THOROUGHBRED
Alana Harrison, managing editor
As a kid and teen, I rode mostly Quarter Horses and other stock breeds, but I began riding Thoroughbreds on the equestrian team in college and made an instant connection. The first horse I bought (and still own) was a 17.2-hand Thoroughbred gelding. I can't help but admire the Thoroughbred's beauty--long, delicate legs; large, intelligent eyes; and long head and neck, but I've found our personalities strikingly similar. Thoroughbreds' temperaments tend to fluctuate daily, and I love the challenge of identifying that day's personality and adjusting my riding to it. It makes me a better, more diverse rider.
Some assume Thoroughbreds, with their "racing blood," are simple-minded, apathetic and lacking personality. I've found all to the contrary. My Thoroughbred has a tremendous amount of "try" in him. When I enter the ring (showing or schooling), his ears go up and he works his rear end off over every fence. This "try" touches me--deeply. And as for apathy, I walk in the pasture of 60 horses, and within 100 yards, he comes trotting to me.
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- Erin, at 8, on one of the trusted Quarter Horses, at Steve Archer Quarter Horses in Richmond, Texas.
Thoroughbreds are simultaneously delicate and strong--the steel magnolias of horses. A final bonus? That racehorse speed pays off in the jumper ring big time.
QUARTER HORSE
Erin Sullivan Haynes, editorial coordinator
My parents had no prior horse knowledge when I began begging for riding lessons at 8 years of age. So after a little research we loaded up and trekked from downtown Houston to the "country." We ended up at Steve Archer Quarter Horses in Richmond, Texas, where I had my first up-close interaction with horses and began my transition into a true horse lover.
The Quarter Horses who guided me on that path were wonderful teachers. The barn was filled with Quarter Horses of all different sizes and colors, but they were all friendly, gentle, and easy to handle. Their versatility meant I could try many different things, and their even temperament helped me feel safe and secure.
