I'm looking for horses lovers, breeders, riders in the Kansas city area. I'm from France. I used to breed Gypsy cobs there. I'm very interested in learning about the american breeds as I'll be looking for a horse sooner or later. I've ridden english style only and would love to know more about western riding. I'd be happy to chat or talk even meet some of you.
Sandra

Welcome to the forum!! I don't live around Kansas City, but I'd be happy to tell you about my Kentucky Mountain Horse!

I'm jealous, Gypsy Vanners are some of the most BEAUTIFUL horses! Not very common around here, so VERY pricey.lol

Hi,
Glad you found us. We are a very diverese bunch from around the world owners or soon to be owners of various breeds of horses, used for various things. From lawn mowers to competition horses and everything in between.

Welcome to the states

Gypsies are very beautiful breeds. im extremely jealous as well!

The best american breeds for english are probably the Morgan and the American Saddlebred or Tennessee Walking Horse.
If your interested in learning western, i would pick a American Paint horse or an American Quarter Horse. Gowarter horses are amazingly beautiful and sturdy and are very gentle.

Western riding is very simple if you plan on just doing western pleasure. However, if you plan on showing or getting into rodeo, you have to learn new strides (like Loping, very difficult to learn. it's like an extended gait in dressage) and also how to keep the horse's head in the right position.

i wouldn't suggest rodeo riding though. just know that western is more relaxed.

hope this helped

-Megan-

Welcome to the forum. With the infusion of English and Dressage riders (and various off-shoots there of) I was afraid noone wanted to ride western anymore! Glad there is at least one (just kidding here). I grew up riding western, did some showing, but was more into barrels and working cattle. Not rodeo, but the real thing. I don't have horses now, but intend to change that soon.

Welcome to the states and to our little corner. Hope we can help you with your questions and you with ours.

Hello there,
I was waiting to receive answers in my mail box and never found one until I come back today on the forum.... Sorry guys! And thank you for your answers.

What are the breeds typically used for western leisure? Quarter horses, morgans, american saddlebred, paints...???? Does each breed have its specialty?
The 80% of the french breeding is dedicated to race horses and show jumping horses.
The breeding is been so dedicated to performances that they totally forgot that a horse needs to have a good mental attitude.
The ones that are not good enough to perform ( and of courses, everyone can't be a champion) are still very difficult horses to ride but they are sold to non-professionals that have a hard time handling them....I was one one them, once that's probably why I started breeding gypsy cobs!!!!
From what I've read, and you'll probably tell me better, american horses generally are more balanced...

By the way, I would love to see barrels and cattle working shows. Do you think they'd be some around KC? Where should I look to find this information?

I understood Jenejen wasn't from Kansas nore Missouri but are some of you in the KC area?

I'd like to see and/ try some horses.
Do you know of good breeders or sellers around here?
Do you think they'd be OK with my english way of riding or should I learn the western codes first?

Hope to hear from you
Sandra

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeneJen

Welcome to the forum!! I don't live around Kansas City, but I'd be happy to tell you about my Kentucky Mountain Horse!

I'm jealous, Gypsy Vanners are some of the most BEAUTIFUL horses! Not very common around here, so VERY pricey.lol

Hey!, I'd love to hear about your horse!
Do you have pictures? What do you do with him?

Howdy! It's very nice to meet you! I'm glad you could join. I live smack in the middle of Tennessee-

If people just want to "ride western," riding in a western saddle, and learning to hold the reins in one hand lol it doesn't really matter what breed your sitting on (Well, Arabians supposedly have trouble with western saddles, and there is a specific type of western saddle designed for the arabs) you can toss a western saddle on a mustang...or a thoroughbred...

But yep there are certian breeds that tend to exell better in certian disciplines such as barrel racing, western pleasure, working cattle etc... 99% of the time you'll see a good ole' Quarter horse, or a Paint (which is "pretty much" a Quarter horse) for the cowhorses.
Western pleasure has alot of Quarter horses and Paints, barrel racing usually has the same- some people that I know like crossing up with a bit of TB for the longer, finer bone, and the height...some people just like purebred quarter horses...

In the english world, I usually see Thoroughbreds...though in such disciplines as upper-level Dressage, I see alot of Warmbloods, and thicker breeds such as the Friesian etc... TB's as far as I know, still lead the world for jumpers.

By the way I LOVEEEE Gypsy Vanners, and Cobs! I have a neighbor who lives about 25 miles from me who raises Gypsy cobs. She has about 10-12 of them.

So...welcome to the forum!

Oh, and also if you'd like me to make you a sig (like the one with Shadowfax on it below) I can do that! Just send me a pm if you'd like one!