New Horse Breeds

I've been researching different breeds, deciding which direction to take with our little herd. The Quarter Horse and American Paint have a downhill body balance, ideal for racing and cattle work, but not the best for riding and driving. This past week I took advantage of a trip to Utah to visit Tally Ho Farm/Placido Dressage in Park City and Royal Grove Stables in Pleasant Grove.

At Tally Ho farm we were given a wealth of information and shown half a dozen examples of PRE Andalusians and Lusitanos. The breed is attractive not only because of its uphill build, but also because of its beauty, gentleness, trainability and intelligence. Next we visited Royal Grove Stables and met the stunning Friesian stallion Apollo. This loving horse was a giant puppy dog, more interested in getting our attention than in the mare nearby.

http://placidodressage.com/
http://www.royalgrovestables.com/index.html

Once back home in Montana, we visited Spanish Gate Andalusians five minutes away. The McCarters introduced us to their lovely black horses and spent an hour and a half talking with us. They were generous enough to let me ride their stallion, Confidante SG. What a treat to get to ride such a magnificent horse! I loved how he put his heart into each step. Everything he did was careful and deliberate. Even in an English saddle his trot was easy to sit. These horses are very sturdy, with shorter and stronger backs, heavier-boned legs and proportionately larger hooves than the Quarter Horse.

www.spanishgateandalusians.com