My daughter would like to start riding lessons. I'm wondering what you all would recommend for a good breed with an easy temperament for a beginner? I know different breeds tend to have varying traits and personality quirks but I don't know which is which.

I'm partial to morgans. They're smaller so better for a child, but still possess the strength of many large horses. They're gentle and dependable. I consider them the little horse that could. Also a shetland pony is a good choice too. They're known to be gentle with kids.

Are morgans the one most used when you see them at childrens parties and so on? I have always wondered about this and think it might be a good started horse for a small child, 10 or so years of age.

Most "pony parties" use shetland ponies, not full grown or even pony sized horse breeds. Morgans can also be quite large. All horse breeds have average temperaments, but it depends on the individual horse. If you will be purchasing a mount and lessons, perhaps using a lesson horse for awhile will be good to help the instructor recommend what would suit your daughter? Its really easier to find a suitable mount for her riding style/ability instead of trying to make her ride the horse's personality.

I had heard that shetland ponies had nasty tempers and tended to bite. I had never been around one so I don't know if this is true or not.

I've only encountered one nasty Shetland and the kid was being nasty first. Any horse can develop a nasty temperament, especially if we don't teach our children the proper way to handle them. Like every other living creature, they need to be treated with respect.

I had also seen a phone commerial where the teenage girl wanted a new cellphone like her friends but instead got a pony. A really mean pony. :p I always thought that commercial was cute but probably untrue of their natures.