The eventing world is home to a wide range of horse breeds. From small and stocky hunters to big Clydesdales that are able to carry riders in full-skirted dressage coats, eventing has something for everyone. The main eventing disciplines — dressage, cross-country jumping and stadium jumping — all have very different requirements for the type of horse best suited to each one. If your goal is to compete in eventing, knowing which horse breeds are most suitable is essential for narrowing down your search. Read on to learn more about some of the top eventing horse breeds and their characteristics so you can begin planning your next adventure with confidence!
Clydesdale
The Clydesdale is the quintessential eventing horse breed. The name comes from a British breed of heavy draught horses that was developed in the 18th century for pulling wagons through muddy fields. The modern Clydesdale is a large horse with a powerful build, excellent jumping ability and lots of stamina. The breed is most commonly seen in show jumping where they are able to carry riders with long and flowing show coats. However, this breed is also a capable cross-country horse and can comfortably jump fences that are over 5 feet tall. This makes them a very versatile horse for eventing and one of the most common breeds seen in the cross-country eventing discipline.
Appaloose
The Appaloose is a breed of horse that is bred for extreme speed. The Appaloose is one of the fastest horse breeds in the world and can run at speeds of 45 miles per hour or more. They are an American horse breed that is closely related to the Arabian horse. The Appaloose is also seen in the eventing world and is particularly suitable for hunters. The Appaloose is one of the few horse breeds that can jump fences over 6 feet tall. They are also excellent in the cross-country eventing discipline and can carry riders in long, flowing western show coats.
Pony of the Americas (POTAs)
The Pony of the Americas is often referred to as the "super pony." The Pony of the Americas is a miniature horse and is the only miniature horse breed that is registered with the United Nations. It is a very rare horse breed that is only seen in certain parts of the world. The Pony of the Americas is excellent as a dressage horse and is able to perform the most difficult dressage movements. They are also excellent at jumping and are able to jump fences that are up to 2 meters tall. The Pony of the Americas is best suited to the dressage discipline and is not as well suited to the cross-country or stadium jumping disciplines.
Miniature Horse
The miniature horse is a very tiny horse, smaller than the Appaloose. It is one of the oldest horse breeds in the world and has been bred for hundreds of years. The miniature horse is a very agile and athletic horse with excellent jumping ability. It is best suited to the cross-country eventing discipline and is able to jump fences that are in excess of 5 feet tall. The miniature horse is great for beginners who want to learn the ropes at a lower level of competition.
Pony of the British Isles (POTBI)
The Pony of the British Isles is a miniature horse with a long history. The Pony of the British Isles can be traced back to medieval times and is one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. It is a very athletic horse that is excellent for cross-country eventing. The Pony of the British Isles is a very versatile horse that can comfortably jump fences that are up to 3 meters tall. The Pony of the British Isles is a great horse for both the beginner and advanced rider who wants to compete in cross-country eventing.
Arabian Horse
The Arabian horse is another one of the most popular horse breeds in the world. The Arabian horse has been bred for thousands of years and is a horse of great beauty and grace. It is a very popular horse for show jumping and is one of the most common breeds seen in the show jumping event. The Arabian horse is also seen in the eventing world and is best suited to the stadium jumping discipline. They are very powerful and can jump very high fences. The Arabian horse is a very popular horse in the eventing world and is the perfect horse for the more experienced rider looking for a challenge.
What is the best eventing horse breed?
The best eventing horse breed is the horse that is right for you and your riding style. The best horse for you will depend on your goals, your level of experience and your budget. However, you can narrow down your search by considering the breed traits of each horse breed. The best eventing horse breed will be one that is suitable for the type of event you want to compete in. If you want to compete in show jumping, the Arabian horse is likely the best eventing horse breed for you. On the other hand, if you are more interested in cross-country eventing, the miniature horse is a better fit.