Head and Heart are having a fight

cptrayes said:
I've watched the video now and I would not go to see this horse. I think he has either hock issues or a back problem. Look how he fails to track up in trot (mentioned above too), holds his tail in a very unnatural way, and drags his toes through the dirt all the time. He also appears to have very straight back legs, a bad weakness for a dressage horse.
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agree
 
s4sugar said:
What is it that appeals to you?
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Getting blinded by the word Schoolmaster I think, and thinking of how much work that Ben and I have to do.

The girls are both solid broke, albeit with issues to work through, so when I get to ride them I can have more 'fun'

Just sometimes the head says it would be nice to have a pull out and ride horse, but from all the feedback it sounds like this gut is not the one. Have to go and watch the video again without the rose colored glasses.:o
 
Big Ben said:
Getting blinded by the word Schoolmaster I think, and thinking of how much work that Ben and I have to do.

The girls are both solid broke, albeit with issues to work through, so when I get to ride them I can have more 'fun'

Just sometimes the head says it would be nice to have a pull out and ride horse, but from all the feedback it sounds like this gut is not the one. Have to go and watch the video again without the rose colored glasses.:o
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But he doesn't really look like a schoolmaster. He looks pretty well-behaved, so ok from that pov. However a schoolmaster imo is one which will only do what you ask it correctly to do, not one which will guess what you really meant and do that. He will NOT help you to progress as far as I can see.
 
I agree with a few of the others on here I do not like the back end one bit, his not working from behind at all he is way short of tracking up which means his not working correctly and its a false outline, he may have problems and thats why his cheap.
 
'This gelding would be ideal for a junior rider looking for a reasonably priced FEI junior mount.'

how???????? at $4000 usd? they seem to have high hopes!!!
reasonably priced for an fei horse would be $20,000/25,000usd! if not more! this is certainly not an fei horse

although ben will need more work, at least you will know who has put that work in! and that when you do well it is all down to you!
 
Wagtail said:
So 16.3 hh not 17.2 hh, very long in the back, not tracking up and dragging its toes. Not ideal. OP why don't you wait until the spring and see how much you weigh then and choose a horse accordingly?
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Not actually out to choose a horse, I chose Ben and Emmy, Willow chose me, just fell over this guy as I said.

Not being in the least rude, but interesting that you see a long back here, and he maybe, but also were saying Ben is long in the back, which I still don't see.

Bahhumbug said:
Remind me again why you were looking at that schoolmaster when you have this at home.....:eek:

Ben all the way and well done on the fantastic weight loss (I have regressed lately so really admire your tenacity and will be back 'on it' tomorrow)
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LOL, maybe I'm scared that I will never get him to move like that under saddle
 
Well done on your weight loss so far! Great stuff. :)

I can see you've had lots of good advice already on this thread and are taking it on board. I just wanted to say, Ben is gorgeous! Just watched that little film of him, what a sweetheart. :)
 
Big Ben said:
Thank you Billie, already shifted a bunch, should have BIG news at the weigh in tomorrow.

This boy is 17.2 hh, and looks all there to me, not a stripling.

Yes Big Ben, 10 years old, Tb/Perch x Saddlebred, backed only when I bought him last year, 2 months at the trainer this summer, very little riding other than that due to me knee issues/operation and weight problem. Currently grounded again, but starting hopefully in the New Year bringing Ben and I up to scratch.

Emmy the Arab mare is not going anywhere, she stays, even if I never ride her she stays, pasture pet, ornament, in hand trail, she lives here, that's it.

Willow, I WILL ride, don't under estimate the woman on a mission, but *sigh* yes as things stand currently she is the least physically suited to me.
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Sorry to say but I agree with weshd re Ben, I would not sell him, if selling anything I'd sell willow. X
 
Big Ben said:
Jeez people....here is his ad

http://www.warmbloods-for-sale.com/HorseDetail.asp?HorseID=34050&UserID=13530

so yes 17.2hh, and older.

Also from talking to the owner was stood for a couple of years, (rider issue) and has just been brought back, ie, bought out of the field where he was doing nothing and brought back into work.
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Big Ben reading the comments I went back and had a look at the video... I agree, not tracking up in trot and dragging his toes, but what looks worse is the canter... His back end is all wrong and stiff too, he is not comfortable in an outline, looks tense throughout the back, and the way he seems to hop along with his back end... I just don't like what his back legs are doing in canter and I wouldn't do it... Just don't risk it x
 
Big Ben said:
Did I ever show you Big Ben moving?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjk_Bv9Qero

Sorry for the cheesy music, not my video, sound DOWN is best
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Ok, just got to this post and so am posting again... If you get rid of him for that thing your bonkers... But if you do get rid of Ben... FedEx him over to me and he can live with my Ben x there is no way I'd be selling him for anything, put the work in and produce him yourself, he will go far and the satisfaction you will feel will be beyond compare to what you would feel from the other horse x
 
Well done on the weight loss BB. Go girl.

That horse is lame and won't take you anywhere.

Ben is a great mover and with plenty work, dedication and a good instructor you will have him going the way you want.

All the things in life we want...slinky hips and GP dressage horses all take work and dedication. I think your up to the challenge.

Stop looking at horses and plan your schooling sessions!

xxxx
 
Big Ben said:
Did I ever show you Big Ben moving?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjk_Bv9Qero

Sorry for the cheesy music, not my video, sound DOWN is best
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Good god. Your horse is amazing. Why are you looking at that stiff old thing?

I have my first youngster, and it's tense times here - I look at 'premade' horses and would just LOVE one I could jump on and ride away with the prizes. But they're not my horse. I won't have made them into that winner. And my baby is nowhere NEAR yours :D I'm actually haing give-up-and-make-life-easier fantasies about Big Ben!
 
Ditto all the others - Ben is wonderful and a far superior horse to the one in the advert. He's got that lovely trainable saddlebred temperament too by the looks of things which is worth its weight in gold.
 
not seen any of the videos but sounds to me like you want a ready made horse. what if you bought this horse after selling your gelding, get attached and then realise he's not all he's cracked up to be and you see another 'schoolmaster' that you like and you will be back in the same position you are in now.

personally i'd keep your gelding, work with him and you will get so much more out him than you ever could with this new one simply because you would have done it all from the start with him.
 
Big Ben said:
Not being in the least rude, but interesting that you see a long back here, and he maybe, but also were saying Ben is long in the back, which I still don't see.
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Ben is long in the back and so is this horse. My mare is long in the back too. Not too much of a problem if the rider is light. Lots of top performance horses are long in the back, but they are not weight carriers. I personally think you are too heavy for Ben too, and have said as much. My advice would be to sell him and find something that is more suitable for your frame, but obviously, would wait until the Spring first, because you may be light enough for him then. If not, then sell him and look for something that can carry you comfortably.
 
Just looked at your video, and agree with the others, Ben is much better than the horse you are thinking of going to see. Lovely movement!
 
Another one here saying stick with what you have got.
The ridden horse in the video doesn't look correct. I can't put my finger on it... its over bent, and not tracking up with very poor lateral work, but to me the over whelming impression is of stuffyness, there is no expression there at all.
Might be a very kind horse, and hopefully someones pride and joy, but hes not good enough to sell your ben for imho.
Kx
 
I haven't commented on your threads before but have read them and just wanted to say that Ben is gorgeous! Stick with him and enjoy the journey and you guys will be flying in no time. Good luck with the weight loss, it'll be hard but so worth it! I myself lost 6 stone to get back to riding and would like to lose another 2 so I know how difficult it is. I wish you all the best xxx
 
Big Ben and I thank you for your support

Ben-Sept172011-sm-130.jpg


I just get cold feet thinking of the journey sometimes, and think wouldn't it be nice to have something that is kind of push button:o

Now if I can harness all that power and get that darn head out of the clouds, we may have a chance. I need to watch that video more often, and remember why I wanted him, why I watched for a year, and eventually bought him in a Dutch Auction where the price was dropping :)
 
Dont be disheartened because you are not getting where you want to be fast enough. I know how that feels and I too was very tempted with the fancy jumps anything you put in front of it type when I was struggling with nerves on my current horse with my jumping. But hand on heart I couldnt part with him - I even had him up for sale once, I was convinced I would never be able to jump him (had an accident 5 years ago) but I stuck with it, had some really good instruction and am glad I did.

The horse in the video is pretty but he looks short in front, stiff and doesn't track up well and its lateral work is lacking. Your boy Ben is absolutely stunning and seriously if you dont want him send him to Scotland and I will happily take him off your hands - but you would be mad to part with him - let him be your drive to lose more weight and do well with him :) Cause when you do get where you want to be, you will have done it all by yourself
 
Big Ben said:
Big Ben and I thank you for your support

Ben-Sept172011-sm-130.jpg


I just get cold feet thinking of the journey sometimes, and think wouldn't it be nice to have something that is kind of push button:o

Now if I can harness all that power and get that darn head out of the clouds, we may have a chance. I need to watch that video more often, and remember why I wanted him, why I watched for a year, and eventually bought him in a Dutch Auction where the price was dropping :)
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OH MY!! He is stunning, he is exactly what my dream horse looks like, im a sucker for a black stunner ;)

Is that you riding him in the video OP? As you dont look that big to me!

I agree with the above, the horse in the first video you posted isn't right, so dont waste your time with it.

Your horse looks amazing so I would stick it out with him if i were you!
 
Goodness you've dropped another 1.5 lbs since you started this thread :p

HHO is good for weight loss obviously.

Now you've posted that photo of Ben and after seeing the video a few days ago, I just wanted to let you know that an international transporter is turning up at your place later this week to whisk him away over the ocean just in time for my Christmas present, so you can go and get that 'orrible old schoolmaster that you covet. (oh, and I' ll share him with Snow Queen cos' I'm feeling charitable :D:D:D)
 
Thanks for the kind words for Ben, it does make you wonder why he stood so long, and just wouldn't sell, and why he wasn't started.

He is very opinionated, and BIG, speaking as someone who has been surrounded by Haflingers for years.
 
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