreatment, disregard, or incompetence. They are frequently observed in large breeds like Percherons and Clydesdales. Aloof horses are typically distinguished by their inability to socialise. They might arise from mistreatment or neglect, but they can also arise from the hierarchy of the herd, since certain horses are inherently more reclusive than others. A challenger is a member of the herd that is very dominant and can be challenging to work with. They may intimidate trainers or other herd members to assert their dominance because they are typically positioned highly in the pecking order. They can be trained to be courteous and obedient, but it will require time and bravery to win their trust.

Experience

Often described as "hot-blooded," horse breeds with a lot of enthusiasm and agility can have a wide range of temperaments depending on their upbringing and surroundings. Due to their rapid metabolism, these horses might need more food than horses of other breeds. The European history of medium-sized horse breeds, such as the Cleveland Bay and Hanoverian, combines the calm disposition of working horses with the spirit of lithe, quick-metabolizing thoroughbreds. These fantastic multipurpose horses frequently participate in dressage and jumping events. With their smaller heads and less polished nostrils to enable them to breathe at race speed, standardbreds are hefty breeds that thrive in racing. They are usually bold and self-assured, but if their handlers don't know how important it is to set boundaries, they may also be forceful and combative. They pick things up a little more slowly than Thoroughbreds, and the wrong person can quickly startle or hurt them.

Harmony

The temperament of the horse you choose should fit your riding style and degree of confidence. While some horses are gregarious and lively, others are quiet and trustworthy. A fulfilling and healthy relationship can be achieved by selecting a horse whose personality complements your own. Another factor to take into account is a horse's inherent capacity to support weight. Draft breeds, for instance, can draw more loads than other breeds of a same size because of the way their bones are structured. For novice riders, horses with a naturally kind nature that can be shaped through training and handling might make excellent choices. But vices such as biting, chewing wood, and stall weaving are uncurable and ought to be avoided. It's also crucial to take the horse's sex and reproductive condition into account. While geldings—males who have been castrated—are submissive and simpler to manage, mares are calmer and smaller than stallions. For novices in especially, this is crucial. Unlike a stallion, a gelded horse will not attempt to mate with its rider.