Breed Choice: Is It the Horse, or the Association?
Many of us who have horses reach a stage where we become pretty breed-specific and breed-involved. Thus, we have Quarter Horse people, Arabian people, Appaloosa people, Friesian people, Miniature Horse people, etc., etc., etc. If you're a Something-Person, I have a question for you:
* Is it the horse itself that earns your loyalty and involvement? Or, for you, is it more about the association and what it offers--a competition scene, a strong marketplace, a "this fits me" social network, or whatever?
I'd like to hear your story about why you chose the breed you did, and what keeps you with it.
posted by Juli Thorson @ 12:42 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
For me it's all about the horse, Arab. Just the fire and loyality they have for their partners is just amazing, for instance my Eyption arab Safyre is the biggest grouch to most people minus me and a few others. It took me quite a while to win Saffy's love and respect but honestly she'll walk through fire for me now, her love can be seen in her firey eyes and her arched neck when she sees me coming. I've never seen this kind of love from any other breed other than the Arab, their presence their ability to "feel" your emotions plus the pride they show for both you and themselves is something that truelly draws me to them, the registry is alright but honestly it's the gorgouise Arabian mares and their sweet temperments that draws me to them.
The breed for me. I've learned thru the years I"m a quarter horse kind of gal. I loved my arab but we wern't a good match. I need a nice calm, slow moving older (like me) quarter horse.
I can't claim a breed as I have loved and been loved by many from POA -Dutch warmbloodI pick groups for education and charity/rescue work they do as it is what satisfies my need to give back to the most wonderful animals I know
For me it's the breed. I mean when it comes down to the shows and everything that are within the Association, isn't it still about the breed? You probably couldn't say that you weren't in it for the breed if you were at a high-class Arabian (or whatever breed) show.
I personally do not own a horse, the only option for me is to lease a wonderful Quarter Horse once a week. Which lets me do whatever I want, I could do a ride around the arena, trail ride, or even a small walk/jog show. However, I couldn't do a large show from the Association, because I'm limited to my one-day a week. But this has made me realize that Associations and shows are all about the breed. And that's what I have.
Association - Everything that Juli said, they set up a viable market place, a great competition scene with the kind of people I want to hang out with, and a social and activity network to die for. I mean I love the breed too and they are linked - if the breed wasn't good the association wouldn't grow to the point where it offers the things that they offer. But the association is the binder - I am sure I could find an appy or a paint that I love just as much as my quarter horse, but I love AQHA and everything they offer.
Years ago at Equine Affaire in Ohio I stopped at the Rocky Mt. Horse booth. The breeder explained to me how "people-friendly" & giving their temperaments are. Their rocking-motion gait is good for aching bones. He invited me into the stall to meet his stud horse. The animal leaned towards me as I pet him & let me even hug him. The breeder said, however, that he would never dream of letting me ride him because the horse had too big of a "motor" for me. I liked his honesty. Two yrs. ago I had to divorce myself from a horse that I had for 2-1/2 yrs. After 2 big accidents & the horse not respecting me or any rider on the trails anymore it was time to call it quits. My husband said that this time around I should look for my "dream" horse, a Rocky. We met a long of good Rocky people on our quest. Now, it has been 2 yrs. since I brought my Charlie Horse (he'll be 9 yrs. this year) home. He is a "been there, done that" boy on the trail with lots of miles under him. He has a calm, amble walk - just the right "motor" for me. Charlie is a great trail horse as well as my buddy - he looks out for the both of us on the trail. When he gets into his gait, we float! I will always be a timid rider, but he has helped me to overcome a lot of the fear with trust. We both have come a long way!
For me its the breed. I bought my first horse this year, a Morgan, and he's awesome! The barn I board him at is mainly Morgans and they are all wonderful. He has a very sweet disposition, is patient with the kids and tries to do whatever I ask even if he doesn't quite understand what I'm asking. He learns quickly and has made having a horse a great experience.
I cannot say it is the breed association, as a lot of times I get annoyed with them due to the politics.
I prefer performance events, and for me it's the reining. It doesn't matter what type of horse you have, purebred or mutt, if they can perform, you can compete. I do like many of the values that the NRHA promotes with horses, events and people. It's probably the most fair judging system we have.
I have had QH's, Appy's, mustangs a paint, half Arab, and an Arab. I haven't found much difference in many except the Arabs. Always the on the hot side, and it's hard to get them to ride with you instead of ahead of you, this doesn't always make the ideal for the show pen. If they're hot their hot and that is that. There are some QH lines that are real hot too, however you can usually negotate with them, and they will still have that sting when you need it.
I prefer color on my horses and stock horse breeds and types so I go with the Apps, I also love the mustangs, and there are many, many fine ones out there. In fact if I had to pick the most awesome horse I have/had in my barn would be a toss up between one of my Apps (RIP) and my mustang. Both would walk through fire for ya, and were very trainable. Once they learned something it was for keeps...you could let them sit all winter and go back out the next spring, take a ride and they were as rock solid as the last ride you had on them.
Talk about heart, they always gave/give 125% even if they weren't quite the perfect conformation. I once attended a Bob Loomis reining clinic. He teased me all weekend about "spot". He evaluated the horse at the beginning of the clinic and said he didn't look like he could be very competive. While Bob rode just about everyone elses horse once, he avoided mine. The last day I handed Bob the reins and told him he should quit teasing me about 'Spot' until he rode him. Begrudingly he got up, rode him around, did a few manuevers, and when he handed him back to me, his comment was "Spot ain't so bad"....then he proceeded to tell us all about a horse having to have the heart and the will to work for you. what he said and I totally agree with him, a horse can be the prettiest, best looking conformationally, and bred to the teeth, but if he didn't have heart it didn't matter!
For me it is the breed, and the association is the icing on the cake. I love my quarter horses, and I think AQHA has many fantastic programs for all members of the assocation, regardless of their level of involvment.
As an equine sports massage therapist, and with many friends who own and show different breeds, I have had the opportunity to get to see most of them, and I am happiest with the Quarter Horses and AQHA.
For me, its the horse, because that's why I'm in it. Yeah, the Breed Association is nice with its shows and magizine, but its the horse that brings everyone together.
For me the Association means little. If I want to show in a breed specific show that means you have to be a member, and the same goes if you want your horse to be registered, but literally thats all they've ever done for me.
What truely matters is the horse. The relationship you have with him/her and the experiances you share together. In that the breed doesn't necessarilly matter either. That is a personnal choice. Based on your personality and that of the horse.
Over the last 16 years my family has had purebreds and partbreds, including: a Shetland pony, a Shetland/Hackney pony, Arabians, a 1/2 Arab 1/4 QH and 1/4 Welsh pony, a Quarter Horse, an Appolussa, and a QH Thouroughbred cross. I have to say that people who claim to love one breed alone, yet admit they've primarily worked with one breed in their lives are quite obviously biased. With all the horses I've owned, riden and worked with I have to say that I am partial to the Arabs but that is in large part due to both my personality and theirs. After all we had one arab I didn't like at all, and he--just as obviously--never liked me.
My two favorites over the years were an Arab gelding and the Arab/QH/Welsh pony mare. The two of them were partners with me. I won't deny that the training the arab gelding was a bit of a struggle for awhile (until I finally learned to outsmart him) but after that I found I had a horse that would do anything for me. That horse loved me, as his mother had an equally deep bond with my mom.
One thing I have noticed with the various breeds we've had over the years is that say what you want about 'hot' arabs, they are one of the smartest breeds you are likely to work with (which I admit can be a challenge). But once they learn something, they don't forget it. Which is something I can't say for the QH/TB mare we have. She's probably one of the 'dumbest' horses we've had (nothing against any specific breed, it's the horse) and in addition is 'hotter' than any of the Arabs, but without the 'desire to please' that all of them have shared. Which is making her the most difficult horse we've ever had to train. Mind you, that 'desire to please' of the Arab's is usually reserved for one specific person. Atter all, that one arab that so disliked me loved my dad.
Fianally all breed specific stuff aside, my 3-way-cross mare has been one of the best horses we've ever had. She'll do just about anything and helped with the training process of just about all the others. She's been the 'lead' horse for all the young horses, keeping them calmer, as we first take them trail riding, or working in a ring.
So far for me, it's been the horse. But I do not have a life time of horse ownership.
I have enjoyed riding a number of quality horses from Hawaii to Europe. I do tend to be drawn Arabs and currently have two. But I have also lost my heart to mustangs, quarter horses and an Irish thoroughbred.
Like dogs and people, you can make some generalizations, but each one is an individual.
Anne
Over the years I have trained with many different breeds and the strongest, most rewarding relationships have been forged with Thoroughbreds. I am not a member of the racing community but the barn I work at has several rehabilitated OTTBs that started out as skittish and difficult to handle. They are all lesson horses now, teaching beginning riders dressage and jumping. Their athleticism and giving nature make them wonderful sport horses as well as loyal companions.
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