Does Anyone Else Outgrow Their Horses' Ability

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Mithras

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I kind of grew up thinking you got a horse for life but I am finding because I'm competitive with my showjumping, I find that my last two horses have taken me so far and then I've kind of outgrown them.

My first one took me up to British Novice level but struggled with higher, I got confident at that level and wanted to progress so I got my current mare who started at British Novice and I've won at Newcomers level on and currently jumping 1.15m. But she is now at the stage her physical limitations are becoming more apparant and I plan for her to become a broodmare and buy another horse.

Do I sound like a brat who just tries to buy success and gives up on horses?
 
I am the opposite, my horse is too well bred for someone like me! I cant ever see me having the opportunity to compete and use her to her full potential!
 
Yup
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I think if the horse isn't able to do the job for you then you have to either rethink your ambitions or find said horsey another job / home so that they can do what they're comfortable with.
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No, I don't think you do sound like a brat at all.

Doesn't this happen to most children and ponies? I see no difference in the comparison, natural progression.

My daughter had the most wonderful pony when she was about 7, the mare gave her so much confidence and fun. Inevitably, the stage came when Evie wanted to go faster, jump higher and Baby, very clearly, said "No, I don't want to, and I shan't" I felt absolutely no guilt in finding her another home where she would do the same for other riders and at last report she was doing a sterling job.

There is no reason why you should you restrict your ability and/or ambitions because your horse has reached the limit of its' physical and/or mental capabilities. Unless you want to. Moving a horse on isn't necessarily an evil, or a dereliction of duty, in my opinion.
 
I totally agree with you, I have just sold my precious girl, that i have had for 3 years, she is the first horse i have had after having my children and she has done me and my confidence the world of good, i felt like it was time for me to move on to bigger and better things, so i found her a lovely home where i know she will be loved and looked after as well as she has been with me. Yes it was a hard decision, but as said above you need to do what's right for the horse, and for you of course
Kate x
 
I haven't yet, but I think eventually I would have on my old horse, if he hadn't been put to sleep due to colic.

My new horse is an ex-racer who has a lot of potential. He's working novice dressage, but he's easily doing simple changes and shoulder in. I've been told he could go Grand Prix dressage, personally I doubt it and I don't think he'll be able to handle piaffe/passage, and at that point, yes I'd have outgrown his ability, but it'll be a while because I am not at that level yet, but thats where I want to go.

His showjumping on the other hand..that I suspect I will never outgrow. In fact, I think this horse could give most of the well bred warmbloods a run for their money. He will jump anything I put in front of him and he's got brilliant technique.

But no, you don't sound like a brat. Sometimes it happens, and there's no shame in finding the horse another owner who can get the amount of joy adn experience from them that you did yourself
 
TBH I think it's only the professional riders who can afford (mostly because they don't own the horses) and keep them to campaign at "Lower" levels and have other horses to progress. Most of us mear mortals can only afford a couple of horses!
 
I sold my own pony because I bought her to get my confidence back. She did this but was never going to be happy doing anything other than trotting round a field and the occasional hack.

So I sold her as a broodmare as she hated work and she's very happy in a field in Ireland with a little sprog.

Now, I have Freddie who is four years old, a blank canvas and has his whole lifetime ahead of him and it's up to me which path he takes.
 
Its almost as if the last two horses I have had have done too good a job! The first was a 15.1 ID/TB mare whom I bought after having several years away from horses. She would win anything locally unaffiliated up to 3 feet 3 but was a bit clumsy and small to go up the levels in sj. I actually sold her to my sharer and she is still in the same yard!

My current mare is a similar type but bigger, I bought her to get me doing Discovery and the fact she has won a Newcomers is a real bonus. She has tolerated all my mistakes and taught me so much by being a horse I have to push on and get the stride correct with. She just doesn't have a very adjustable canter stride and is lazy, and while she can jump big fences, she has to be spot on stride wise, even then sometimes she will just knock them down because she can't be bothered.

I'm not selling her though, I plan to breed from her next year and this year we are just having fun doing everything, eventing, dressage, not worried about building up BSJA winnings.

I've found a problem horse which I think I can reschool and which goes in a way I think will be very good for jumping the bigger fences.
 
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