What Is the Best Horse Breed?
A grade horse is what we call a horse of unknown breeding—a "mutt" in the horse world. Some of these horses have been the best horses that I have known. Remember, if specific breeds aren't listed on your non-negotiable list, then that opens up the door for you to see a lot more prospects.
The majority of my lesson horses are grade horses. I could take a guess at their breeding, but they are not registered. They are great at their jobs, though.
List of Non-Negotiables
It is okay to have a favorite breed. That should not be one of the things on your list of non-negotiables when looking for a safe beginner horse. It narrows down your choices by a lot. You don't want to limit yourself when buying your first horse.
The First Horse Experience
The first horse experience should be a positive one. You find a safe horse that is sound, well-trained, and able to perform the job you want it to. It should be a horse you feel confident about riding and feel like you can learn new skills on.
Your first horse doesn't have to be your forever horse. Eventually, when you have more advanced riding skills and more experience, that is a better time to look for a specific breed. You will have been riding longer, developed more advanced skills, and developed your sixth sense (horse sense) better. That way, narrowing down your search to one breed does not have to be quite so limitin
Dream Horses Come in All Shapes and Sizes
If you look for a horse that is right for you with the help of your instructor and know your list of non-negotiables, you might surprise yourself with what your dream horse turns out to be.
Remember, the most important thing when looking for a horse for a beginner rider is that it is safe and well-trained. They say a good horse is never a bad color. I think it should also be said that a good horse is never a bad breed!