Changing a horses job/purpose/lifestyle - does it work?

Grumpy Herbert

Grumpy Herbert

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Do you think it's possible to take a horse that has only ever done one discipline and turn it into a good allrounder? Is it possible early on in the horse's life but likely to be too difficult later on? Or does it depend on the horse's temperament? Is it fair to ask a horse to change it's job late on in life?

Also, is it fair on a horse that has had a hard working life to lessen it's workload dramatically and turn it into purely a leisure horse? Can it cause too many problems if, say, a horse that has spent most of it's life stabled or with little turnout suddenly has loads of turnout and time off between work?

Opinions please!
 
Yes on both parts.
I am not very good on your first question but we have re-homed horses that have gone on to be good allrounders and have thoroughly enjoyed it and been successful. I do think it depends on the horse. I know this is a bit different but we re-homed a 26 year old Shetland pony. Shehad been a brood mare all her life. She is now doing everything. She came 2nd in dressage, highly placed in working hunter, whizzes around showjumping and even wins veteran. The judge once said she has never seen such a loose pony at that age. She is haveing the time of her life.
Question 2, the horses love it. We have a few that have had hard working lives and are now mostly field ornaments or steady hackers. They are so happy. We have an ex-eventer who is totally different now he can live like a horse.
 
i used to work at a RS who bought an ex point to pointer. She had been a very successful p2p er, a short career as a broodmare and was then reschooled for the RS. It took a little while but she became an excellent riding school horse
 
Thanks S_F!
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The reason I asked was because my horse had a hard working life until I bought him 4 years ago, when he was 12. He has proved very difficult, if not impossible, to retrain and has exhibited some interesting vices! I wondered if it was because he was bored or because the increased turnout and "down" time had blown his mind. He does seem reasonably happy in himself - I would hate to think he was miserable because of the way I was keeping him. He has the life of Riley compared to some, ungrateful wretch that he is!!!
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I agree, some horses really take to a totally different and new life, I had same with an old shetland Mare that had been broodmare for years and then Re broken at 12 and has never looked back,always popping jumps with kids hanging off her !
 
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I agree, some horses really take to a totally different and new life, I had same with an old shetland Mare that had been broodmare for years and then Re broken at 12 and has never looked back,always popping jumps with kids hanging off her !

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lol takes all sorts to make a world
 
Our first horse had worked as a landau horse in Blackpool in the summer and in a RS in the winter. He was more than happy to have a small part time job being ridden by me and my sister
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He worked 2to3 days a week and spent the rest of the time in the field with a new friend, except in winter when he spent his nights in a stable next to the friend and the days in the field. He thought that he was in horse heaven. Absolutely traffic proof, he loaded like an angel when we bought him, but after that he would not go past a horse box without giving it a severe looking at, we think because he didn't want to move from his cushy number.
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My Salad went from being a pure dressage horse - working at medium and winning elem, to being a hunter/hacker/ride and lead/xc horse. In a few weeks he's being broken to drive.

I have to say, he's a far happier horse now, and actually does a better test!
 
My Akhal Teke was initially showjumped to Discovery level before being sold... then was competing in endurance to gold series (or something like this? I have no clue about endurance) before being sold... I bought him when he was 10 and started off doing Pony Club stuff - XC, SJ, sponsored rides, but for the last 5 years he has done pure dressage to elementary/medium, level, with some hacking.

Oh, and I have also stick and balled a bit round the field after going through a polo phase! Poor confused horse. No actually I think a bit of a change is good for them. He used to be at livery and I rode him every day, but we brought him home and he is turned out most of the time and not riddden as much. He is fine, more relaxed with all the turnout.

A lot of horses have a career change even later on in life - they will soon let you know if they're not happy so don't worry!
 
LindaW yeah I think sometimes too much dressage can bore a horse , i Bought a horse that was working at Medium dressage and doing very well but not much enthusiasm for it , HE also done xc and much preferd this , this is what I bought him for , and my dressage is pretty none existant so just hacking and xc and he loved it !! Who is that striking chestnut in ur pic?? beautiful 1 x
 
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