Top 5 best horse breed for a first-time owner

Welcome to the world of horse lovers!

If you want to know the best horse breed for a first-time owner, you are in the right place.

Our article can be kind of help. You can find much useful information about the top best horses for beginners, the reason to buy them and things to check when choosing them to raise in your house or farm.

Keep reading and explore everything about your very first horses.

Do not make you wait any longer. Here is our recommendation:

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Top 5 Horse Breeds For Beginners

Although there is no perfect horse breed for beginners, you can still find some types that are more suitable than others because of their unique characteristics.

Check them out:

1. American Quarter Horses

These favorite horses are the ideal choice for beginners. The main reason for choosing them is their docile temperament and firm body to create a great bond between the rider and the animal.

Even when you raise them on your farm, they are not easily frightened by stubborn calves or scattered flocks. So you feel safe riding without worrying much.

2. Thoroughbred

The most important thing is training for each horse. Although Thoroughbreds are mostly bred into racehorses with power and high thinking, they also have the right points for someone who wants to own a very first horse.

They are gentle, stable, and muscular and look lovely. If you can train them well, they will be your most disciplined horse.

3. Tennessee Walking Horse

The next horse breed is famous for being very docile and gentle. They are also very friendly and easy to “forgive people” when humans wrongly handle horses or accidentally abuse horses.

Therefore, they are perfect companions on your first journey with horses and riding but make sure to love them. They also serve in most equestrian sports like saddle seats, costumes, dance, and endurance.

4. Shetland Pony

These ponies originating from the Shetland Islands are suitable for both adults and children when starting to practice riding. They have a low height (about 46 inches), thick fur and sturdy body.

Thus, you or your child can be more secure when on the saddle. Also, the Shetland Pony is gentle, quite calm and loyal to humans. Because of its limited size, you can check how suitable it is with your height.

5. Percheron

Lastly, you can also choose this French horse breed for your first practice rides. Many people love them because they are very brilliant. Percheron horses also have excellent muscular structure, docile and gentle nature. The trick is to choose a pure or cross type that is lighter than the original one.

Things to consider when selecting the best horses for beginners

Do not buy untrained horses

Untrained horses are usually cheaper but they are not safe for beginners. You should not buy them to train or send to a trainer because it will be dangerous to do things wrong and take a long time. You should choose horses with experiences and good temperament instead of focusing on horse breeds. And note that older horses of any breed tend to be easier to ride than young horses.

No “love at first sight”

If you love a horse the first time you meet, don’t buy it right away. You should try out the horse, try again, ask the seller or go home and think for a few days. You also need to consider other horses to compare and have the best option for you. Besides, you should be alert when buying horses at the auction as they can be drugged to look calm and healthy.

Try the horses before you own them

You can ask the seller whether you can try the horse for some days before paying. Horse owners also want to find their beloved animals the new good owner who can take care of them and handle them well. Some sellers may also help you find another horse if the horse you’re looking for doesn’t meet your need after the trial period.

Follow your demand and skill

If you are new to horse riding or experience only a few months, do not buy horses for high-performance competitions. You have to choose horses that meet your needs for safe riding practice, basic skill levels, and regular physical strength. It helps avoid danger to you when using. Note that you should also avoid buying ponies to grow up with your child, and you need to select a mature and well-trained horse.

Ready to be a horse owner

If you love horses and want to buy them for care and riding, are you willing to spend time and money for them? Caring and training horses have never been easy. You need to take time to care for them, learn how to ride correctly, understand their habits, and consult experts, nutritionists or doctors to make your horse indeed an ideal companion. Let’s make friends and love your new horses more.

In short, what are the best horses for beginners?

Many horse breeds are available for people who prepare for riding for the first time. We mention top 5 best horses for you including American Quarter Horses, Thoroughbred, Tennessee Walking Horse, Shetland Pony, and Percheron.

We selected the American Quarter Horses in our beginning times of riding, and we are very satisfied with their docile temperament and firm body. We also don’t worry about anything when bringing them to raise on our farm.

How about you? Let’s check all the top list and our buying guide to find your best horse breed for a first-time owner. Remember to take your time to understand your new horses, try them and ask the seller any questions if necessary.

You can leave your comment here if you want to ask us something about a horse or share your experiences with the new lovely horse.

comparison between the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale

The Belgian draft horse vs Clydesdale are two equine breeds originating from European countries.

They are among the strongest breeds and widely used for work and also gain massive popularity as riding and show horses.

Despite being draft horses with some similar features, those breeds vary in many other characteristics. Throughout this post, you will find out how comparable they look and how they differ in various aspects, which is helpful especially when it comes to owning a suitable one.

How Similar Are The Belgian Draft Horse vsClydesdale?

They are both pretty meaty, a common characteristic of draft horses, and strong enough to pull large weights.

Like the Clydesdale, the Belgian horse has many white markings through the main coat (on the legs, face, mane, and tail).

It is also true that both the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale are easy to train, willing to work and eager to learn.

Now, let’s check out how different these horses are.

The Differences

	Belgian Draft Horse	Clydesdale
Image
Origination	The Brabant region of Belgium	Clydesdale, Scotland
Life span	30 years	20 to 25 years
Average Weight	2000 pounds	1600 to 2400 pounds
Average Height	168 to 173 centimeters	162 to 183 centimeters
Colors	* Most are chestnut * Can be sorrel and roan	* Bay or brown are popular * Can be black, sorrel, or roan, grey, and chestnut
Temperament	Kind, gentle, calm, docile, steady and easy-to-handle	Alert, active, gentle, responsive
Uses	History: * Known for carrying knights in war * Post-war period: they were used in farms and also for meat while in the USA they were used for agricultural purposes and pleasure riding. Today: * Used for draft works (plowing, logging, pulling sleighs, hitches, and carriages). * Used for pleasure riding, show jumping, dressage, and endurance.	History: * Agricultural purposes (heavy draft, pulling freight wagons or plowing steep, rough hills); * Crossed with thoroughbreds and quarter horses to produce strong, heavier-boned riding horses. Today: popular in shows and parades and used as fancy carriage horses
Body type
Body	Muscular and powerful with a square head, heavily muscled gaskins	More streamlined with strong and muscular shoulders
Face	Straight or slightly concave	Wide (usually has a white stripe on the face), straight with a slight convex nature, intelligent-looking eyes
Tails	Longer	docked
Neck	Short, muscular	long and well-arched; shows more crest
Hindquarters	Short, broad back	Bulky
Hooves	Medium-sized	Larger and round (around five pounds each)
Feather	Has some feathering	Has heavy feathering in lower legs

Generally speaking, while the Belgian draft horse seems to be shorter, stockier, and also, a little longer-lived, the Clydesdale is available in more colors.

It is impossible to say which breed is better and deserves to be the winner in this comparison. Ultimately, it depends on whether you care more about their uses or appearance, their strength or temperament.

Conclusion

Those are similarities and differences you can consider to identify a more appropriate horse breed.

We hope that the above comparison between the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale will be useful for you.

>>> Read more about the different between Clydesdale & Shire Horse!

Clydesdale horses price

Clydesdales are huge draft horses that originated from the horse farms of Clydesdale, Scotland. 

They are one of the most beloved breeds of horses all over the world because they are strong and powerful but still gentle.

If you are a horse lover, surely you will want to own this horse breed.  

However, one of the very first thing you need to consider is the Clydesdale horse price. Are they expensive? How much does it actually cost?

The answer is, it vary in price depending on many factors.

Price is the first thing to consider when buying a Clydesdale

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THE INITIAL COST

OTHER ESSENTIAL COSTS

Feeding cost

Boarding cost

Healthcare cost

THIS PRICE IS OKAY TO BUY?

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THE INITIAL COST

The price of this breed is based on different factors such as bloodlines, size, age, color, markings, and level of training.

Some Clydesdales have the price ranging from only $1000 to $1200, but most of them sold between $2500 and $5000.

If your requirement goes for a normal Clydesdale who has good nature with no conformation defects and is able to ride and drive, your cost could fall between $500 and $1500.

In contrast, a beautiful horse with perfect performance and enough necessary traits will bring even more.

For example, if you want to buy a horse that is the strongest one in his team, he could cost somewhere from $1000 to $5000.

OTHER ESSENTIAL COSTS

When you’re looking for a Clydesdale horse, besides the initial price, there are other costs that you need consider.

Feeding cost

The number of food Clydesdales need will be another thing when it comes to the cost of them.

Clydesdale horses eat a lot of grains and hay in a day

Due to their huge body, the amount of food they consume can be as double as that of other horse breeds. 

Their diet depends on their age and the amount of work they do.

On average, an adult Clydesdale eats about 3 to 10 pounds of grain and 25 to 50 pounds of hay every day.

The amount of food will be even much more if your horses have to work all day long.

So, when raising a Clydesdale, you may have to spend about $150 to $175 per month on feeding on average.

Boarding cost

You then need to think about the boarding cost.

If you own a Clydesdale, you need own barns or stables. The boarding arrangements start from $500 to $2000 per month.

A Clydesdale horses’ barn

Also, the cost of horses shoes and other side foods like horse joint supplement is necessary. Each set of shoes will cost about $150-$200 for a Clydesdale and should be changed after every 4–8 weeks.

Healthcare cost

You will need a farrier to care for your horse and its hooves.

Farrier costs from $25 to $150 per month.

Add the cost of annual healthcare to make sure your Clydesdale horses always strong and healthy.

THIS PRICE IS OKAY TO BUY?

Simply saying, the costs for a Clydesdale horse can be much higher in comparison with other horse breeds.

So, remember to take time searching for every necessary information about Clydesdale horses price before you buy a Clydesdale.

When does a Pony become a horse?

Whenever a novice to horses sees a pony a question pops in their head: Is a pony a baby horse? And even if you don't believe it, it's NOT.

The misunderstanding doesn’t come only from the fact that ponies are quite similar to baby horses, but also, because of the word PONY by itself.

Want to know more? Discover it with us. Learn the differences between a pony and a baby horse. And if in fact, a pony can be a horse at all.

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Not a baby horse? Then what?

What is a pony?

Why are ponies so small?

When does a Pony become a horse?

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Not a baby horse? Then what?

What is a pony?

A pony can be one at any age, unlike the baby horse, called foal, which are considered such only while it’s younger than one year.

The word pony has its origins in the French "poulenet," which in the franco language literally means foal, that is an immature, young horse.

However, nowadays the meaning is not the same. And when the words came into English, it passed to describe what we know as ponies.

Ponies have shorter legs compared to a foal, and even wider bodies than a full-sized horse. So physically it cannot be considered either taking into account an average pony vs. an average foal or horse.

A small horse is the perfect description for a pony, and it doesn’t have to do with its age,  but rather its body dimensions.

Some notorious differences, easily noticeable by a trained eye, are that in comparison to horses the ponies exhibit thicker manes, which is the hair that grows from the top of their neck.

On a par with the manes, the ponies also possess fuller tails and overall coats.

They are well proportioned, with shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bones structured, thicker necks and shorter heads with their foreheads being broader than that of a horse or even a foal.

Why are ponies so small?

Initially, these type of horses came to be, because they lived on the edges of habitat suitable for horses to live in.

Humans then bred them for different purposes, such as freight transport and driving, children mount, recreational riding. Also, as pit ponies, since their sturdiness allowed them to carry big loads of coal.

In general, ponies are regarded as intelligent, friendly and somewhat stubborn animals.

When does a Pony become a horse?

Depending on various circumstances a pony can be considered a horse. For example, if it possesses the same or approximate height at the withers, the front "shoulder area in a horse.

Also, if they have a specific conformation and temperament.

In spite of this, a pony will be called a horse on an off-record manner, as the guidelines for the breed and race are very strict in the horse breeding community.

Ponies are not baby horses or grown-up horses for the matter. They are a race by themselves with distinctive characteristics.

Ponies are kind, smart creatures, loved the most by children. Having a pony is similar to owning a forever baby horse looking animal. But, for sure something not to regret.

pony and miniature horse

Some people usually get confused between miniature horses and ponies or think they are similar. Both are little horses, right?

Not exactly.

Though these two share many same characteristics, of course, they are totally distinct types of equine.

So, what is the difference between a pony and a miniature horse? Here is some information to help you distinguish them:

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Ponies

Ponies are small horses.

There are many types of ponies all over the world. Some of them are Shetland, Hackney, and Exmoor.

Ponies are usually distinguished from normal horses by the stature and size.

Compared to horses, ponies often have thicker coats, manes, and tails with shorter legs and a thicker neck.

Some pony breeds also have large heads, especially through the forehead, and bigger eyes.

Small Horse Pony

Any full-sized equine that is less than 15 hands at the withers is defined as a pony. However, this isn’t always true.

When an adult pony reaches his full height, it can be 58 inches tall.

In terms of lifespan, a pony can live more than 30 years.

Because of the variety in breeds, ponies, on the other hand, are used for many purposes.

For example, while the Hackney ponies are usually used for driving, people tend to use Connemara ponies and Australian Ponies for riding.

In some small rural areas, people still used ponies for farm work because these animals are strong enough to pull heavy equipment.

Miniature Horses

On the other hand, miniature horses are bred to look like a full-sized horse on a much smaller scale. In other words, they are a scaled-down version of a horse.

In their full grown, they can reach 38 inches in height.

In comparison with a pony, a miniature horse has a slimmer build and longer legs.  Also, a miniature horse has less heavy bones.

A miniature horse is usually more refined than a typical pony with a flexible neck, straight legs, and a short back.

Miniature Horse

Their average lifespan is 25 to 35 years.

In terms of their uses, the miniature horse is always the most beloved breeds of equine.

Because of their small stature, people cannot ride them. Instead, they can pull carts and sleds, and make family pets.

Also, they have become increasingly popular therapy animals in this modern world.

The Differences Between Them are...

Ponies and Miniature Horses are somehow different.

Here is some distinctive difference between these two types of animals:

Firstly, in size, Miniature horses can be slightly shorter than ponies.

Secondly, in appearance, miniature horses have less compact and muscular bodies, but their neck is taller.

Ponies have rough and long manes and tails. The manes and tails of miniature horses are quite smooth, in contrast.

Thirdly, the lifespan of A miniature horse is longer than that of most ponies.

Also, their uses are different.  Miniatures are more like indoor animals, but ponies tend to be outdoor workers.

The Last Words

Though there may be more ways to classify and define ponies and miniature horse, hopefully, the information above is helpful for you to understand and then take better care of your equine friends.

Top 5 facts about Clydesdale horses you should know

The Clydesdale is a draft horse that originated from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland. They are one of the most beloved breeds of horses that every single horse lover wants to have.

Besides its gentle characteristics, these animals have many other wonderful things that make them become increasingly popular.

Here are 5 clydesdale horse facts that will surprise you when reading.

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Clydesdales can consume a large amount of grain everyday

Clydesdale, like all horses in common, are herbivores. They eat hay, plants and grain.

Due to their huge body, their amount of food can be as double as that of other horse breeds normally consume. 

An adult Clydesdale may eat up to 10 pounds of grain on a daily basis.

A baby Clydesdales also needs to eat a lot. They can drink up to 100 litres of milk per day to support their growth.

They can be used for many different purposes

In the past, they used to be a popular warhorses. Due to their weight and size, people use them to carry heavy goods and injured soldiers.

Today, they are popular for both riding and driving.

 People also use them in many other activities such as trail riding, show jumping, experiential programming, and children’s programs.

Clydesdales are therapy horses

Due to their calmness and willing nature, they also are great therapy horses. By sensing their movements, disabled people can get up and walk again.

Clydesdale horses are one of the largest horse breeds all over the world

Clydesdales can stand more than 16 hands high. Their weight also can reach 2000 pounds.

Even a newborn baby Clydesdales can weigh up to 180 pounds, which is a big number.

They are the most recognizable of all big horse breeds

Clydesdales’ hooves are big

They can be easily recognized by their large hooves - in the size of frying pans. and can weigh at least 5 pounds.

Most Clydesdales have the reddish-brown color. Some of them also have white faces and bellies, with some white patches on their bodies.

All Clydesdales have the feathering in common, which allows Clydesdales to survive in the freezing weather of Scotland. 

They used to be considered in danger

In the past, this animal once dropped in the endangered list.

Thanks to the effort of many international organizations, today more than 5,000 have been registered for this breed. 

According to the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society of Australia, the numbers of Clydesdales in this country now are above 3000, enough to be considered “safe”.

And the facts about Clydesdale horses are totally discovered

Clydesdale horses are the favorite kind of many horse owners because of many different reasons.

Here are a few facts about this beautiful, gentle but still powerful and strong breed of horses.

If you are the one who is bringing up a wonderful Clydesdale, spend time discovering other facts about your amazing own horse in your personal way.