Breeds vs temperament

[diana135]

Been looking into certain breed characteristics.

I love the look of a chunky black Fell pony, but the typical characteristics of The Fell pony is known for being lively & alert.

A Haflinger is loving, willingness to please, intelligent and gentle horses and a weight carrier.

As im looking for a mum / daughter share need something gentle and loving and not at all lively.

Are ponies / horses true to their breed or do you think its more of a case of how theyve been treated and looked after.

thanks

 

[Elly Koopman]

Each breed will have it's own characteristics like you have described, but as you have also mentioned it will depend on how they have been treated/trained. A breed such as thoroughbred has a stereotypical image of being highly strung and antsy, yet you can come across that would happily sit in your lap and have their belly rubbed if they could.

Tbh if you are looking for a first horse then disposition is far more important that the breed. There a some great Heinz 57 neddies that'd have all the qualities you'd want and you'll find them much more easily and for a price that is more affordable. Some breeds attract a premium because of the breed, and not because they will necessarily be ideal for you.

 

[Yann]

Different individual breeds definitely have tendencies in the same direction temperament wise, but personality, history, how they are kept, what they're fed and how fit they are all play a part too.

I would absolutely agree with shopping on temperament rather than breed. Look for things like a horse that will come to the stable door to say hello, lead politely and be happy to stand still without being held for example. Native breeds and cobs do tend to be more unflappable, but can also be more opinionated and bolshy, one of the most tractable, cuddly and willing to please horses I know is a thoroughbred

 

[Kc..]

Different breeds definately do have there own characteristics for example a thoroughbred is likely to be alot livelyer than say a new forest pony. However i think when your looking for a horse there's no point looking for a breed i think you need to concetrate on your criteria and find a horse that matches it - whatever breed it is!

 

[lachlanandmarcu]

It also depends on their experiences and the temperaments of the parents. My Haflinger (GB registered) I got at 3 and broke in with RI is exactly as the breed is described and is wonderful, but older Haffies imported in large numbers and flogged via dealers from less certain parentage sometimes are more bolshy and difficult.

A lot cheaper, and less work as they are broken in, but more pot luck. But a good one is exactly like the description, and there are lots of good ones.

 

[Ms Kitty]

for example a thoroughbred is likely to be alot livelyer than say a new forest pony.

Very true. But if you come to our yard, you find 50+ TBs that are much calmer than your average NF pony, and many other breeds to be honest. Definitely just write down what you want from your horse, what you want him/her to be able to do, then start looking for one but don't use the breed as the main focus point!

Nina x

 

[showqa]

Well I have a PRE, imported as a 4 year old, and everybody I know has this idea that they're highly strung. As far as my fella is concerned, he's extrememly big hearted and - for a 5 year old - very laid back, verging on lazy. In my experience of this breed, they are generally very quick to learn and love people, but if you buy and older one directly from Spain it can be a very different story which perfectly illustrates the nature v nurture arguement.

 

[han_x]

My Clydesdale X TB to me is true to her breeding. She has the appearance, floatyness and Temperament of a Clyde and her ability to move quick is def from the Thoroughbred in her.

 

[SO1]

Very true. But if you come to our yard, you find 50+ TBs that are much calmer than your average NF pony, and many other breeds to be honest. Definitely just write down what you want from your horse, what you want him/her to be able to do, then start looking for one but don't use the breed as the main focus point!

Nina x

I have a NF and he is only 6 and exceptionally calm - also went to the breed show and there was 100+ NF the majority of them were sleeping or resting between classes and I did not see anyone fall off or any pony look out of control

I would say NF are one of the calmest breeds around. Anything that has run out on the forest in normally very good in traffic and generally laid back as they get to see alot of buses and tourists.

Feed and management can however pay a big part in temperment - my pony lives out all year and does not have much hard feed at all - however if I was to feed him loads of racehorse mix and restrict his turnout he would probably get very cross and change.

 

[Ms Kitty]

I have a NF and he is only 6 and exceptionally calm - also went to the breed show and there was 100+ NF the majority of them were sleeping or resting between classes and I did not see anyone fall off or any pony look out of control

I would say NF are one of the calmest breeds around. Anything that has run out on the forest in normally very good in traffic and generally laid back as they get to see alot of buses and tourists.

Feed and management can however pay a big part in temperment - my pony lives out all year and does not have much hard feed at all - however if I was to feed him loads of racehorse mix and restrict his turnout he would probably get very cross and change.

Point I was trying to make is that breed has nothing to do with temperament. The comparison to NF pony was random one, taken from a previous post, to show that even though TBs are considered a flyighty breed (as you can probably agree, more flyighty than your average NF pony, which is why I made the comparison to that breed!), we have 50+ of them and they are pretty darn calm. And yes, because of right management, which supports my argument that breed has nothing to do with it.

As opposed to that, I have seen loads of NF ponies that have not been the easiest to handle, something to do with the pony breed stubborness combined with improper management, I would assume..

Nina x

 

[Yann]

Point I was trying to make is that breed has nothing to do with temperament

Like I posted before I think it does, different breeds often do have a tendency to react to things in different ways, but it's only one factor among many and it's best to judge every horse as an individual nonetheless

 

[cinammontoast]

I have a NF and he is only 6 and exceptionally calm - also went to the breed show and there was 100+ NF the majority of them were sleeping or resting between classes and I did not see anyone fall off or any pony look out of control

I would say NF are one of the calmest breeds around. Anything that has run out on the forest in normally very good in traffic and generally laid back as they get to see alot of buses and tourists.

And yet the NF I know is an aggressive little mare! I think it depends on the individual, the work they do and as you said, the feed given. My cob is true to form-calm, quiet, sensible but has his moments. The stallions at the yard are very relaxed (warmbloods) and the moodiest horse on the yard is cob X and can be really mareish.

 

[sabreig]

I think it's equally down to breeding, and how they are bought up. I've always had welsh x tb or arab or pure of one of those three breeds. I like the sturdyness(sp) of the native breeds, and as I have always had welsh, I've stuck to them with the speed/agility of the arab and thoroughbred. I've also always found all 3 breeds to be very intellegant, thus trainable and comical all at the same time.

 

[Ms Kitty]

Like I posted before I think it does, different breeds often do have a tendency to react to things in different ways, but it's only one factor among many and it's best to judge every horse as an individual nonetheless

Mmm, maybe the "nothing" was a too strong a word to use.. But it is silly to say that because majority of horses within certain breed type will act certain way, it means every single horse within that breed will act that way. If the one that misbehaves happens to be the one you bought and you can't handle it, it doesn't matter how well the 100 same breed horses behave on the neighbouring yard.

Nina x