What are everyone's favourite (and least favourite) crossbreeds?

[maxelly]

I'll start... I'm a fan of crossing a TB over pretty much any cold-blood or native, and my absolute favourite is the connie-TB cross, my best horse ever was out of a pure Connie mare and by the local old fashioned stamp of a TB, and he was a super example, everything you'd want in an overgrown pony, smart-looking, hardy, bold, agile and very very clever (and just sharp enough to keep a keen teenager on her toes!). I wish I could find another like him...

My least favourite is a pony on my yard who is a Shetland/Welsh D Cross and he's exactly the kind of nightmare you'd imagine if you take the worst qualities of those 2 breeds and combine them, he's 13hh of pure devilment (pretty though!). I'm also a bit wary of anything crossed with a shire, they seem oddly hot and sharp for a draught cross (I'm told that's possibly an issue with the pure shires too?) and prone to breaking down young too

I think its interesting to compare the attitudes to crossing horse breeds with dogs, in the dog world cross breeding largely seems dictated by fashion, and generates so many ill bred, ill tempered sick dogs that anyone who just wants an ordinary family pet is strongly advised to stick to pedigrees only (on MN anyway!). Whereas judicious, deliberate crosses of horses seems to me to usually produce very nice, very useful animals for the amateur/leisure market, I just wish more people did it (the difficulties faced by small scale breeders could fill up a whole thread on its own I suspect)

So anyway, share your favourites please!

One of my horses is a mix and we aren’t really sure what he is, most likely to be welsh section D x gypsy trotter (unknown sire but previous owner thinks the mare became pregnant when a trotter escaped!). He is 15.3, a very pretty skewbald with a dainty head for his size, with a good amount of bone, but I wouldn’t say he was a cob. He’s pretty opinionated and can be bolshy when not in regular work, intelligent and very ‘busy’. He likes his routine and wouldn’t want to live out. He is safe to ride and rarely spooks, and moves nicely. I’d have another one of him in a heartbeat although he isn’t easy!

My other horse is a WB x TB and rather sharp, but very kind and a ‘nice person’.

Tops for me -ISH, I think they are the best allrounders & If TB dominates ID in the cross, the best eventers.
Not so sure - OTTBs - too damaged in mind & body, although I think TB genetics are good.
I’ll pass, thanks -Welsh. Just no

I adore a TB x ID. I’ve never met a bad one,my current mare is my horse of a lifetime. I also have a TBxID crossed with a holtstein who is lovely. Has a much longer stride than the IDxTB and flashier movement, but isn’t quite as honest or genuine.

I also like a Connie x TB for a smaller version. I’ve also liked a lot of TBxShires too. In ponies I like a Welsh B x Arab. Cob x Arab is nice too.

@Carolina24

I have an enormous soft spot for the highland / thoroughbred cross. They’re lovely, reliable landrovers with huge guts and enough lightness to be fun.

Ooh that sounds an awesome cross, I've never encountered one but I can well imagine they'd be super fun. Would they be found mainly in Scotland? What sort of size do they generally make?

Highland ponies are found all over so I don't think they would be limited to Scotland. They are a larger pony up to 14.2 (starting at around 13hh but most I've come across have been on the larger end of the scale and seem even bigger due to their build and presence m so I'd imagine a TB/highland would be more of a horse than a pony with a good bit of bone. I'd be interested to meet one too.

I had an ArabxWelsh pony as my first - possible not the wisest choice , but she was my partner in crime for over thirty years - absolutely bombproof when I needed her to be , but incredibly forward going as well . Outstanding at long distance and mounted games - and brave to the point of almost too brave at XC . Taught me so so much . I adored her.

I have a Fresian x cob - think of a 15h black beauty x my little pony.