Define "strong"?

[indiat]

Looking through ads I see quite a few people describe their horses as strong so needing a confident rider, but also as a well mannered ride? So define strong? Does this mean they tank all the time? My old girl leaned on the bit when she wanted to be difficult and was bloody hard to pull up when she got excited in company but she did stop so I wouldn't have called her strong. Are some people erring on the side of cuation when selling their horses?

 

[MrsMozart]

If 'bl00dy hard to pull' up, then I would count that as strong. But, I'd also count it as strong if the horse had a very bounding and powerfuil stride.

 

[teddyt]

I see that word in adverts and automatically think that the rider has been hauling at the mouth and the horse is over bitted, so the horse leans or pulls due to discomfort. Either that or the horse is physically incapable of stopping as quickly as the rider wants.

 

[AmyMay]

Looking through ads I see quite a few people describe their horses as strong so needing a confident rider, but also as a well mannered ride?

Describes my horse perfectly. He is 100% a gentleman. Exept I find him very strong in company and to do fast work with. And my biggest disappointment is that I've found him too strong to hunt.

 

[indiat]

Interesting. I always thought of a strong horse as one that disapeared into the distance at high speed ignoring your terrified screams as you hung onto its neck! I think there are a few ads I shall go and look at again. Some one locally is advertising a pony for loan, 14hh New forest x Fjord, who sounds ideal only that he can be strong.

 

[indiat]

That is a shame AmyMay. My old girl would happily plod round the school with my babies on her back yet I had to close my eyes and think of England if she saw a jump. My daugther got the firght of her life when she cantered her large for too long in the school one day and Velvet steadily got faster and faster! Maybe I'm not as **** as I think I am? There's hope for me yet!

 

[AmyMay]

I should add that my horse is 16.2hh and all power. I would never, ever buy something that size knowing it could be strong again. I've never been run away with - but it's been a close run thing on a number of ocassions.......

However something that was 14.2 - 15.2 no problem.

 

[EmmaJaneWilliams]

Mine is the same as Amymay, lovely girl but too strong to hunt and can be difficult in company. If you don't tell prospective purchasers that the horse can be strong, could it result in the return of the horse or worse court case if something bad happens? It could be why people are a bit cautious!

 

[AmyMay]

If you don't tell prospective purchasers that the horse can be strong, could it result in the return of the horse or worse court case if something bad happens?

.

If the direct question was asked about whether the horse was strong, and the vendor said no - then yes I suppose so. But the question would have to be asked. A vender doesn't have to disclose every bit of information about the horse.

 

[indiat]

I'm not knocking it, its nice to hear a bit of honesty. I think I'm being a bit of a fraidy cat with ads because you hear so many horror stories, so I am shying away at the first sign of a problem. My ideal way to find a new horse would be buy one I already know but how often does that happen? I've only ever bought one horse in my life and I am finding the whole process a bit daunting. I have left a message about the loan pony so I will see how it goes.

 

[dibbin]

I'd agree with amymay ... Dylan is perfectly mannered on most hacks, doesn't tug in the school and stops when he's asked. If you try and canter him in a field or put him at a single jump (courses are fine, for some reason), he goes like a freight train.

 

[HenrytheCat]

I used to have a Dales X mare that my instructor called "strong", but I didn't think she was particularly strong. She was on the forehand when I first got her, but as we did more schooling she became lighter in the hand and the only time we had no brakes was when we jumped. I am still not sure exactly what strong means if I am honest.

 

[indiat]

I love these replies! My definition of strong was a freight train all the time, and again, this opens up more ads for me, with my teeny tiny budget. Dibbin, the funny thing about my old mare was that she would charge every jump but the last one. No matter how many or how few I set up, she would just skid to a halt at the last one and then wander off to look at the scenery. Very bizzarre. After a while I learned to kick on at the last one and then a tap with the whip once she was over, otherwise she would just stand there. I'd love to know what they are thinking when they do stuff like this.

 

[bex1984]

I also wonder about this - I guess I'd have to describe Murphy as strong sometimes, but other times he's so lazy I can't get him to move! So I guess a forward horse isn't always strong, but equally a strong horse isn't always forward.

And it depends hugely on the rider. I have learnt to do an emergency stop on Murphy so these days he never gets too strong for me, but someone else might find him strong, or might not find it a problem at all.

 

[3ForeverLast]

I ride racehorses so my strong is probably alot different to other peoples strong!
I define something as strong up the gallops if it carries its head low and powers along, not listening to you on top pulling like hell to stop it or slow it down!
And I ride general riding horses strong if they just don't listen to you and go at their speed no matter what bit, how many gadgets you got on it..
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