What should I get for my next horse?

Cobs are amazing! Their good for bigger boned people, are powerful jumpers and are truly lovely. Their also very gentle and will try their hoof at most things.

Good luck!

From what you have said that you are looking for, I think you are on the right track with an appaloosa. I have a whole herd of quarter horses (and one little mustang X), and they have radically different temperaments and energy levels. I think that quarter horses are such a popular and overbred breed that you have to look at them each as complete individuals and not really include "common breed characteristics" when evaluating a potential new horse. I have wanted to own an appaloosa for a long time, but there is a bit of a prejudice against ANY horse other than quarter horses in my part of the country. One of these days I'll have my appy!

My first horse was an old style morgan, who was a bit of a pain sometimes, but was my best friend while I was growing up. We were about the same age like you and your horse. I would look for a morgan that fits the original breed characteristics, not he super fine pansy looking Morgans that are popular today. They are very versatile, and have many respectable qualities for an all around horse.

Maybe you could look up a local horse rescue and volunteer a couple times. You could do a good deed and have the opportunity to work with many different breeds and crossbreeds of horses in a short time.

Goodluck!

If you were an Arabian rider then I'm sure you can handle a quarter horse. Honestly if I were you I would go with a quarter horse. And if you like the colors of the palominos then maybe consider a Quarter horse Palomino! But look on Dreamhorse.com and tell me what you think. Just click on Advanced Search and don't make it to picky or there will be almost no results. But like I'm saying, Quarter horses are the way too go. Judges love them. But at all depends on where your showing too. If you're really into showing too then do NOT go with a draft horse. Trust me my mom has one an he eats so much! I have a quarter horse who is about 19 an everyone thinks he's 7. If you live anywhere around Michigan and are interested then I'm considering selling him. If you want anymore information then ask but I'm just sayin that quarter horses are the done deal.

Q.H. are great! I have 4. for calmness though you have to consider each horses horseonality more than the breed although the breed plays in.

I have a thorough bred / paint cross that is the most laid back horse I have yet to meet.

The best way to get a calm horse is to learn the Parelli program and learn the 7 games that horses play with each other and you. http://www.parelli.com/content.faces?groupType=PAR...

not knowing your price range,

if you like spots look at a Knabstruper they are pricey and kinda rare in the states. they are some what related to Appaloosas but Knabstrupers have good hair and can grow a long mane and tail, better temperament and conformation. and are good jumpers.(Appaloosas are known to have brittle hair -breaks off and stays short-, and a bad attitude.)

or a Colorado ranger I don't know anything about them tho.

also consider a Haflinger they are cold blooded having draft in their ancestry but they are average horse hight and mostly come in the palomino color (its a color not a breed)and are sturdily built

if you like black a Frisian fits you description

there are thousands of breeds to consider what you can find and afford helps narrow it down to manageable selection

I don't know where 2 cute 4 u got got her info. But,it is opposite what I have ever heard about Clydesdale's

I have personally heard a Clydesdale owner telling exactly how much their horse eats and read articles about feeding Clydesdale's and that they are a high feed need breed compared to comparable drafts like a shire, etc. A Clydesdale eats 16# of grain a day for a stalled show horse not even one working. Because, for draft breeds Clydesdale's are high energy and they are popular because they prance.

I know you said that you didn't really want a draft horse because they're so big, and in a way I agree, they are very heavy horses. And even though you don't want anyone to advise the ones that you listed I'll tell you about them anyway. I would highly recommend a Clydesdale. I know that they are large, but when you think about it, they don't take up much more room than your'e Arabians would have. Most of the time they will eat less than your normal Arabian, Thoroughbred or Quarter horse and they have an extremely gentle nature. They won't get too prancy and they don't spook easily either.

If I were you, I would definetely consider.

If you love Arabians but you are a little heavy set I would get an Anglo-Arabian. Its a cross between an Arabian and a thoroughbred. Because of their endurance, speed and size they are one of the most versatile horses, you can do english riding like dressage, show jumping and even eventing or Western riding like barrels, cutting, poles etc. they are the best breed of horse to have. plus they come in all colors, shapes and sizes. for pictures of them just google Anglo-Arabian and you will see how cute and versatile this breed is.

I'd look for a nice quarter horse, which is a good all around breed of horse that comes in all sizes and colors, and is easy to find tack for. When you get into other breeds, sometimes you need specially built saddles to fit them. Draft breeds require bigger, stronger everything to contain them, and more feed to keep them up. Their hooves are more expensive to maintain in many cases, and they require bigger trailers to haul them in. For what you want to do, a quarter horse fits your criteria.....and as you said, they are a dime a dozen. That means more to choose from.

an arabian is really the perfect horse to carry and heavier person! but you could try a Thoroughbred