It's almost a toss-up between my 10  yr old black/white Mo.Foxtrotter mare and her mother,but,her mother really belongs to my husband.Nevertheless,I'd say it has to be her MOTHER-she has produced 5 great horses,2 fillies and 3 colts,all different colors.4 of them are with other owners.She is the great-granddaughter of Roger's Perfection,WGC TWH, and the daughter of Charlie Brown and A Bonni Boo, both MFTHBA registered.when it comes to gaits,she can truly "do it all." At 20,she is reliable enough that anyone can ride her.I picked her out of the 5 we own to be my horse Halloween night when I portrayed "the headless horseman" and ran after a trailerload of kids on a dark country  road!

There will never be another "Blaze Bonnie," AKA Blaze.She's the best, that once in a lifetime horse.Irreplaceable.

My favorite and best horse was the 2nd horse I ever had, a grade Palomino Arab/QH gelding "Diablo" that would do absolutely anything.  I was 10 when we got him and rode bareback most of the time, cantered through goves, woods, busy roads, crossed canals, creeks, etc alone or with groups, and never shied at anything in the 8 years I owned him.  

 We particiapted in open shows in barrels, poles, then western pleasure, halter, then hunt seat on the flat and jumping, he did it all.  Once won both jumping classes at a small show where he cleared 4'6" in a Gambler's Choice Class. (I was scared !) He would jump anything you pointed him at.   

 We rode in Parades (always carried the flag since he was a flashy Palomino, swam in lakes and the ocean, and never got to the bottom of that horse.  We would start riding at 8 am and sometimes not finish til 6 or 7 pm.  He had a lovely ground eating trot that he could do for miles and I could sit it bareback all day long.  As kids we would ride beside the road, stopping and picking up glass soda bottles, then ride to the closest 7-11 and turn them in for slurpees and carrots for the horses. 

   I was in 4H and we participated in campouts, trail rides, used to ride him over to friend's houses and we would both spend the night, rode him to softball practice, he went anywhere without a fuss. He was extremely healthy and never had any leg, stomach, or other issues.  I have such fond memories of riding him all over town, singing to him while his ears would flicker back listening, but never judging.  He knew my life yearnings and the hopes and dreams of a young girl.

    Sadly, I had to sell him when I went to college, but managed to keep finding him through his various new owners as he stayed in Vero Beach his whole life.  At the age of 30 his legs gave out, but his heart was still strong...  He was a once in a lifetime horse and my all time favorite mount and friend.  I still miss him and he's been gone 14 years.... RIP my golden boy 

Boy can I relate to that!!!!

After my wild ride it was over a year before I could physically get on a horse, and the fear nearly destroyed my love affair with riding.  I was angry and ashamed that I couldn't conquer my fear.  But along came a blood-bay Morgan mare who seemed to take me under her wing and take care of me.  She was absolutely wonderful.

Marla

The best horse I ever had was my first. He ran off with me, tried to brush me off on trees, ran through about every fence we had and pulled back and broke countless halters and lead ropes.

He taught me more than any horse I've had since and for that I'll always be greatful to his evil, rotten, self.

ALL 14 of mine because I said! hee hee

Actually my 10 year old APHA breeding stock mare (RED), we bought her as a yearling and have done everything ourself, she has turned out to be great at everything I do with her.  I can put her out for 18 months (oh I did, she fractured her knee) and bring her back and it is like I never stopped riding her.  I can also put ANYBODY on this girl and she takes care of them.......  She is a little lazy, but follows me around like a dog.

When she was a 5 year old I had a man work with her on her gate issues and he was working her in a round pen and she kept running behind me so she would not have to work.

She's my baby, wouldn't trade the world for her!

Or just like VISA states, truck $35-k, trailer $40-k, my horse PRICELESS!

  That would be my Arabian mare Siseley! ( sorry about the pic first!)

 She has taken me from the desert of California, to the 10,000 ft area of the Sierra Nevada, from Red Rock country to the central California beaches. We have over 500 logged hours in the Frequent Rider Program with AHA, and only three people have EVER swung a leg over her. While most of the time we ride here in the high desert, I trust her to quietly go up the pack trails and thru the rocky areas of our buttes. Got her as a yearling and waited until she was 3 1/2 to ever put the saddle on her. Before that we just handled her a lot, and gave her really good ground manners and flat work. Along with her stable mate "Lancer", who is 30 yrs young, she takes care of my wife and I. ( and I didn't even start riding until I was 53 yrs old!!) She is now 8 1/2 and I'm 63 so still a perfect horse for me.

Wow, the best horse...we've owned horses about 9 years now and had so many good ones.  Just about all of them are standing outside right now.

In all honesty, the best is probably the mare I ride now, because she does everything - hits the trail solo or in a group, 4H, gymkhana, clinics, shows, team penning - and never, ever complains.  She always gives 100%.  She's easy to catch, sound, soft and flexible, and has no vices whatsoever.  She's confident and secure, no matter what the setting.  Ride her once a year or once a day, and she's still the same.

So, like I said, in all HONESTY, she's probably the best, because she's just so good all around without any complaint. 

However, the horse I always think of first is a gelding I had (he was put down last year due to arthritis) who was FABULOUS!  This is the horse I would resurrect if I had the power.  He was big and gorgeous, had every button you could ever put on a horse, and would chase a cow until his heart gave out if you asked it of him.  His one desire was to please.  He never put a foot on the ground without checking to see if it was where I wanted it, never missed a pivot, a rollback, a stop, and was the first (and so far only) horse I've ever ridden that felt like I was on jet plane.  He was all forward drive, a solid powerhouse.  He was just so amazing!!  Every time I think of the great rides we had, I get a stupid grin.  He's the horse I want to own all over again.  His only flaw was his insecurity, and that's probably why he was so willing to do whatever I asked - he NEEDED a leader.  Knowing how insecure he was, he would have been my last choice for a group or solo trail ride, and I never ever left him tied to a trailer alone unless he'd been worked already.  He would just be frantic.  His training made him great, without it, he would have been a basket case.

How do you pick the best?  I don't know.  I can't really live without this mare right now because she's my 'does everything' horse, but the gelding was the one that just blew me away with every ride.

AQHA, The Black Baron.  He was black with a small star, stood 15.3 and covered the ground he stood on.  He was a versatility show horse, harness, trail, WP, halter, reining, western riding, reined cow horse, hunter hack and cross country.  Out of the show pen, you never had a doubt if you were pasture roping, or dallied off to a TB or bronc colt.  He had an attitude of, You BETCHA, this can be DONE! He had a natural headset, a very light neck-rein, could lead the ride, go alone, or be left behind....he was exceptionally confident and unafraid.  He ran to meet you to be caught, and reached out and took the bit when it got close to his head.  Packed game, absolutely gun sound and could be stood on his reins for hours.  This horse had style, speed and power, beauty and presence, and just the best attitude of never give in and never give up!  He saved both my husband's life more than once with superb reflexes and decision making, and mine once when a large horse I was dallied off too had a monster fit, he hung in there and scratched and clawed and kept his footing til it was done.....a real honest and extremely sharp horse whose good mind and judgement you could trust every single time.......he was tested over and over again and always came through 110%.  A really great all around horse with grit, courage, show stopping looks and dynamic manners! I bought him when he was 13 months old, did his training, he was just outstanding in so many ways, lost him at age 16 to a heart attack....he lived to the hilt right to the end......we are priviliged to have had him.