Which breed should you choose for each discipline?

Buying a horse is as important as it is exciting, especially when it's your first purchase. Before taking such a step, there are several questions to ask yourself so you don't start the adventure on the wrong foot. There are many breeds of horses and ponies around the world. The main question to ask is therefore: which breed should you choose for each discipline? We answer that in this article.

Which breed for a dressage rider?

To do dressage with your horse, you need an elegant horse with plenty of bounce. The horse should be tall and well built. These horses are generally found in Germany, Spain and Portugal, with the Lusitano and the Pura Raza Española.

A horse for competing in eventing and show jumping

If you need a horse to compete in show jumping classes, you want a breed with an honest mind and a real athlete. With that in mind, it's worth looking at breeds such as the KWPN, the BWP or the Selle Français.

If, on the other hand, you're a rider who enjoys eventing, you'll need a versatile horse capable of performing in dressage, over fences and on a cross-country course. Thanks to their stamina and their fairly honest temperaments, breeds such as the Selle Français, the French trotter and even the Thoroughbred are highly regarded. For each of these horses, you're sure to find the right kit at La Sellerie Française.

Which horse for an endurance rider?

If you're an endurance rider, you need to choose your horse on its main quality, which has to be stamina. That said, you shouldn't overlook your horse's mind, which needs to be solid and brave. With this in mind, horses such as the Arabian or the Anglo-Arab are the breeds most often seen in endurance races.

A horse for western riding?

To master the manoeuvres the western disciplines demand, the horse needs a particularly powerful hindquarter. It also has to be quick to react and have real stamina. For this, horses such as the Quarter Horse or the Appaloosa will do the job in this discipline.

Are you looking for a horse for equestrian displays?

For equestrian displays, you'll want to choose a horse from a breed that enjoys playing. The horse must therefore be very attentive, and it should also appeal through its paces and its elegant, rounded physique. The Friesian and the Iberian breeds are the horses usually seen in shows. The same goes for certain draught horses and ponies, including the Shetland, which children particularly like.

Are you a carriage driving enthusiast?

If you're looking for a horse for leisure driving, you need a calm, sturdy animal such as the Boulonnais or the Percheron. If you're more competition-minded, it's better to look at breeds that are both hardy and handy, such as the Friesian, the Henson or the Comtois.