Best horse for a young rider (age 11)?

Question

My oldest wants to get a horse. We have the land, etc. She's already done quite a bit of riding at various friends houses. I've had goats and llamas before, but never horses. I don't know a lot about them.

Any thoughts on what kind of horse would be best for her? Or does it just vary based on the temperament of the individual horse? I still have a lot of research to do, but thought I'd ask this question first, since we're still aways off from doing this.

Answer 1

When i was 11 i had a 7 year old 13.2 h piebald mare called "Perdy", the main thing you need to look at is the age, temperament and what the previous owners say about the pony. I had been riding since i was four so was quite an experienced rider, but by the sound of it your daughter does not ride on a regular basis, so you will want to get an older more docile pony, so she can handle it. I went to pony camp every year and belong to The Hampshire Hunt branch, i don't know whether you live in Britain or the USA and i am not sure if they have The Pony Club in America, but if so it would be worth joining your local one, as they can offer help and advice, and your daughter will love it defiantly did.

Answer 2

i would go for something between 8 and 10 years old...this means that it is more mature (horses mature at 7 years old) but she has still got a long time to enjoy it.  I would also go for a welsh.  You dont say your daughters height so im unable to specify height but unless she is stupidly tall...go for a pony (under 14.2hands).  When trying a horse, make sure you go and see it at least 3 times before you buy it, ride it, hack it out...do everything with it that you woul want to do at home.

Read into it's temprement...mess about with it...you wont want something too jumpy/spooky for your kid.  Also pick up the pony's feet to check that it isn't going to kick when your child wants to do it.  One more tip...don't get on the horse or let your child on it unil you have seen the current owner walk, trot, canter, jump and hack it.  If it looks ok...you can allow your child to mount it.  

Good luck and please just don't buy a pony because it looks pretty or just because it is the first one and she likes it...make sure and go and see a few with an experienced horseman/woman, maybe a horseriding instructor or a knowledgable friend.

Good Luck!

x*x

Answer 3

Ya, I agree, do not buy a untrained horse, a foal, or a young horse.  So many inexperienced people do that and the horses just end up being monsters.  You said that your daughter has done riding at friend's houses, I would start giving her lessons from a good trainer because it's always good to have proper training.  I don't know what riding your daughter wants to do, but if it's just trail riding and fun like that, maybe a good quarter horse.  Quarter horses can be very laid back (some are not, but a lot are) and good trail horses.  I don't know how big your daughter is, but mabey a pony.  I have two halflingers that are fabulos, one is child safe, but the other is a lot of pony (not in a bad way, he is just difficult to ride and you need to be strong and relaxed).  Ponies are not mean little devils that hurt children, they just are for people that have confidence (they are small so they need to be a bit tougher to stand up for themselves). If your daughter is quite timid or not very assertive, maybe a pony is not  such good idea (and saying she might grow out of him).  Look up horses on the internet, and when you find one (trusting that you got her lessons), ask the trainer to come look at the horse with you.  This way the trainer can get on the horse first and see how the horse goes and make sure it is safe for your daughter to get on.  Make sure you daughter likes the horse as well, and look at many horses before deciding on just one.  There are many breeds to consider besides quarter horses, you can get almost any horse, it really comes down to there temperment (if you want something safe).  I just willtell you thoughbreds are good, but a lot tend to be quite hot; warmbloods also tend to be large and are not the most trustworthy things either.  Arabs and all are pretty, but they can be very high spirited, I've seen kids on them and it wasn't good. (I'm not saying that tbs, arabs, and wbs are bad, but they are not the best always for 11 year olds to have.  I know there are those ones that are perfect but odds are they will be hard to find.  And arabs don't jump well).  Sorry if you didn't need to know all this.  I'm thinking quarter horse or some sort of pony would be your best bet.  

Answer 4

if its her first horse when looking for a horse dont buy a horse that says for a novice ride get one that says he or she is good for a first horse. i would reccomend a horse that is sweet by nature, is well behaved when schooling and hacking, is good in traffic (and of course to box, clip, shoe, groom etc.) he or she must NOT bite or kick must be good with other horses and be 'bombproof'' (wich means not get spooked easily) for a first h**e get an older horse of say 10 at the youngest to maybe 14 this way the horse will have seen it all before and be more trustworthy (usually) as older horses tend to be quite steady as they are used to 'scary' things (although 10-14 isnt that old its old enough for the horse hopefully to be well trained) dont get anything older than 20 because horses live to an average of 30 (note average peeps so dont bite my head off) and in their prime years (25-30) you cannnot really do hevy work with them -in my opinion- because the are more 'delicate' in a way. good luck

Answer 5

What kind of fools would suggest a arab or tb for an 11year old, no sense at all.

You would be far better off getting a pony from a riding school or through word of mouth that is quiet with children, you don't have to get a specific breed, i have a pony myself that i've had nearly 13 years and ive no idea what breed, she is a brilliant pony.

Even a quiet cob or hunter would be suitable.

You would be better off asking a riding instructor about what type of pony would be suitable for your daughter. Go for something that is 8-10 years old and around 14'2hh

BUT. Do not buy a pony for her if you are not certain whether you are able to look after it because at the end of the day you will be looking after it

Answer 6

a baby horse

Answer 7

A baby, but I don't know if you can ride a baby, horses are a lot of money and work!!!

Answer 8

A Welsh pony!  They are bred to be children's ponies!  They are intelligent, loyal, hardy, calm and most of all friendly ponies. Our neighbor's grandchildren have been known to climb our fence - the first time they did it, I heard squeals of delight as the ponies were all too happy to have a pint sized playmate.  Our Welsh ponies came right to them and loved their attention.

A lot of people have some strange ideas about ponies being mean but Welshies are not like Shetlands and a well bred Welsh can be a lifelong family companion.  Not only are they wonderful under saddle mounts for childen of any riding discipline but they make excellent driving ponies for the whole family to enjoy.

Whatever you do, your daughter is young.  Please make sure you do not "overmount" her in an attempt to give her something to grow in to.  When you give a child a horse that is beyond their size and ability level, you run the risk of destroying their confidence as well.  We often lease out our ponies to suitable situations as we all know children will grow out of a small pony quickly but while they are still young, it's important they are matched up to a proper mount.

I highly recommend you visit the Welsh Pony and Cob Society website and see what this wonderful breed has to offer you and your family.

http://welshpony.org/

Answer 9

It depends on what kind of horses she like if she likes a horse which has speed, courage and gentle nature, as well as great stamina buy the shagya arab horse or a pony.Or you should take her to the shop where you can buy horses from and then let her choose which horse she would like and then give it to her.  

Answer 10

carousel...no mess, no fuss...ya know I love ya bean....

I barely can handle my dog...what do I know about equestrian stuff?

Answer 11

A Morgan pony would be nice, that was my first hourse... she was a little older, which would be a good idea for you.  and I could jump all over her and she would just stand there sleeping...  

Answer 12

Totally off subject, but how did your daughter's surgery go, Jil?

Answer 13

Well there are a lot of good horses out there but so far out of every breed of horse the Qaurter horse has been the calmest and most versatile horse out there! Never had any problems.......also you have to look at what the horse has done because i would never recommend getting a horse of the track, a barrel horse, or a horse thats been bred!

Answer 14

You should got to amazon.com/Young-Rider-1-year/dp/B00005N... to buy a magazine that different types of horses and tells you all about them and it cost for a years supply $12.98.

Answer 15

I like your new avatar. When do you find the time to pose for each of these posters? I know nothing about raising and taking care of a horse. I have a miniature red dachshund that eats like one. Does that count?  You could save money if you could convince your daughter to ride a llama instead. I have heard that they are quite docile and love to be ridden. I hope this helps.

Answer 16

Quarter Horses. but yeah, look at the temperament.

Make sure SHE takes care of the horse all the time

know how much hay and grain, and possibly supplements

this is harder than it looks, trust me!

Answer 17

Basically, you will want to get a well-trained, seasonsed horse for the kind of riding she will be doing.  You will want one with no visible health problems and be sure to have the vet check the horse before you agree to buy it (to rule out any underlying health problems).  Get a hrose that stands well when tied, loads and unloads easily and doesn't mind picking his feet up to be cleaned or shoed.  Look for geldings especially because they tend to be much more even-tempered than stallions or mares.

I would recommend looking at gaited horses if she is interested in trail riding.  Tennessee Walking horses, KY Mountain Saddle horse, Rocky Mountain horses, Paso Finos and amongt the breeds considered gaited.  They come ina vast array of colors and sizes and are bred to have good temperaments.  They are awesome trail horses and if you buy a registered one, she can show him flat-shod in local and area horse shows. (If she wants to.)

If she is more interested in barrel racing or pole bending, roping, cutting or reining, I'd look at Quarter Horses.

If she wants to do stadium jumping, cross-country or dressage, look into thoroughbred x's, Trahkener (sp?), and Holsteiners, to name a few.

Be sure she has ridden the horse several times before you purchase him.  If the horse is always up in the barn or is already saddled up when you get there, try popping in unannounced and see how the horse behaves when caught up and saddled.  Some horses are hard to catch and the sellers don't want potential bueyrs to see that.  Some don't like to be saddled up and sellers don't want buyers to see that either.  Just take your time and find a reputable dealer.

Hope this helps.

Answer 18

NO! Do NOT get a foal [baby]. That is the LAST thing to do for a first horse.

I would reccomend getting a quiet pony who is experienced and can advance WITH her when she is ready. Temperment is extremely important. Ask lots of questions. Does he stand while mounting? Does he bite or kick? Has he ever? Is he good with children? What experience has he had?

The list goes on. Good luck.

Answer 19

I would look for a smaller draft cross. Draft breeds are usually less high-strung than other horses. Or, you could get an older horse without any soundness issues. If a horse has been ridden and well-handled for years, they are easier for a young rider. A big part of a good match is personality. Usually, a person and a particular horse will just click.

You might consider visiting some non-profit horse rescues in your area. All kinds of wonderful horses end up at rescue facilities like Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Drafts, Standardbreds and exotic breeds. They even get foals and yearlings. You'll pay a lot less and most of the horses have no health or temperment issues. Often, part of the purchase price is tax deductible, too.

Wherever you get the horse, I would get it checked by my own equine vet before adopting or purchasing, though. In the long run, it's worth the cost. Good luck!! : )

Note: Don't get a stallion. An ungelded male will be far too feisty for a young rider (and most older riders)!!

Answer 20

Hi! DO NOT GET A BABY OR A YEARLING OR ANY UNTRAINED HORSE, as the other answer stated!!!!

My recommendation would be a small horse: around 14 hands (each hand is 4 inches, it is used to measure the height of a horse) anyways the reason for this is that an experienced rider will have been able to  train this animal, unlike ponies who are sadly, mostly ''trained'' by children and are little brats!!!  Anyways since this horse will have been trained properly it will know its boundaries. Also horses are generally calmer and more gentle (think the Gentle Giant?) Do not get an old horse...horsie deaths are very, very sad, especially for young children.  I would try getting a horse that is around 12-15 years.  This horse will still have about 7 or 8 years left to carry your daughter around, and will also have had a fair amount of experience.  When you choose your horse, look for a gentle, calm one ( i would suggest a gelding...but thats just me....because they do not get moody as much as mares might)  I would suggest a version of the good ol' American Quarter Horse, because they are very casual horses, not much fazes them...you may be able to find what is called a Quarter Pony.  This is a cross between a Quarter Horse and any kind of Large Pony (like a Welsh Cob) These equine creatures are usually around 14 hands high, and are very gentle and willing (depending on how they were trained, brought up etc. etc.)  

Answer 21

an arabian horse they are smaller and gentle!!

Answer 22

I guess it depends on what she likes to do when riding the horse such as jumping, barrel racing, etc.

For jumping I would say Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse

For barrel racing I would say a Quarter Horse.

But if she just likes to ride in general, any horse should be ok.

Answer 23

Dont get her a pony because she could grow out of it and be to big for it. I would suggest getting a horse that is in the range 5-13 years, so the horse will have some experience, but isnt to old. Maybe get a horse that is 15.2 to 16.3 hands tall. sometimes riding a tall horse is scary for younger children, and riding a short pony is a little boring... Getting a horse that your child is comfortable with in height, but wont out grow is very important! What type of riding is your daughter interested in?

            I would get a paint or quarter horse if she rides western because quarter horses are laid back and dont spook that easily and have a good build for western.... paint are just quarter horses with color, wich is good if she is competing because they are flashy in the show ring!

            If your daughter rides english (what type of english, jumping? dressage? just pleasure riding?), I would suggest getting an appendix  (qaurter horse/ thourobred), arabian cross, or some type of warmblood.

an Appendix would be good for jumping, b/c of the thourobred, and a little laid back because of the quarter horse. I wouldn't get your child a thorobred unless she is a little advanced, and I definatley would NOT get a child a thourobred off the track because they would probably be to much to handle for a child. thourobreds are ussually high strung, and unless you can find a really calm one, I wouldn't look into it very much.... pure bred arabians are ussually high strung! They are beautiful though! A half arab would be a nice. I own a half arab/ half paint and he is the fastest learner on the planet!!! he is smart, pretty, and, like most arabs, is atatched to one person. They are very friendly, but spook easily, often over reacting... arabians are used for alot of stuff including jumping, dressage, endurance, and western pleasure.

A warmblood I wouuld only get if your daughter is very serious about jumping or dressage.... They are beautiful, but ussually for the competitive rider....

              If your daughter is looking into both english and western, it really doesn't matter what breed you get. any breed can be trained to do both....  A quarter horse would make a good family horse because of their easy going laid back attitude. Quarter horse's dont get attatched to a specific one person, wich would make them pleasurable family horses.... I know when i leave town my arab mix gets grumpy because he feels a little abondoned...  quarter horses make great trail horses, and if you want a horse your daughter can just hop on bareback with a halter, a quarter horse is probably  the best!!!(or paint)



do you live on the property 24/7 were you keep your horses? Is there a vet close by? how is the fencing? do you plan to give your horses grain? or let them eat grass? how much property do you have? do you have a pasture pal for your horse? he could get lonely being by himself, so if you have llamas that would be great! goats can also work as pasture pals, or miniture horses, or you could get two horses.

The breed really depends on your daughter's level of skill and the riding she does. Just because a breed is known to be highstrung doesn't mean that all the horses of that breed are high strung, so look around. I would get a registered horse, if you get into showing. MAKE SURE when you decide to buy a horse, get a vet check!!! My friend got a horse that she thought was calm, but when she brought the horse home, she realized it had been drugged to make it calm. GET A VET CHECK b4 you ever buy a horse!!!



Good luck on finding the right horse!!! Try these horse finding websites!!!

Horsetopia.com

dreamhorse.com

equinehits.com

Answer 24

Get a horse that is in the 10 yr old range. Hopefully it will have some experience, but it's young enough that you'll get plenty of use out of it. A young horse is not acceptable for someone who doesn't know a lot - you want something that knows what it is doing. QH's are generally a good tempered breed, but many breeds are fine. It's more about the temperament and experience of the individual horse that you find. Just find something that is safe and kind for your daughter. Good luck :)

Answer 25

I know how you feel, my mom was the same way when i wanted to start riding. My mom wanted a safe, old, bombproof horse that would take care of me.

i would advise getting a horse 15yr old+. It may not be the prettiest thing but its needs to be SAFE. The worst thing you can do is buy a young foal or green broke horse. You want a horse that has been there and done that. My first horse was 17Yrs old and was used on a ranch all his life. he was ugly but perfect for what we needed: a babysitter.

Hope this hepls, and good luck!

Answer 26

Please don't get a young horse! Despite the other answers so far, young horses are asking for trouble.  Although there is no breed, age or type of horse that is guaranteed to be right for you, you can certainly find a good one.  My recommendation is this: look for a horse that was already in a situation like the one that you have. ( younger kids around, kept in a like fashion to your home, ridden in like areas, doing like things)  For example, if your daughter wants to show 4H or trail ride, then find a quiet horse, maybe about 10yrs old, that has had novice riders take it to shows and ride on trails.  If the horse is going to live at your house outside 24/7, then don't look at pampered house plant horses that have been inside since birth.  

If you are planning on getting a horse with in a year, then start looking and educating yourself right now.  i good horse can be hard to find.