| What do you do if your kid asks for a horse? | | | | The Yang Ming type is a loyal companion who tries his |
| Supposing you say, "Yes," how do you go about | | | | best to please. Once this type has learned his job, he |
| picking one? | | | | will never forget it. He will perform flawlessly in a |
| How do you choose a good horse for kids? How do | | | | number of disciplines, being highly versatile as well as |
| you find on who is kind, gentle, loving, and willing to | | | | reliable. His only demand is that he be treated fairly. |
| please? Just as important, how do you stay away | | | | While not as affectionate as the Earth or Shao Yin |
| from those who buck, kick, bite, and have other horrible | | | | types, the Yang Ming type works hard and is a good |
| vices? These are all important questions to ask when | | | | caretaker. His steady disposition and reliability make |
| you shopping for a horse for kids. | | | | him an excellent children's horse. |
| My answer is simple: | | | | Two Other Possible Horse Personality Types for Kids |
| To find a good horse for kids, choose one with the | | | | While Earth, Shao Yin, and Yang Ming horses are my |
| right horse personality type. | | | | top picks as personality types suitable for kids, there |
| There are certain equines with personality types | | | | are two other types that can also be good children's |
| custom-made for kids, and other types that should | | | | horses when well-trained: Metal and Tai Yin horses. If |
| definitely be avoided. When it comes to the safety and | | | | your child is older, more experienced, or wants to be |
| fun of your little ones, you definitely want to go with | | | | competitive in rodeo or on the show circuit, either of |
| horse personality types that make good children's | | | | these two personality types may work well. |
| horses. Luckily, that's not difficult. There's even an | | | | The Metal Horse Personality Type |
| online test to help you do just that. | | | | The Metal type is extremely hard-working, can stand |
| Five-Element Horse Personality Types | | | | up to a rigorous training schedule, and, once trained, |
| If you have been around equines for any length of | | | | never forgets his job. Early in his career, the Metal type |
| time, then you know that has a distinct personality, just | | | | must understand his job or he may be prone to |
| like humans. Some are mischievous while others are | | | | bucking, making him a poor choice for children. |
| competitive. Some spend their lives trying to please | | | | However, the well-trained and experienced Metal |
| while others only want to win at all costs. Certain | | | | horse can make a good children's horse. He will do his |
| horses are tough as nails, others are as soft as | | | | job well and without complaint. He isn't the "best friend" |
| marshmallows. It all depends on their personality type. | | | | type, but is a suitable horse for the kid who wants to |
| The Five-Element horse personality typing system I | | | | do Little Britches rodeo and be competitive in the show |
| developed predicts a horse's behavior and health | | | | ring. |
| challenges, as well as the best career and | | | | The Tai Yin (Earth/Metal) Horse |
| management style for each type. The system is | | | | The Tai Yin type can also make a good horse for kids |
| based on the five elements of Traditional Chinese | | | | as long as he gets along with the child. This type is |
| Medicine: Water, Fire, Wood, Metal and Earth. There | | | | often a "one-person" mount, and does not get along |
| are five straight types (based on each of the five | | | | well with everyone. However, if this equine likes your |
| elements), as well as six combination types. | | | | child, he will try his heart out. Although the Tai Yin type |
| The Best Horse Personality Types for Kids | | | | is not highly affectionate he will often demonstrate |
| So which personality type should you choose as a | | | | caring through hard work and fierce loyalty. This type |
| good horse for kids? Based on my experience, the | | | | will do almost anything for a person he likes, and thus |
| best children's horse is one of the following three | | | | makes a good kid's horse for any child he likes. |
| personality types: | | | | Test a Horse's Personality Before Buying |
| #1: The Earth Horse Personality Type | | | | Now that you know which personality types are |
| The Earth type is generally sweet, gentle, and has a | | | | suitable as children's horses, how do you know what |
| sweet tooth. His motto is, "Let's be a team!" The Earth | | | | kind of personality a horse has? Suppose you are |
| personality type loves children, and makes a reliable | | | | considering several horses to buy for your child. How |
| lesson horse. Fond of routine, once an Earth horse | | | | do you know which to choose? Simple. Just test the |
| learns his job he can be depended on to do it well. He | | | | personality of each horse you are considering. |
| is perhaps a bit on the sluggish side (he likes to stop | | | | Visit the Horse Harmony Test website to test each |
| and graze), but other than that makes an excellent | | | | horse's personality. This online personality test will tell |
| children's horse. He is usually too lazy to bother with | | | | you the personality type of each possibility. You can |
| bucking or running, and as long as he is well-fed and | | | | then read a short summary of each horse at the |
| has a steady routine, he makes a great kid's mount. | | | | Horse Harmony website. |
| #2: The Shao Yin (Fire/Water) Horse Personality Type | | | | If you don't know the horse well enough to type him, |
| The Shao Yin typeis highly intelligent, fun-loving, and can | | | | ask his current owner to test the possible euqine for |
| make an excellent mount for kids. When trained, the | | | | you. You might be surprised. The seemingly gentle |
| Shao Yin type is a wonderful caretaker for beginner | | | | mount with a gleam in his eye may look like the |
| riders and children alike. This kind of equine loves to | | | | perfect children's horse, yet the Horse Harmony Test |
| figure things out. He is also gentle, affectionate, and | | | | may reveal the horse to be a Jue Yin, a tricky horse |
| kind. Shao Yin horses don't do well under pressure, | | | | not at all suitable as a horse for kids. |
| which makes them perfect horses for low-key events | | | | The test is no-cost, so it can't hurt to type any horses |
| like playdays or gymkhanas. Because they love | | | | you are considering for your child. For that matter, if |
| attention and are very sociable, these horses enjoy | | | | you already own horses, it may be interesting for you |
| hours of grooming, grazing, and "quality time" with kids. | | | | to test them as well. You can also test your own |
| #3: The Yang Ming (Metal/Earth) Horse Personality | | | | personality on the same site, just for kicks! |
| Type | | | | |