Are you looking to buy your first horse in the near future but don’t really know what to look for? Well you came to the right place. These are my 10 best recommendations for horse breeds that are generally beginner-friendly.
When looking to buy a horse who is safe for a beginner-level, there are some important things to look for when reading sale advertisements and posts.
Avoid Horses Who Are…
- Younger than 9 years old
- Green broke or unbroken
- Stallions
- Said to be best for an intermediate or advanced rider
- Lame or have a history of illnesses
- Described as temperamental
- Said to be alpha or lead horse in a herd
- Known to rear
- Known to buck excessively
- Described as high strung or spirited
- Fresh off the track
- Very spooky
- Difficult to groom, tack up, and lead
- Difficult to trailer
- Known to bolt
- Difficult to ride
Typically, young riders and/or beginner level riders do better with a mellow and tame horse who is pretty easy to get along with and ride.
Consider Horses Who Are…
- 9 years old and up
- Fully broken/trained or ‘finished’
- Geldings or mares
- Said to be good for a beginner or novice rider
- Described as a ‘babysitter’ horse
- Sound and have no record of illnesses or lameness issues
- Described as mellow, lazy, and calm
- Who are said to be at the bottom of the herd
- Said to have no buck, no bite, and no rear
- Described as ‘bombproof’
- Responsive under saddle
- Easy to lead
Horses with these traits and descriptions are good horses to look into and to consider when looking for your first horse.
Recommendations for meeting and riding your maybe-future horse
- Ask the owner/seller lots of questions about the horse
- Knowing as much as possible is important!
- Ride the horse yourself to see how they feel to you
- The horse should be easy for you to ride and control
- Bring along your trainer and/or riding instructor to test ride the horse for you
- Getting a professional’s opinion on a potential horse may be a good idea to make sure you are getting a horse that is a good fit for you
Before getting a horse, make sure you are prepared! Make sure you are ready to own a horse and know everything you should before getting a horse of your own.
The 10 Best Breeds For Beginner-Level Riders and First-Time Horse Owners:
10. Arabians
The Arabian horse is a world famous breed known for their elegant appearance and popularity. Though many members of this breed can be very spirited and temperamental, there are many Arabians out there who would make excellent riding horses for any level of rider.
The reasons that I put this breed on this list include:
- They are generally smaller horses which makes them less intimidating to novices
- These horses are very sweet and kind
- They are very responsive under saddle making them a little easier to ride
- If you come across a good Arabian, they can be very calm, mellow, and safe
Some basic breed information:
| Height | About 15 hands high |
| Weight | 1,000 pounds (455 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Bay, Grey, Chestnut, and Black; No patterns or other colors allowed |
| Country of Origin | Unknown; From the Arabian Peninsula/Middle East |
| Type | Hotblood |
| Popular Uses | General Riding, Western Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, and Showing |
| Riding Style | Both English and Western |
9. Morgans
Morgan horses are yet another American breed who actually has a lot in common with the Arabian breed.
These horses are a good option for beginners as they have very sweet personalities. Additional reasons why I recommend this breed include:
- They are smaller horses making them not so intimidating to children and novice riders
- They are fairly sensitive horses making them more responsive under saddle
- These horses are mostly calm and mellow (though there are exceptions!)
Some basic breed information:
| Height | 14.2 to 15.2 hands high |
| Weight | 1,000 pounds (455 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Any solid color |
| Country of Origin | United States of America |
| Type | Warmblood |
| Popular Uses | General Riding, English Pleasure |
| Riding Style | Mainly English |
8. Colorado Ranger
The Colorado Ranger is a beautiful breed of horse who originates in the United States of America.
The reasons they make a great option for beginner-level riders include:
- The great temperament and attitude they have
- The various breeds they are mixed with makes their pedigree diverse which makes them hardy, healthy horses
- They are known to be very gentle and are often used as riding horses in lesson programs
Some basic breed information:
| Height | Between 14.2 and 16 hands high |
| Weight | 1000 to 1200 pounds (455 to 545 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Any solid color; they can also be spotted |
| Country of Origin | United States of America |
| Type | Warmblood |
| Popular Uses | Ranch/Cattle work, general riding, trail riding, Endurance Work |
| Riding Style | Mostly Western |
7. Connemara Pony
The Connemara pony is a large breed of pony who originates in the country of Ireland.
The reasons that these ponies make a great first horse for beginner level riders include:
- Their smaller size makes them less intimidating
- These ponies are known for their wonderful temperament
- They are large enough to be ridden by an adult, but small enough to easily be ridden by children
- They are easily able to be handled and ridden by children
- They are athletic and can progress far in dressage and jumping, but still are calm and and quiet under saddle
- They are very hardy ponies, so you can expect few vet bills
Some basic breed information:
| Height | 13 to 14.2 hands high |
| Weight | 800 to 900 pounds (360 to 410 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Gray, bay, dun, chestnut, and (sometimes) roan |
| Country of Origin | Ireland |
| Type | Warmblood Pony |
| Popular Uses | Dressage, Showjumping, General Riding, Eventing, and Driving |
| Riding Style | English |
6. Tennessee Walking Horse
The Tennessee Walking Horse is a well known breed of horse who, like the Colorado Ranger, is from the United States of America.
These horses are a great choice for beginner riders and owners for these reasons:
- They are very calm, quiet horses
- They are known for their gentle, mellow temperament
- They are smooth, making it easier to be ridden
- These horses are known to have a great disposition and are a recommended breed for children and amateur riders
Some basic breed information:
| Height | 15 to 16 hands high |
| Weight | 1000 pounds (455 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Any solid color, but most commonly black and chestnut |
| Country of Origin | United States of America |
| Type | Warmblood |
| Popular Uses | Trail Riding, Showing, and General Riding |
| Riding Style | Mostly English |
5. Haflingers
Haflingers are by far one of my favorite large ponies. They are sweet, lovable, and great for any rider.
These ponies are a great choice for any beginner level rider for these reasons:
- They have great temperaments
- They have a gentle disposition
- The smaller size of these horses makes them less intimidating to novice equestrians
- They make excellent mounts even for children and are one of the few breeds actually suggested for use by children
Some basic breed information:
| Height | Up to 14 hands high |
| Weight | 1000 to 1200 pounds (455 to 454 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Only Flaxen Chestnut |
| Country of Origin | Austria |
| Type | Coldblooded Pony |
| Popular Uses | Dressage, General Riding, Driving, Trail Riding, and Packing |
| Riding Style | Mostly English |
4. American Paint Horses
The American Paint Horse is a really pretty breed that shares many traits with the Quarter Horse. As you may guess by their name, these horses originated in the United States of America.
What makes me choose these horses for this list are the following reasons:
- These horses are typically very laid back and mellow
- They can do pretty much anything you ask them to
- They generally have a gentle disposition and can be ridden even by children
- The Paint Horse has a quiet temperament and these horses are usually quite relaxed
Some basic breed information:
| Height | 14.3 to 16 hands high |
| Weight | 1,000 to 1,200 pounds (455 to 545 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Any solid color with white patches; can be Overo, Tobiano, or Tovero |
| Country of Origin | United States of America |
| Type | Warmblood |
| Popular Uses | Ranch/cattle work, Barrel racing, general riding, and trail riding |
| Riding Style | Mostly Western |
3. Missouri Fox Trotters
The Missouri Fox Trotter is by far one of the top horses to use for beginner level riding. My first horse was a Missouri Fox Trotter mare, and she was the calmest, sweetest, most mellow horse I have ever met.
The main reasons I recommend these horses to a novice rider include:
- The gentle disposition of these horses
- Their smooth gaits which make them easier to ride
- Their great attitude towards working
- The calm, mellow nature of the breed
- These horses are able to even be ridden by children with ease
Some basic breed information:
| Height | 14.2 to 16.2 hands high |
| Weight | 1000 to 1200 pounds (455 to 545 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Any solid color; can also be pinto; mostly chestnut with white markings |
| Country of Origin | United States of America |
| Type | Warmblood |
| Popular Uses | Showing, Trail Riding, and Western Pleasure |
| Riding Style | Western |
2. Grade Horses
Did you know that the word ‘grade’ in horses is the same thing as the word ‘mutt’ in dogs? It just means that the horse is unregistered or a mixed breed.
Grade horses are so high on this list for several reasons. These reasons are:
- Their mixed breeding makes them pretty healthy horses overall
- They are usually pretty calm horses and generally are bred for temperament over specific breed
- These horses are known to be a good option for children and novice riders
- Many grade horses found in America are crossed with Quarter Horses making their disposition very tame and relaxed
Some basic breed information:
| Height | Any |
| Weight | Any |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Can be any solid color or spot pattern, and can have any marking |
| Country of Origin | Unknown |
| Type | Any |
| Popular Uses | Ranch work, Open class shows, general riding, trail riding, and more |
| Riding Style | English or Western |
1. American Quarter Horse
And now for the best breed for beginner level riders! The American Quarter Horse comes out on top for a great number of reasons:
- These horses are calm, mellow, and tame
- In general, Quarter Horses can be pretty lazy
- They are sensitive enough to respond well to a rider, but heavy enough to where you still need to directly guide them
- They are pretty sane and even at a young age aren’t very spooky or fresh
- They are known to be a great children’s riding horse, as well as a great choice for the amateur adult
- They are good at virtually anything you want to use them for
Some basic breed information:
| Height | 14.3 to 16.2 hands high |
| Weight | 1,000 to 1,200 pounds (455 to 545 Kilograms) |
| Acceptable Coat Colors/Patterns | Any solid coat colors; includes dilutes (palomino, cremello, etc.) and roans |
| Country of Origin | United States of America |
| Type | Warmblood |
| Popular Uses | Ranch/Cattle work, Rodeo Sports, Jumping, Trail Riding, and General Riding |
| Riding Style | Mostly Western, but some English is seen too |