Do you think that what you's class as 'acceptable' from a horse becomes less with age

[HollyJ]

I've been thinking about this since getting my new horse. he's been a saint but makes me that little bit nervous.

He's a big competition horse with the potential to do what he likes with me especially when a jumps in his path. So far hes kept this under control but i know that if he threw in continuous bucks or god forbid a rear etc i'd seriously question my decision in having him.

When i was 18 my first horse was a total jekyll and hyde - i had him for 16 years. He'd be a plod one day, a loon the next - a rodeo star in spring and a generally spooky wreck whenever he fancied scaring the **** out of me - however not once would i have considered not riding him. That was just him.

If i took a horse on now that did any of this i'd probably quit ha ha

Just wanted other peoples reassurance i think that this is pretty normal. I know we can't be fearless teenagers forever

 

[Spotsrock]

I used to be bold as brass, now I'm reduced to a gibbering mess when jumping anything over 2ft6 and I wear my BP on anything new even on the flat, too many falls and too concious that there is no one to look after them/pay for them if I get hurt!!

I mis read this though and thought you meant do we get less strict with them as they get older, yes to that too, Lots gets away with blue murder compared to the younger ones!!

 

[Vixen Van Debz]

I think the change in self-preservation is entirely normal and sensible. I've researched risk-taking in adolescence as part of my PhD (and adolescent brain development continues into the 20s, sometimes to the age of 30 in men so it's not always a teen thing) and people definitely can be much bolder at that time. Get a bit older, wiser, sorer when you fall and with more to think about (family, mortgage, beloved etc) then people are sensibly much more conservative in what they'll risk - it makes total evolutionary sense.

If your boy's been an angel up to now, then there's no reason to think he'd go mad at competition. Not every horse will be Jeckyll & Hyde! Approach it with confidence and I'm sure you'd have a ball together. I think if we all imagined how a horse could potentially bronc or rear us off then lots of us might never get on! lol.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I still have a lot of my confidence but I do think of the potential risks more.
I think a big part of this is that as teens, you do think yourself invincible as well as if you fall off, you don't think of the implications whereas, as you get older, you need to be able to pay the bills and who'll look after the horse if you can't manage?

Again, I have no children to think of (whereas my friends are a lot more precious with themselves and they do have children), but I am particular as to the horses that I will ride now.

Vixen Van Debz puts it very well