What is the best kind of horse for becoming an equstrian?

mb_geo: What is the best kind of horse for becoming an equstrian?
I love to ride horses but I need to know what is the best type for becoming an equstrian. An equstrian is a person who rides horses in like the olympics and stuff. I really want to be one but what horse is right for this job?

Answers and Views:

Answer by drose
Hmmm I really don’t know I’m a huge fan of quater horses they r great all around paints r nice from what I can tell they r extremly similar 2 quater horses just prettier. I’d avoid arabians cuase I think there NUTZ!!! Thourgh(sp?)Breds r alittle high strung for me 2 my guess is if u want 2 ride at that level it’s gonna take alot of practice and chances r good u won’t make it to that level on ur horse(not being mean) and if u do ull probally want a new horse for that(not sayin ull get rid of urs).so just get a horse u bond wiht and is right for u do tons of research have fun!!

Answer by Miso
hmm…. are you sure you know what you’re talking about? It’s spelled equestrian, by the way. If you really know what you are talking about, then I guess a warmblood is that type of horse. But don’t get your hopes up on the olympics unless you really are commited… riding horses is harder than it looks!

Answer by kmn_miamisax
Well they have a lot of different activities in the Olympics: dressage, show jumping, cross country… But they’re all basically english style… I don’t think they have any western events, but I could be wrong. And the basic answer for what kind of horse you’ll need is: expensive! The horses in the Olympics are the absolute top notch best horses in the world. Buying one with that much training would certainly be over $ 50,000 and probably closer to a million. But as for breed, I think a lot of those horses are thoroughbreds, particularly for the jumping. For dressage there’s probably warmbloods and Trakehners too. You’re probably not going to see any quarter horses, arabians, morgans, ponies, or drafts at the Olympics. So any of the hot or warm blooded horses are your best bet.

Answer by ap1188
Before you pick your horse, you need to know what sort of discipline you’ll be riding. The best way to do that is taking lessons in what interests you or what you think looks like fun. The first thing to decide is English or Western. The English disciplines include hunters, huntseat equitation, jumpers, eventing, dressage, and saddleseat. Western disciplines include trail, pleasure, showmanship, and reining. The three Olympic disciplines are all English: show jumping, three day eventing, and dressage, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you’re primarily interested in English. Here’s a breakdown of some of the more popular English disciplines and the breeds you’ll see in competitions:

Hunters: In hunters, the judge evaluates only the horse based on how it performs on the flat and/or over a set course of jumps. He evaluates movement, style, and conformation. In the high level hunters, you’ll see primarily warmblood breeds (Dutch and German especially). These are usually very expensive horses because they need to be flawless. They should move with a flat-knee action and jump with their legs up, together, and even. They should round their bodies over fences. Style is very important here, and you’ll see competitors with horses worth well into the six figures.

Huntseat equitation: In equitation (or Eq for short), the judge evaluates solely the rider in their position, effectiveness, and style. Technically speaking, the horse isn’t supposed to be judged, but at the higher levels you still need a fancy horse to help catch the judge’s eye. You need a partner that will listen to you so you can show off your own abilities. Most horses in equitation are again either warmbloods or thoroughbreds. They’re often very expense, just like the hunters.

Jumpers: In jumpers, you’re evaluated on how quickly and cleanly you get through a set course of jumps. You need a horse that is adjustable enough to push forward and collect back before a jump, and one that really tucks its legs close to its body so as not to knock a rail. You’ll see lots of thoroughbreds and warmbloods again, but there are divisions for ponies, too (just as there are in hunters). Style’s not important in jumpers, so you could invest in a more affordable horse and still do well.

Eventing: Eventing is like the equestrian triathlon. In a formal three day event, the first day would have a dressage test, the second day would have the cross country and steeplechase phases, and the third day would have show jumping. Many big three day events are now cutting the steeplechase phase, though. There are also plenty of one and two day events at the lower levels. You’ll see a lot of thoroughbreds in eventing because their athleticism and stamina are vital to doing well over a three day period of grueling competition.

Dressage: Dressage is about balance and collection and fluid motion. It is a sport that demands perfection and suppleness in both horse and rider. You will see many warmbloods in the dressage ring, but you’ll also see the occasional pony or thoroughbred.

You should also remember that many breeds have their own specific show circuit. Quarter Horses, Paints, Arabs, and many more breeds host shows in all these disciplines and more, where your competitors will only be other members of your breed.

I also advise you to take lessons before committing yourself to the purchase of a horse. Few people realize that riding is a demanding sport. It places strains on your time and your money. As a novice especially, you’ll need professional training to establish a safe, effective position. Think of your trainer like the coach on the sports team. I also recommend that you lease a horse before buying one. This will give you an idea of expenses and the level of commitment buying a horse requires.

Answer by majolica2002
The warmblood breeds are the ones typically seen in the Olympics. However, most any breed can be seen on rare occasions. Breed is not nearly as important as individual personality and willingness.

Answer by jeepgirl0385
I feel an equestrian is any experienced rider who can also care for their horses, whether or not it is a paid job or just for recreation.

But anyways, the most common horses used for the Olympics are Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Selle Francis. Any large horse (over 16 or so hands), with a rather sleek, athletic composition, who enjoys jumping, dressage, and/or cross country (depending if you want to do 3-day eventing or just stick to one discipline) is a good horse, regardless of the breed. Even cross-breeds can be a good choice!

It is important that you and the horse are able to work as a team, so it is important to get a horse that suits your personality and riding style

Most horses that are trained at the Olympic level are very expensive and hard to come by, however they are out there.

Good luck! I wish I was able to follow this dream. Unfortunately, a knee problem prevents me from being able to ride at as high a level as I would like. 🙁

Answer by Starlight 1
I think that every young horse lover that’s ever lived has aspired to or dreamed about riding in the Olympics at some point. You don’t say how old you are, but I get the impression that you have many years in front of you. The breeds of horses which are ridden at the Games vary widely- most are either Thoroughbreds or Warmbloods, although there have been many noted exceptions to this.(Dressage rider Lendon Gray’s mount, Last Scene, was a registered Connamera pony, which just shows that ANY horse, of ANY breed can compete at the highest levels of the sport, provided that they have had proper care and training.) Horses that have reached the uppermost levels of their training can be quite expensive- but what is harder for most beginners to grasp is that riding in a place like the Olympics or the World Equestrian Games is something that often takes a lifetime to achieve. Most of our current Olympians and members of the US Equestrian Team are professionals who have been riding and training in their chosen sports for their entire adult lives-indeed, many of them began their careers riding and showing ponies as very young children. (Most major horse shows have classes and divisions for children starting from as early as age 3.) It should be noted that there are NO children riding on the international scene- international rules prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from representing their country at the Olympics or competitions like it. If you really think that you have what it takes to get to the Olympic level, then take all the lessons you can possibly afford from the best coach you can find. When you aren’t riding, READ and study the books written by the world’s great equestrian masters- people like Dr. Reiner Klimke, Vladimir Littauer, Gordon Wright, George Morris, and many others. Work at a barn, and do whatever you are asked to do- even if this means shoveling manure for hours at a time every day. You are there to learn all you can, and hard work and dedication are part of the game. Remember, becoming an Olympic caliber rider isn’t just about riding- it’s about WORKING and LEARNING, and being an all-around horseman. Good luck !!

Answer by bok says the chicken
are you planning on entering the olympics? most horses in show jumping and dressage are warmbloods. 3 day eventing has a lot of thoroughbreds, sometimes irish TB’s and australian TB’s. but warmbloods are also used for 3-day

Answer by lee3620111
You want one with four legs. An equestrian, by the way, is anyone who rides horses anytime not just competitively. If you want to become a competitive rider, look for a nearby equestrian center or stable. Someone there will be able to help you.

Answer by cheergirl10
Warmbloods are typically seen in the olympics.. but they are alot to handle so make sure your ready for a commitment like that. they are beautiful. but if you come to find you dont like warmbloods ride what makes you look good thats really how you equitate. but something tall and lean with distinct muscle deffinition is ussually your best bet.