Bravery in horses

[Chloe_GHE]

I don't think it's so much bravery as willingness and trust that makes a good xc horse. I think they need to trust you enough and have a willing temperament so when you point them at a solid obstacle and say 'jump that' they don't question your authority or judgement they just say 'ok I'll give it a go I trust you'

then each time you ask and they reply and they see it is a fair question their trust in you grows and thats when I think they begin to become brave in themsleves. I think trust and bravery are hand in hand.

Once they have a base level of trust in you, experience, and confidence then thats when you see them start to take things on and enjoy it for themselves too

 

[bigboyrocky]

I think you've got a point. They have to have what I call 'a bit about them', a bit of bolshiness and a bit of a wild streak, the kind of thing that properly channelled would be brilliance. Like the naughty kid at school who was actually very bright and just bored. Going to the racehorse sales, you can really see the type that would do well.

Damn, why isnt my horse going round badminton then? No, definatley agree they have to have something about them and a bit of confidence in themselves.

 

[ajf]

Now looking at it and adding another factor my horse is almot too brave cross country and a complete sweet heart to handle (I'll lead him through a field with 4 or 5 loose horses all galloping and playing and know he won't touch me or pull at the lead) and always lies down every night, hardly ever has a head collar on (he wanders like a dog a bit and always comes back to where he should be) but I have given up trying to get him to walk through puddles out hacking (though only fault ever at water is me falling off! ) and he is the spookiest little git out hacking. If you saw him hacking you would never think he would make it to the first fence!

I remember reading Lenamore's bit in H&H and Caoline saying they couldn't hack him out alone as he's so spooky and it reminded me and my chap (just wish we did as well as them )

 

[HotToTrot]

It's interesting what people are saying about some comp horses being unable to hack. I deliberately hack mine loads, precisely because she is a spooky little so and so when we hack. I figure that the more I can desensitise her hacking, the less scared she will be of jump judges/spectators/bushes on a XC course. Thoughts?

 

[kerilli]

I don't think a horse being a 'nice person' has anything at all to do with xc bravery.
I've had a few excellent xc horses who were absolute saints in every way, especially to hack. My lovely grey would take a total beginner out and really look after them, she was super with tiny kids aboard too.
I read that Murphy Himself was bullied in the field by other horses, no belligerence there.
Cool Mountain was the calmest horse at the WEG trot-up apparently, the atmosphere was electric and he was the only one being cool as a cucumber, I was told.
I really do think that very often people say "oh, the good ones are always quirky" to try to justify carrying on with a total git of a horse - "it'll be worth all the grief in the end, this one's a right toad so it'll obviously get to Badders..."
Give me a nice one any day, can't be doing with the horrible tricksy ones any more, life's too short!

 

[ajf]

It's interesting what people are saying about some comp horses being unable to hack. I deliberately hack mine loads, precisely because she is a spooky little so and so when we hack. I figure that the more I can desensitise her hacking, the less scared she will be of jump judges/spectators/bushes on a XC course. Thoughts?

Mine was actually really good to hack when he was younger but has got worst as he's got older. I'm pretty sure he's making life more intresting for himself! Little beast will hold his ground to a tractor in the field but if I'm on top on a hack he'll pretend it's going to kill him! yet he is not at all spooky cross country