Do other people like riding your horse?

Leo Walker

Leo Walker

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No one likes riding mine :( Its a weird situation in that I bought him as a 2yr old, backed him when he was in the autumn of his 3yr old year and then got fat and had to hand over the riding to other people. Long story short, and a not great loan home later and hes been back with me for 6 months and in that time other people have been riding him. No one has seemed to enjoy it?! Even though they rode for free and didnt even have to do any jobs, it was literally catch in, stick tack on and ride.

I think I've always been a bit annoyed that he didnt make the height and that might have rubbed off on people, but its hard to tell. I have now started riding him, and I love it! Hes green but about what I'd expect for a 5yr old cob with no real education. The first time I rode him I hacked out and he was a really forward but completely safe hack. I then rode him in the school the next time, and he was a bit switched off but soo eager to please, and a few goood boys and pats and he was onside, despite me tipping his world upside down by expecting him to be light and forward and to move off the leg :lol:

I got off and said that if I was looking to buy I'd have bought him, despite his small stature as it was all there! I am a terrible rider! fat, unfit and disabled, so it wasnt due to me being amazing by any stretch of the imagination :lol: Hes green but IMHO not hideous and he is an amazing hack! yet no one wants to ride him?!

So I'm curious, do people like or want to ride your horse? If not, why not? And if yes, why? And can they actually ride your horse when they get on?
 
I think others like riding my horse!?... I think!
He's your safe as houses kick along chilled out guy, no sillyness and gives you that *safe and secure feeling* I doubt confident or experienced riders enjoy riding him, but he is definitely one for the nervous novice or the kids needing a wee ride around!
Have to say some days I adore riding him as he is so safe and sensible.. (unless he is in a group going for a yeeha!!) but other days I throughly enjoy riding others horses who are silly forward going and keep you on your toes!... But I still love going back to my big squishy sofa ride who I can trust to not kill me!!
 
They certainly claim to, but if you want an honest opinion, half the forum seems to have ridden F :rolleyes3: He's certainly not a super chilled, brain dead sort - he can be sharp, but he's generally more polite with other people than me - and he has quite a few moves to bust which people who don't do a lot of dressage seem to enjoy. That said, if you're used to a flashy medium level sports horse, you'd probably find him dull!

Dae, fewer people have had the pleasure of, and he's certainly less schooled - largely due to his age - so I really couldn't comment.
 
I've had people who haven't seemed to enjoy riding mine either.

He's spooky and cheeky to hack but I rarely let anyone hack him.

I think the reason most people don't like him is because they feel that they, and their horses, are superior. Honestly in the school to your average person, he needs a bit of work (but at 24, he's happy what he's doing and so am I), so I can sort of understand. That being said all the children who are learning, or have less advanced ponies, or adult novices, really enjoy him as he's simple to ride and jump. However most feel they can get a better ride elsewhere, and I think they dismiss him because of his height too.

He's everything I want, and there are plenty of people who will appreciate him, so why let the others even have a go!:)
 
Mine might just be being polite! Not that many have ridden my mare but they seem to like it as she's has a lovely outlook on life and is super keen and fun. Had a few people try ypthe new boy and they really like him, he's easier in some ways and a flashy mover.

I reckon your riders just haven't appreciated all his lovely points. New riders needed ��
 
yes, despite Mr P being a plonker, everybody loves riding him , he's safe and he self steers so you can enjoy the views! and one girl who rode my Shadow had a bit of a cry afterwards she loved him so much, the only thing is , i get a bit jealous cos they are all better than me!!
 
Only 2 people have ridden my mare, one of which was only on for 5 minutes so can't really comment on that. A friend has ridden her a few times now, I think she enjoyed it although she probably isn't what she would want for herself.

My gelding is an older boy ideal for plodding about on and a tiny bit of light schooling. Over the years he's had a few people on him and I think they all enjoyed it to a degree!
 
No one really likes to ride Wazzle. They LOVE him till they have a ride. He's stunning and blonde and flashy but also very spooky, behind the leg, very quick and reactive and has a crappy trot to sit to. But he seems to love me and I know his buttons so we get on OK :)
 
FrankieCob said:
There wont be any more riders! If people cant appreciate him, then they arent riding him. I'll just have to ride him everyday myself :)
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quite right Frankie!:) a lady phoned me the other day who says mean things about P's manners all the time, she's never even ridden him and because her horse is out of action she's looking around for a ride and i thought ' well you can p*** off!!! :D xx
 
Only ever had 2 people on mine event mare

My friend who just couldnt get away with her which is strange as shes not hard but she never looked good with her & it upset me strangely haha

& a younger girl at my yard who has a cracking super cob that was being a tit at the time so we swapped & she realised what it was like riding a "proper" horse...not as easy as she looks apparently !

No one has ridden her recently & noone has jumped her, kind of want my instructor to at some point before shes sold :( dreading watching people when I'm selling !!
 
Total beginners, especially children, loved sitting on old cob. He could really take care of them and plod round at a steady pace. Anyone more experienced didn't enjoy him so much though he could be forwards and work nicely.

I've only met four or five people who like riding my son's horse - including his owner, my son and me. He is great with people he knows well but really dislikes anyone else. Three well-known professional trainers have sat on him over the years and have all said they didn't feel safe. I suspect they all tried to press his buttons too hard too quickly and he reacted badly. A little tact and feel goes a long way and he will offer some really lovely work - including a piaffe to die for!
 
I don't let many people ride Sunny, but those lucky enough to of been allowed on (only every experienced riders) claimed to have loved riding her and wanted her for themselves (never going to happen!). I've had people at the hunt asking if I was ever going to sell her, and if I was then they all wanted her for their children to hunt & do BE or BSJA on. However, she doesn't really like having others on, other than me, and I'm never going to sell her, ever.

My Father's horse is very complicated to ride, but those who worked out how to ride her also seemed to enjoy riding her, although I don't think many would want to own her.

All the others haven't really been ridden by other people.
 
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From what you've said he sounds quite lazy in the school, so I wouldn't enjoy riding him and I would imagine that might be why others haven't either. I really can't stand lazy horses or horses who are dull off the leg (which makes me sound horrible, I know). I went to view a lovely four year old Cob-type gelding last year with a view to buy and bring on over the summer - as soon as I got on, the bloody thing wouldn't even move! I spent about twenty minutes constantly pushing him forward so he wouldn't stop, before telling them that he wasn't the one for me.

I've had horses who people enjoy riding and others who people haven't really liked. I think it's a very personal thing - what one person loves another hates! I loved riding my Welsh D more than anything, and thought he had the best and most expressive trot I'd ever sat on, but when people came to try him all I'd get was 'Oh, he's a bit bouncy isn't he!?' or 'He needs a bit more schooling!' while they were flailing around trying not to bounce off.
 
SpringArising said:
From what you've said he sounds quite lazy in the school, so I wouldn't enjoy riding him and I would imagine that might be why others haven't either. I really can't stand lazy horses or horses who are dull off the leg (which makes me sound horrible, I know). I went to view a lovely four year old Cob-type gelding last year with a view to buy and bring on over the summer - as soon as I got on, the bloody thing wouldn't even move! I spent about twenty minutes constantly pushing him forward so he wouldn't stop, before telling them that he wasn't the one for me.
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I cant stand horses like that either. Hes actually pretty forward, he just starts off switched off and disinterested, but hes easy to bring round and get him off the leg and forward. He has definitely done the not moving at all thing for other people, or shuffling along at a snails pace. Hes better for me as I did all his ground work and initial breaking, I'm also the person who supplies the food, so he knows better than to chance his arm with me :lol: I certainly havent done him any favours letting lots of different people ride him :( But hes clearly an acquired taste :lol:
 
FrankieCob people generally do not enjoy riding my old horse. Novices who have confidence and who just want to potter about in a safe enclosed space do fine and seem to enjoy him. I think because they are not expecting much and appreciate his unflappable nature. He is merciless with taking the mickey out of those who lack confidence though and they cannot get him to do anything at all. Nervous more experienced riders turn him into a spooky mess. Average riders struggle too and hate riding him because it is hard work for them. It is because he is a schoolmaster. With correct rider position and application of aids he is a dream to school, mostly quiet and sensible to hack and when he is not, a decent rider can cope. But an average kick and pull type rider however gently they may use their hands and heels will get nowhere. The average rider tips forwards to encourage canter, has wobbly hands, uses heels in an upwards gripping motion instead of nudging with calves. None of this makes sense to my oldie and he does not respond. Most struggle to maintain trot, cannot achieve canter and end up with him leaning on their hands. When my good dressage rider friend gets on he is light as a feather, rounded, balanced and responding to invisible aids. He is fantastic! But although people want to have a ride they are disappointed when they try. It is rare for anyone to last more than a few minutes. I am choosy who gets the chance to try these days I do not feel it is fair to subject him to endless numptys :D
 
Hmm, yes & no & not the way around I'd expected! My older mare (now mostly retired) is the no, which I didn't really see coming. She's schooled, responsive, and very well mannered, but apparently she's really tough to get a tune out of! She does as asked, when asked, but there's no real sparkle there & she tends to go a bit flat. Also, if you upset her, she holds it against you. Not sure if it's because I backed her & have been pretty much the only one to ride her, except my trainer, partner & a couple of trusted friends. But she'll move mountains for me!

The younger mare, who is big, electric, & prone to standing up is the yes! She's very green & hasn't grown out of the klutzy phase, but she's got more of a sense of humour than LP & is oddly forgiving for a horse that had a fairly rubbish start from 0-2. I've also backed her, but frankly she scares the pants off me when she throws a fit. No one else who has sat on her seems to mind & she's decked my partner once!

Can't understand it myself ;-) Of course, they're both out of action again with various injuries, so I'm currently being kindly offered rides & having to figure out which of my friend's lovely horses I actually enjoy sitting on. That's not turning out how I expected either!

OP, if he suits you, blow the rest!
 
FrankieCob, he sounds like my type of horse!

my horse people say they don't want to ride, until they sit on him (when he is behaving!)

when he was on working livery at the old yard, he had a man who rode him every saturday in a private lesson - who complained if he didn't ride B!
I've had a novicey friend ride him as well, despite her not being as experienced, she thought he was brilliant and great fun, because he is forward off your leg and doesn't need to be told to keep going. His weird canter is also quite popular because it is very comfy - even if it is fast.

I think a lot of people don't want to ride him because of his speed and the fact he looks very strong - most people who do ride him seem to be either speed demons or very brave.
 
Not many have ridden my boy since I've owned him, but a friend has who seemed abit confused by him!!
He generally presents as lazy initially in the school and abit stroppy if you ask him to do something he doesn't fancy. As soon as he knows you mean business though, he's ace. At that point, you'll have more trouble steadying him than speeding him up as he's generally very wizzy.
 
I produce horses for other people to ride, so they'd better jolly well like it or I haven't done my job! And the majority of the "other" riders are non riders or very inexperienced (actors, mostly). Our horses are a little unusual in that they have to look all fiery and romantic, and yet be safe for novice and often nervous riders.
 
Mine is small, amiable and worldly wise. Some like him a lot, but my friend who likes big horses says 'it's like riding your Labrador.'
 
Yes :) They like riding mine though only two friends have ridden him (and 3 of my family) My family and friends are not the most experienced or confident so they don't find riding a welsh cob too humiliating :p
All have loved the feeling of driving the ponies I use to teach driving :) (And everyone wants to take them home!). They're little geeks the three of them!
 
Hmm . . . Kali is a bit marmite - people either really like him or find him incredibly frustrating and awkward. I don't let all and sundry sit on him because he is sharp and quirky and has a tendency to deck people . . . but the people who've really understood and "got" him just love him and it's a pleasure to watch them together.

True story - we moved to a new yard - hadn't been there long and I was riding him in the arena. I had to go back to my stable to get something I had forgotten so took him with me and a fellow livery (who was eventing BE so no slouch and had seen me ride him in the school - and I'm no great shakes) said that she thought he looked really nice to ride . . . I asked if she'd like a sit - "yes please" says she . . . he stuck two fingers up and promptly refused to play ball at all. He didn't deck her, he just didn't cooperate. She never asked to ride him again. She was a decent rider - he just decided she didn't like him and behaved accordingly. She didn't like him. Marmite. Z, N and L, though, all love him and love riding him.

P
 
Auslander said:
Yes! Only one forumite has ridden him so far, but she seemed to enjoy it!
JFTD keeps threatening to come and have a go!
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That was meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and I did!!

JFTD said:
half the forum seems to have ridden F :rolleyes3:
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I haven't :(

People all want to have a go on Dottie, but no one else has ridden her since she has been injured and now Im not sure anyone else will, what with her precious legs n'all. In the past people loved her as she is a total dude wonderpony! No one else has ever ridden or even sat on my big young horse Belle, I guess most people might not fancy her as she is young and rather athletic ;)
 
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