I am of course probably biased since my baby is a Quarter, but this is my favourite breed. I have had contact with many horses and have found them to be affectionate with their owners, smart enough to not be affectionate with strangers, and gentle too.

Anyone else have a quarter horse? What are your experiences of them?

I love quarter horses too. I don't have one but hope to one day. They're so gentle with kids and so pleasant to have around. Maybe this fall, when I look for another horse, I'll get one.

I used to ride an old QH mare. She was wide as a barrel and pretty sway backed by time I rode her from age and having beautiful babies, but she was indeed a worthwhile mount even at the age of 20. I wouldn't have minded having a horse like her, or even her babies who all were sound and good mounts as well

I find alot of the QHs I see these days are bred more for the halter look and some have a disease (can't think of it off the top of my head) which can lead to a painful death, as not alot has been done to prevent breeding horses who are positive for it since they place well in halter classes.

I've been riding my neighbors quarter horse a lot. She is beautiful and very gentle - great for me (a new rider). I don't know how much of it is her personality or her breed though, she's older and "wiser". :D

As a complete novice to horses, seeking to understand them. I am aware that they can sense your fear, do they react the same way to both adults and children? I am asking from the point of view of them being gentle and intelligent.

They are less likely to be dominated by a child I have found, because they realise that it is a child and hence less knowledgeable. Other than that I have found no problems, no malice, no issues that we have had to overcome with child or adult. The children just had to know what they were doing like with any horse.