Here are my families horses. Our horses do most of the ranch work in the spring, summer and fall, checking fence, checking cows, moving cows, and lots of other things.
We only have 3 horses now, I'm hoping to find something for my dad this year.
My mare is a registered QH, her name is Sneakin Cowgirl, or Sneaks. She's turning 15 this year and is sorrel with a white blaze. She was originally meant to be a barrel racer but after an injury in 2015 and 2016 she can't be.
My sister and mom also share a QH mare, she's a faded red roan who is anywhere form 15-19 years old her name is Lilly. My grandpa bought her as a 5 year old from a college rodeo girl who didn't have the time for her. She proved herself faithful on my uncle and grandpas ranch for her whole life. Last year she started to go lame so she was put out to pasture, after my sisters horse died and my mom sold hers they asked of they could have her and my grandpa said yes so now we have her. She can only do short rides for an hour or two with minimal trotting.
Then there's Bert, she is a 23 year old spaid bay mare, she is a QH draft cross. She taught me, and my three sister along with 5 cousins how to ride. She's a big built horse who has been on my families ranches since she was 9. She has served her purpose and everyone respects her, my younger sister rides her now, and I do if I don't want to deal with my mares issues some days
Here's some pictures
Sneaks
Sneaks and Lilly
Sneaks
Sneaks again if you look below shoulder you can see a sort of scar and hairless area from her 2016 injury. Basically she walked into a barbed wire fence got one hoof between the 2nd and 3rd wire, when she tried to pull it out freaked out and got a 4x4 inch piece of skin and hair all the way down to the muscle pulled off. She also has a cut on her chest.
Bert
Lilly
Me on Sneaks on the left, my younger sister on Bert on the right.
Also for your first horse I would recommend a QH, they are good horses that are smart. Also you probably want am Appy due to the coloring. The color of a horse can actually increase the price. If you were to find a dead broke dappled grey QH the price may be more due to its color. I would recommend a QH that fits you the best. Color shouldn't matter when looking for a horse