following on from the controversial 'bolting'....

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harrihjc

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This is yet another incident where I've seriously questioned a riders choice of horse. I know so many people who have had real problems with horses they have bought which are completely unsuitable. On the guidance of an 'experienced' friend of hers, a friend of mine bought a 4yr old cob to learn to ride on, it was a lovely horse and didn't put a foot wrong, but was just too much for her and she completely lost her confidence and had to sell.

Another 'acquintance' (not friend as she irritates the hell out of me) has a huge young horse, god knows why she bought it, but it could be so difficult for her that she's had to send it to Hadlow. It is a stunning looking horse, and about 16.3hh and has lots of ''potential'' (oh that word again!) but I still can't understand why a middle aged woman who just goes on quiet hacks would buy a horse like that, that she couldn't even get on
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and then there's the lady with the 'bolting' (??) youngster....

why do so many people buy horses like these when they are clearly not suited??

maybe we're getting back to the topic of who has the expertise to bring on a youngster that someone (FF?) posted the other day...

then there are some local girls who just make me cringe, holding their horses mouths so tight in strong bits whilst booting them in the ribs, ending up with a prancing, rearing, leaping horse that in their minds looks 'cool'
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just a pondering really, anyone can make a mistake over a horse, but there seem to be so many people with unsuitable horses, or ruining their own, and I also don't understand the mentality that having a horse who looks difficult is cool, surely you get more respect for having a well schooled, well mannered horse who goes round a course nicely??

*Harri hides under her desk preparing for a telling off for being judgemental
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[ QUOTE ]
Maybe some people have difficulty in being honest about their own abilities ...

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Dont' take someone with them who knows what they're doing for a professional opinion??
 
I dont understand the misbehaving thing.... I used to get really wound up at shows with horses who reversed into you and the like, give me well mannered any day!
 
Many people, regardless of what they intend to DO with the horse, want a "nice" horse. That word potential is a tricky one and tbh, I dont deny anyone, be them happy hacker or otherwise a nice horse, regardless of what they actually do with it.. even if it oozes potential (assuming said horse is happy of course).

Onto people who over horse themselves... I think you have to see two different sides to this. Yes, some people just are outright unrealistic about their riding ability. They buy something that perhaps they can "grow" into in terms of their ability or they just straight up over estimate their ability.

There is the other side of the coin though and these are the people i genuinely feel sorry for... its very, very easy to lose your confidence regardless of how good a rider you are. It takes a long time to build it up but it can be shattered in one (sometimes minor) incident; leaving someone who is scared to ride their own horse. Horses sense this, many will then take advantage of it and the whole situation deteriorates into a vicious circle. These are the people I really feel sorry for as usually, they bought a horse that was within their ability and they've often developed a deep, deep bond with it.

I bet most people on here know someone who spends the majority of their time lunging / long reining / perelli-ing / loose schooling their horse when you KNOW it comes down to wanting to avoid riding it.

The problem is, most people do develop bonds with their horses and letting them go can be incredibly traumatic. Equally many run on such tight budgets that seeking professional help in the form of frequent lessons can just be impossible.
 
Tierra I also have a lot of sympathy for people that lose their confidence with their horse, as I did several years ago, although I'm not so sure it was ever a horse within my capabilities in reality, as I didn't know it had a history of doing what injured me and thats why I had been given it!
 
I think that many people have an inflated opinion of the standard of their own riding because they cope very well on what I would call 'safe' horses; horses that never put a foot wrong, or only mess about very half-heartedly. Then they get on a horse that has a bit of 'character' (like Antifaz or PF), maybe throws the occasional buck, or spooks, or a horse that is just green and they don't know what to do when it acts in a manner they're not used to. This leads of course to a loss in confidence / nerves, because they feel unsafe, are uncertain how to react, etc, etc...
So I pretty much agree with Tierra
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Its so annoying! This disease usually effects middle aged women. Sometimes these women sell these misunderstood horses very cheaply though.. So get out there and grab yourself a bargain.. lol
 
I think people can "ride" but dream of buying a horse for themselves and sometimes buy what they would like to ride, but haven't had a wide enough experience to know what can go wrong, or what is involved in schooling.

On the other hand there are some very dishonest people around. One person posted on a DG group that they had been riding for about 6 months and had bought a 16.2 ex hunter from their instructor - which had frightened them and they wanted to sell it again again. Some instructor!

There is a local riding school which actually does a good job of teaching, but they have nice ponies and the lessons are only EVER indoors, so the children (and the parents) think the children can ride anything.
 
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