I think theres an oversight here.
If the man is planning only an occasional ride, then one horse can handle that.
If the rider is planning to use the horse for hunting, then consideration must be made as to whteher the horse can handle hard work daily, versus getting a day off while the rider uses a different mount.

A good strong ranch horse can handle about 3 days of hard riding in rough country, then he needs a rest and lots of good feed..I was raised on a rough 75,000 ac. desert mountain ranch in the Texas Big Bend and another in El Paso..I could expect to take up a notch in my cinch for each day I used a horse...A horse that's rode once a month in rough country will leave you a foot in many cases before the day is over..Leg them up before you go hunting or working cattle..

A good young well bred, well broke, ranch horse today will fetch $3500 to $5000 in most auctions. A good 8 to 10 year old rope horse, calf or team roping horse will go $10,000 to $100,000..give or take a grand or two either way...calf roping horses bring a lot of money these days..barrel horses that can compete bring a ton of money...I use my rope horses for roping and I have no problem hunting on them or at the branding fire after a half day ride..They get used..Most of my horses these days are registered quarter horses, but it hasn't always been that way..A good ranch using horse needs to judged on his ability, papers don't mean a thing IMO, and in many cases he or she may not be the best looking horse in the world, Ive owned some ugly horses that could eat a mountain up, catch a cow, do it all...

I don't care for quarter horses. I like those dime ones better. I think those quarter horses out front of Wal Mart are really the old dime horse with a new coin box. Of course I remember when they were only a nickle and liked them much better. Ray Atkinson can probably top my story and remembers when they were penny horses.

One thing I can guarantee is the older you get the shorter your horses get, A mountain horse is higher on one side than the other, so ride small horses and get off on the uphill side least you roll off the mountain!!

Most of todays Quarter horses are "running Quarter horses that have a lot of Throughbred breeding in them" I like those horses as well as the old fashion short thick quarter horse, just depends on the horse in question..A good throughbred suits me fine if he is a good horse. A team roping head horse should have that running blood in him, the heel horse need not and should be short to put you closer to the heels (the target) . I don't have much experience with other breeds but Im sure their are good and bad in every breed. When buying a good horse their are few rules..I only prefer registered horses because the resale is so much better..

I don't think you need a horse. You have no interest in taking care of them and you are terrified of them.

A horse is not a ornament and needs and deserves care and affection and they are meant to be used. Not spoiled but respected and cared for.

The last thing a horse wants is to be stalled up and rode once or twice a month by someone who is scared of them.

For someone in your situation who would actually use them a retired pickup horse from the rodeo circuit would be good.

They are usually bigger than average quarter horse or quarter horse cross. They are used to the weight and hard long days.

Just my humble opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Just a big horse - something that could carry my 220 pounds for some calm trail riding.

Like a Percheron or something. Big calm draft horse.

I would board him as i have zero interest in taking care of him - mucking ect

After reading a few threads in this forum I am now terrified of horses.

I don’t want to be thrown off a horse. Same reason I have little interest in motorbikes. After 40 falls suck and they suck worse as one gets older.

Maybe I will rent one up in Ocala and see if these creatures are worth the hassle.

Mike

While there are many kinds of horses...

There are only two kinds of riders...

Those that have fallen off...and those that are gonna...

Its just part of the deal... I've come off more than a few times over the years and have been knocked out cold twice. But no broken bones or worse so I'm lucky.

A common event when hunting or trail riding on big horses is when you step off on the downhill side of a mountain!! the first thing you notice is your foot is no yet on the ground and your knee just hit your chin, and your head just hit the ground!! and everyone is laughing their ass off if your still conscious.. so remember on any horse its a good idea to step off on the high side of the mountain!

I like short stocky mountain horses except in Timber then a tall rangy horse that can step over blow downs is handy..