Nobody wants a cranky, unpleasant, and unfriendly horse, and although a horse’s disposition isn’t breed-specific calm horses, there are several breeds noted for their friendliness, which is why I wrote this.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE A SOCIABLE HORSE?
This is one of those questions that has no actual solution, like “how long is a piece of string?” In spite of the fact that everyone agrees that a friendly horse should be “gentle and pleasant, not in conflict,” there is no universally accepted description of what constitutes a “friendly” horse. Others will argue that the horse should maintain a low profile and be kind and quiet.
How to calm down a horse and the breeds listed below are all friendly in some sense, and I think you’ll agree with that.
– FJORD
Norwegian Fjords are the world’s nicest horses.
Most horses range from 13.2hh (52 inches) to 15hh (60 inches) in height.
Norwegian Fjord is six colors. 90% are brown dun (sometimes called bay dun), while the remainder are red, grey, white, yellow, or white (known in other breeds as cremello). Calm horses all horses have black ears, manes, tails, and legs with rudimentary markings like a dorsal stripe.
The Norwegian Fjord is polite, kind, and hardworking.
The Norwegian Fjord, a prized combat horse of the Vikings, may be connected to the Central Asian Przewalski Horse. They’ve been utilized as farm animals in Norway’s hilly areas for hundreds of years. Their robustness and surefootedness make them excellent for off-roading.
FACTS
- Recent archaeological finds show Vikings carefully bred the Norwegian Fjord 2,000 years ago.
- Ice Age cave drawings feature horses like today’s Norwegian Fjord.
- Gioppen and Eid have the Norwegian Fjord on their coats of arms.
–Â Â Â FRIENDLY SHETLAND PONY
Shetland Ponies may be as tall as 42 inches (10.2hh), although those under 34 inches (8.2hh) are considered miniatures.
Solid colors only.
Shetland Ponies are smart, independent, and robust for their size.
Norman Thelwell’s ‘Thelwell Ponies’ made these courageous little ponies famous, yet their surly, ungainly, and obstinate image is untrue. Calm horses they’re smart, so they won’t do anything their rider asks without thinking, but it doesn’t make them obstinate (in my book at least).
They’re really kind, sociable, and affectionate ponies that would make a terrific first pony for any youngster; they’d immediately become best friends.
FACTS
- The Shetland pony may be little, but its personality and power transcend that. It’s so powerful it can easily carry an adult.
- Pony had the size and speed of a Thoroughbred, it would easily defeat it.
- Shetland ponies go-anywhere, do-anything temperament makes it adept at any sport.
–Â Â Â MORGAN
The friendly Morgan Horse
Morgan’s are 14hh (56 inches) to 15.2hh (62 inches).
Black is the most prevalent solid color, although grey is unusual.
The Morgan is little yet powerful, fast, and calm horses courageous. They’re smart learners.
USA-based
FACTS
- The Park horse has a high-stepping trot and has developed for the show ring, while the Pleasure is great for trail riding and jumping.
- If you notice a trotting horse on an ancient weather vane, it’s likely the silhouette of Ethan Allen, who won 33 races.
- The Morgan influenced the Quarter Horse, Tennessee walker, and American Standardbred.
–Â Â Â ARABIAN
Arabians are affable despite their fiery reputation.
Most Arabians are between 14.1hh and 15.1hh, while the greatest height is 16hh (64 inches).
White is quite unusual, although bay, chestnut, black, and grey are prevalent.
The Arabian is smart and independent calm horses. Some horses are extremely strung, but many aren’t.
Arabian Peninsula
Some say Arabians are too high-strung to be nice, but I disagree. Yes, they may be energetic, but they’re generally lovely and patient horses that are so calm youngsters can easily manage them. The USEF lets children to exhibit them in stallion classes, including those prohibited to under 18s.
The Arabian’s origins are unknown, however it resembles horses from 1500BC rock drawings.
FACTS
- The Arabian has 17 ribs, whereas most horses have 18. Nobody knows why, but it increases the breed’s stamina by letting them to take deeper breaths.
- The Arabian is one of the world’s top endurance horses, particularly in the desert. Over thousands of years, nomadic Bedouin developed them for vigor, endurance, and desert survival.
- In 1983, a Dutch-bred Arabian stallion sold for $11 million—$30 million today.
–Â Â Â AQHA
Calm and friendly quarter horses
Most Quarter Horses are 14hh (56 inches) to 16hh (64 inches), however they may reach 17hh (68 inches).
Sorrel is the most prevalent color, followed by Appaloosa and pinto.
Quarter Horses are calm, intelligent, and quick to act.
USA-based
FACTS
- The Quarter Horse is a ‘sleepy little beast that will unwind like lightning’ since it doesn’t waste energy.
- Originally called Quarter Pether calm horses, they were undefeated in 1/4 mile races. They’re unbeatable over a quarter-mile and can hit 55 mph (88 kph).
- In the early days of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), a minimum height restriction of 14.2hh (58 inches) led in the Quarter Pony, many of which are now dual registered with the AQHA.
–Â Â Â PONY
Connemara is brave but welcoming.
In the US, ponies vary from 13hh (52 inches) to 15hh (60 inches), however outside the US they are 14.2hh (58 inches).
Gray, bay, brown, black, and dun are most prevalent solid colors.
Connemara Ponies are friendly, polite, courageous, and independent.
Ireland-born
The ancient Connemara Pony is believed to have derived from the Celtic ponies used to draw war chariots in 5000 BC. Its natural environment has helped it grow into a robust, surefooted pony that can carry bigger weights than its size would imply. Due to the Irish potato famine, the breed’s quality dipped in the 1840s. In order to boost their numbers, the ponies were mated with lesser horses. Thankfully, this was quickly halted, and Arabian and Welsh stallions were employed to improve the breed.
The Connemara Pony excels in most disciplines and has helped create other breeds.
FACTS
- Capailln Chonamara are from Connemara, Ireland.
- The Connemara Pony’s progenitors may have been brought to Ireland by the Vikings in 795AD, but the breed didn’t take form until the horses that escaped the Spanish Armada arrived.
- Due to their natural habitat’s harsh terrain, Connemara Ponies can live outdoors year-round and seldom require supplementary feed in the winter.
