[SwampYankee]

This may sound strange, but do any of you have ranch-type or western horses that also jump? I love the idea of getting a real nice QH (or other breed) that is super sane and has the experience of trail riding, cow work, etc., but that I can also teach to jump for some fun. I know a lot depends on conformation, but has anyone done this?

Absolutely! My old 3-Bars boy did it all; hunters, dressage, sidesaddle, ended up eventing Training until he was 21. Breed means a lot less than conformational suitability and the horse's enjoyment in doing it. If it's a fit, you'll know. If it's not, he'll tell you that, too.

[ParadoxFarm]

Thanks, swampyankee. Yeah, I'm not so much concerned with breed. I know I can go out and easily find a qh who does HUS, jumping. What I really want is one who is already trained for ranch-type work. I want that background. A jack of all trades would be great. . I wanted to see if anyone has somewhat converted one of these ranch horses. I guess converted is not the best word, but you know what I mean.

[Bluey]

Thanks, swampyankee. Yeah, I'm not so much concerned with breed. I know I can go out and easily find a qh who does HUS, jumping. What I really want is one who is already trained for ranch-type work. I want that background. A jack of all trades would be great. . I wanted to see if anyone has somewhat converted one of these ranch horses. I guess converted is not the best word, but you know what I mean.

We did that for several years, started colts, some we ran, then when they came back we worked cattle, the bigger ones with the better gaits we retrained to jump some and sold to a barn in PA, that would take as many as we had and never had enough.
They sold them for fox hunting, most of them and we would get calls from those that bought them wanting more like them.

You have to know what you want in a horse to see if it fits for whatever task you are aiming it for.

I would say that about one in three OTTBs were fair on cattle and good jumper potential, while more like one in six OTQHs were, mostly because of size or gait.
That was before all the little short cutting bred quarter horses became so popular, when quarter horses had more size/plain gaits, no peanut rollers, no overly muscled halter giants, etc. in them.
We didn't have today's extremes.

[RacetrackReject]

I don't know their lines, but I rode a QH named Savannah Cowboy that was a great little jumper. People would see him poking along on the flat (previous western show horse) and think there was no way he could jump, but when he did jump, people were gobsmacked. There was also a QH named Kamakazi Ed (spelling might be off) that evented at our barn and did well. Then I had a little stock horse SKippahotrodderpep that was an eventer too and a tidy little jumper that came from the same barn. Actually, we had tons more QHs at that barn and they pretty much all started western before my trainer picked them up and started eventing them.

[Bluey]

I don't know their lines, but I rode a QH named Savannah Cowboy that was a great little jumper. People would see him poking along on the flat (previous western show horse) and think there was no way he could jump, but when he did jump, people were gobsmacked. There was also a QH named Kamakazi Ed (spelling might be off) that evented at our barn and did well. Then I had a little stock horse SKippahotrodderpep that was an eventer too and a tidy little jumper that came from the same barn. Actually, we had tons more QHs at that barn and they pretty much all started western before my trainer picked them up and started eventing them.

Our last stallion was out of a Savannah Jr daughter and his foals were good movers and good jumping prospects:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/savannah+jr

Those Everett Jr TB horses, crossed with older quarter horse lines, generally looked like quarter horses but moved more forward and fluidly than you would think looking at them.

[SwampYankee]

Now that you mention it, my teacher/mentor/boss growing up always told me, "Buy a horse who's been Western-broke FIRST and then teach him to jump. He'll have better balance than all the others." I have found it to be TRUE!

[Nootka]

I had a colt that I wanted to stand as a stallion but didn't make the cut at the end (or he did get cut.. however you look at it He matured to only 14.3 and was sold to a JR. I have lost track of him but would love to know where he is. His name was Dashin Spot of Cash (aka Kodi)

He was out of a big time barrel racing mare (by Dash for Cash) and by a reining stallion Cardigan Man. Kodi had cow in him and was cutting them in the field when he was a weanling....lol.

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/11564...56914887keqQZc

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/12738...56914887uvRXEK

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/12738...56914887uZInzn

[RougeEmpire]

I LOVE throwing a jumping saddle on a stock horse! They make BRILLIANT pony jumpers too!

[ParadoxFarm]

This has been a great thread. Nootka, love the pics. What a cutey.

Swamp Yankee, I like that thought. It was just at theory to me, but nice to hear a trainer saying that.

[OveroHunter]

Here is an adorable little QH mare we sold a few years ago:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...type=3&theater

She schooled 3'6 with ease and was so much fun. For me, she is definitely the one that got away

As far as bloodlines, I have had great luck with Scotch Bar Time bred horses in the hunter/jumper ring!

[ParadoxFarm]

What a great jumper, Overohunter! Super cute. I want a qh now.

[OveroHunter]

What a great jumper, Overohunter! Super cute. I want a qh now.

QHs and Paints are the best! I actually semi stalked the girl we sold her to and tried to convince her to sell me back to me Hopefully we'll have another gem like her come through again

[ParadoxFarm]

I did have one QH (actually registered Paint) horse in my time. He was super cute. I took him over little 2' fences one day and he popped over them like they were nothing new. Love that attitude. He was not always sound though. He ended up going back to his previous owner (I cried), but I really liked him. He was black with four whites. Super cute.

*** Okay, I started writing this and decided to check out one of my videos of him. Makes me really miss this horse. I got him as a confidence builder when I had issues with my warmboods. This guy was a pony horse at the track, and not used to arena work. But he was a trooper. If he was sound I would have kept him. Here is the video, but don't be compelled to watch it all. It's sort of long, and has music. Toward the end you can see where I took him over a crossrail which was the first time I had ever jumped him over anything. I also took him an an ACTHA ride and he was great. I actually did ride western in that one. I want another horse like him, but with the ranch work experience as well.

http://youtu.be/DlBjNLQGWdY

[1ofEach]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Rugged Lark. Now there was a QH that was a master of many trades.

http://www.bobettfarm.com/content/view/18/31/

They also start their horses western and then sell off to english disciplines.

[bugsynskeeter]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Rugged Lark. Now there was a QH that was a master of many trades.

http://www.bobettfarm.com/content/view/18/31/

They also start their horses western and then sell off to english disciplines.

While I love Rugged Lark and work with a son of his, I wouldn't really consider him a ranch-type bred. He is 1/2 TB after all. His offspring tend to do much more in the english arena than the western, although you will find an occasional Lark bred horse in the reining.

[OveroHunter]

I did have one QH (actually registered Paint) horse in my time. He was super cute. I took him over little 2' fences one day and he popped over them like they were nothing new. Love that attitude. He was not always sound though. He ended up going back to his previous owner (I cried), but I really liked him. He was black with four whites. Super cute.

*** Okay, I started writing this and decided to check out one of my videos of him. Makes me really miss this horse. I got him as a confidence builder when I had issues with my warmboods. This guy was a pony horse at the track, and not used to arena work. But he was a trooper. If he was sound I would have kept him. Here is the video, but don't be compelled to watch it all. It's sort of long, and has music. Toward the end you can see where I took him over a crossrail which was the first time I had ever jumped him over anything. I also took him an an ACTHA ride and he was great. I actually did ride western in that one. I want another horse like him, but with the ranch work experience as well.

http://youtu.be/DlBjNLQGWdY

Your video is private, but he sounds like a great horse!

[ParadoxFarm]

Sorry, I fixed the video settings. He was just a cutey.

Yes, I wasn't thinking of Rugged Lark as ranch type. Not that he's not a fabulous horse!

[Lady Counselor]

I have a Two Eyed Jack daughter (cowhorse lines) who has jumped out of her paddock before, clearing a 5' fence.
She's very athletic and cat-like quick, plus has a great brain.
I also feel that some of the Appendix QH's can be super all around horses. You can get the best of both worlds.

[OveroHunter]

I have a Two Eyed Jack daughter (cowhorse lines) who has jumped out of her paddock before, clearing a 5' fence.
She's very athletic and cat-like quick, plus has a great brain.
I also feel that some of the Appendix QH's can be super all around horses. You can get the best of both worlds.

We actually added a TB stallion to our barn for this very reason: http://www.pedigreequery.com/ok+punch

He's drop dead gorgeous with very correct conformation and his bloodlines are great for hunters His first crop will be next year and we are hoping for some sporty Appendixes!

[Outfxed]

I have an Oklahoma ranch bred, blue roan QH who originally cut cattle, team roped and never saw an English saddle before he was 6. He now foxhunts and snaps his knees over a fence with the best of them.

I still ride him Western on and off and love getting my cowgirl on!