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Categories: Equestrian LifestyleHorse News

Horse Breeds I’d Like to Own but Don’t

I love my horses, and I wouldn’t trade them any others. That said, we all have horse breeds that we daydream about owning or riding in a perfect world. Here is a look at some of the horse breeds I sometimes think about owning someday—if my barn was bigger and I had more stall-cleaning help.


Beach Vogue Horses by JB Stran/publicdomainpictures.net

Chincoteague Pony



In a daydream world, I would own a Chincoteague Pony—but not just a descendent of the original pony herds; no, in a daydream world I would actually go to Pony Penning Day some July and bid on a true wild pony from the island. Of course it would be a perfect sunny day with no bugs, and the crowds would be minimal (I’d have a front row view of the action, of course), and I would watch the Chincoteague fire department swim the ponies across the channel from Assateague to Chincoteague, and I’d see a pony that would be perfect for me, and I’d bid on it at the auction. And of course I would win the auction (for a reasonable price) and bring it home and train it (no—”gentle” it) and my barn would forever be home to a “piece of wind and sky.” Since it’s not a perfect world, I may not ever actually do this, but it’s appealing to muse over.


26 by Del Brown on flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Mustang



In a daydream world, I would own a Mustang. Have you ever seen those ads from the Bureau of Land Management promoting their Mustang Adoptions? I’ve always wanted to do that—bring home a true wild Mustang, still with authentic Wild West dust in his coat, then earn his trust, train him, and ride off into the sunset on a horse that was born wild among the sagebrush and rocky bluffs. If a perfect world, this would all work out easily and wouldn’t take particularly long. But I know it’s not nearly that simple. Starting this list, I’m surprised to see I have two “wild” horse breeds on it. I very much like well-behaved, well-trained horses, so purchasing animals that haven’t been ever been handled probably isn’t the best match for my lifestyle. But again, it’s fun to think about.


Standardbred Training by Robert Taylor on flickr/CC BY 2.0

Standardbred

In a daydream world, I would own a Standardbred, and a little cart, and we would cruise along the backstretch of some tiny county fair track in late summer, coming up on the outside and winning by a nose. And then we would donate the prize money back to charity, since our real prize was the enjoyment of the race and the thrill of victory. In the real world, however, I generally prefer small horse breeds, and I’d need to brush up my horse driving skills, so getting to this point would take some time. But it still sounds good.

What horse breeds do you dream of owning? Is it all just in fun, like mine, or do you really intend to follow through one day?

Daniel Johnson is a freelance writer
and professional photographer. He’s the author of several books,
including How to Raise Horses: Everything You Need to Know, (Voyageur
Press, 2014). Dan’s barn is home to Summer, a Welsh/TB cross, Orion, a
Welsh Cob, and Mati and Amos, two Welsh Mountain Ponies. Follow him at www.facebook.com/foxhillphoto.

8 years ago

View Comments

  • I loved the article. Some day I want a Halflinger. They're so cute because they look like overgrown ponies.

  • Agree Haflingers (as well as Icelandic horses) are so cute. Rode a standardbred in my younger years -a great trail horse and not a bad jumper. But loved the comfortable gait when I had a chance to ride an Icelandic. I tend to love those rounder barreled horses (Morgans, Arabians, ponies) but being short legged it was often easier to ride a thoroughbred!

  • This was a wonderful article...thank you. I own a mare Missouri Fox Trotter, dapple grey, who also is beautiful and always looks like she has eye makeup on. However, if I ever get another chance to own another horse, I would love to have a Fresian. But for now, my smooth Foxxy is all that I need or want.

  • Beach penning day for Chincoteague Ponies? It sounds like a nightmare come true for the ponies and people think its fun? Horses are herd members and experience profound grief at the loss of a herd member. Especially a sudden stealing of herd members. All so humans can "have fun". The more you know about horses, the more this event should horrify you. Stop the round ups. I own and work with ponies and horses. To think of the round ups as "fun" is unconsionble.

  • I have owned a Wild Mustang....what a joy and exhilarating experience. To watch him go from wild to tame...it is very possible to own one. There is a process and getting one and mine had been branded and registered, quite impressive!!
    The snorts, high kicks and crazy attitude is something I had never heard or seen come out of a horse.
    He turned out to be one of the sweetest horses I have owned!

  • I have owned a Wild Mustang....what a joy and exhilarating experience. To watch him go from wild to tame...it is very possible to own one. There is a process and getting one and mine had been branded and registered, quite impressive!!
    The snorts, high kicks and crazy attitude is something I had never heard or seen come out of a horse.
    He turned out to be one of the sweetest horses I have owned!

  • I have owned a Wild Mustang....what a joy and exhilarating experience. To watch him go from wild to tame...it is very possible to own one. There is a process and getting one and mine had been branded and registered, quite impressive!!
    The snorts, high kicks and crazy attitude is something I had never heard or seen come out of a horse.
    He turned out to be one of the sweetest horses I have owned!

  • My sister had a Mustang, it was well trained when she got him. His name was Reno, and she would ride him bareback, even if she was so afraid to ride, somehow, this guy gave her confidence to ride. So, I sure would like a horse like that.

  • I was able to fufill my chidhood dream of the whole pony penning experience with my 9 year daughter in 2013.A major storm hit as we waited in our small boat for the ponies to swim.(first time ever in pony penning history)it was very scary I must say.Then My husband,Glenn, shocked me as HE started bidding at the auction. Well we ended up bringing home Stormy a little solid bay colt. It has been a life changing experience raising him and now training him with my daughter,Desiree. He is the sweetest most loved pony in the world. I am blessed.Chincoteague ponies are the best all around pony.

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