easier to sharpen up a chilled horse, or calm down a sharp one?

[amycamycamyc]

Am horse hunting with a vengeance, and am going to see one tomorrow that I think may be a touch more kickalong than I intended. My feeling is that this isn't necessarily a problem though as most horses can be taught to be quick off the leg with schooling... am I kidding myself??

I am viewing him on the basis that if I had to pick, I would rather feed/fitten/school a lazy horse to be more enthusiastic than have to desensitise a very sharp one....

do you agree??
or is a lazy horse always going to be a bit lazy... ( i don;t want a kickalong ultimately...)

 

[beetlejuice]

it will always be harder to calm down a stresshead then gee up a plod!
It doesnt take too much to sharpen up a lazy horse, controlling and containing a sharp horse requires more tactful sensitive riding

 

[Bowen4Horses]

i bought a horse that is slightly ploddy, in order to restore my confidence... and once it's restored, i've always intended to sharpen him up.

2 schooling whips to get him moving off the leg. lots of transitions. and some hard feed. they are my plans. also, my horse is ploddier when he's bored, so i'm planning on making riding life very exciting for him. good luck! x

 

[amycamycamyc]

excellent, this is what I wanted to hear!
he is also cheaper than my budget so could spend the rest of the money on lots of sharpening lessons!

 

[ladyt25]

Definitely DEFINITELY easier to gee up a laid back horse as opposed to trying to calm down a more 'giddy' one! A chilled horse is always going to be chilled but you can liven it up a bit but a stressy, nervy, sensitive horse is always going to have that tendency and i know which I'd prefer!

My sister's horse was a practically horizontal 4 yo he was that laid back but, after he learned what life was all about he has certainly livened up. He has his moments but he is very chilled BUT he loves his jumping, xc etc and certainly can move but he is never going to be stupid or silly then again he is not slow at all either, just gets on with it and truly enjoys it and has the power so doesn't need to rush or get daft.

Mine was basically the same as a 4 yo although he's always been spookier but never stupid/silly or unpredictable. My pony however - totally different kettle of fish and, although we've now had him 16 years and he's certainly calm down his behaviour has always been erratic and he is far too sensitive.

Stick with the laid back ones that's what I'd say!