Which Is the Best Horse Breed for a 15 Year Old Girl?

Riders of any age should determine the best horse to purchase based upon their skill level and for what purpose they plan to use their horse. Teenage girls who are beginners or are looking for a horse to ride for pleasure should consider the temperament of the horse breed, as well as that of the individual horse. Those with more expertise, who plan to participate in competitive riding events, should match the potential breed to the competition event.

  1. Pleasure Riding

    • Go for a middle of the road breed, the "warm blood," if your fifteen year-old is a beginner or is simply looking for an even-tempered pleasure riding horse. The term "warm blood" comes from the breeds that are mixtures of the "cold blood" breeds from the colder regions of Northern Europe and the "hot bloods" such as the Arabian horses, originally from the desert. Go for the popular, even-tempered quarter Horse. Or choose the distinctly American breed of pinto or "paint" horse, distinguished by its large patches of color on a white body. These horses are even-tempered and the best choices for trail-riding and beginning riders.

    Show Jumping and Event Riding

    • Certain breeds are termed "sport horses" and are bred for show jumping, hunting, dressage and event riding. These horses are bred to ride over fences at a full gallop and perform "cross country," which simply means over rough terrain, similar to what is tread when riding horses in a hunt, following the hounds. Good breeds for this sort of event work are generally some type of warm-blood horse. Breeds that contain some mixture of thoroughbred, Arabian and Dutch or German warm bloods such as Hanovians perform well under these special conditions and are considered good choices for young women who plan to show their horse.

    Barrel Racing

    • Barrel racing requires horses that can be trained easily, are sturdy and strong and able to change their focus without becoming distracted. If your fifteen year-old is ready to train her own barrel-racing horse, make sure that she has a breed that suits the rigors of the sport such as an Appaloosa, paint or quarter horse. The paint and Appaloosa horses also provide a bit of colorful panache, since they both are easily recognized by their colorful spots and patches. Thoroughbreds and Arabians are breeds that would be too high strung for this sort of work.

    Ponies

    • Smaller and more timid riders might do best with a pony. Large ponies stand up to 14.2 hands high and are well suited to petite teenaged girls. Their smaller size can make them easier to handle than larger horses that can be up to 16+ hands high. If you decide to purchase a pony, make sure to shop wisely. Some ponies are very intelligent, which, ironically can make them difficult to handle, since they don't comply as easily with riders' commands. Ponies often are notorious for being bad tempered as well, so be sure to ride any pony you might be considering buying.