How to find the right breed for you! Western Edition

There are hundreds of thousands of horse breeds, but when it comes to western riding, you can narrow it down quite a bit! So in todays read, I will be sharing with you my tips & tricks on how to find the right horse breed for your event, personality, and riding level!

The five basic and most common horse breeds in western riding are the American Quarter Horse (AQH), Mustang, Arabian, Appaloosa & American Paint

Now let me tell you a little about these breeds, starting with the Quarter Horse!

Quarter horses have been around for thousands of years! They got their name from being the fastest horse breed to run a quarter of a mile when racing down main street. They are better for short distance running like sprinting rather than endurance or long distance riding. Due to their ability to pick up speed quickly, they make some of the best barrel racing & pole bending horses. Some of the best world record times have been on Quarter Horses! Their calm gentle behavior makes a great beginners horse and they usually sell for somewhere between $1,500 and $10,000.

The next breed I'm going to talk about is the famous mustang! When you hear the word "mustang", most people think of wild horses, but the truth is, mustangs can make wonderful event horses, especially when it comes to rodeo! They have a good amount of speed though their attitude varies quite a bit depending on level of training, age, and overall personality. They tend to come in chestnut, dun, or roan colors though those also vary. Due to their nature to follow their spooky instincts more so than other horses, I would not recommend a mustang as a beginner horse. Domesticated mustangs typically sell for somewhere between $1,000 and $6,000.

Arabians have a lot to offer so lets talk about them next! Arabians are beautiful energetic, spooky, majestic and very popular! They are well known for their beauty and wild behavior! Arabians tend to have a smaller build which makes them better for smaller riders. They hold an amazing amount of speed making great barrel horses or pole horses. They tend to make better western horses rather than English. They have a spooky nature making them not recommended for beginner riders. They sell between $1,000 and $5,000

Appaloosas are very popular when you think of pretty horses, and honestly, they make great all round horses! They have an energetic yet gentle personality making them good beginner horses! They are great for someone who wants to ride daily for long periods of time! They love working and connect better with humans than most breeds. They typically sell between $1,000 and $8,000.

Last but not least is the American Paint Horse! The most common mistake people make when seeing a painted horse, is thinking immediately its an American Paint. For example, i own a Tennessee Walker, but she is colored paint. Lots of people think "oh she must be an American Paint". Almost all horse breeds come in the color paint. The American Paint Horse does not specify every painted horse. Thats the difference between a Paint Horse, and a Painted Horse! Its the same rule with Palamino's, Appaloosas & Haflingers.

The American paint horse is a smart, kind, gentle horse. They are well mannered and talented making them great for beginner riders. They typically sell between $2,000 and $10,000.

I hope this helped! Be sure to subscribe to get notified whenever I post!