Home made eventers or shop bought ones - who makes it further?...

whilst i don't feel qualified to comment in terms of my own experience i do think it often comes down to money...
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til i got the grey in my siggy i'd only ever done RC level stuff but produced my grey through Intro and Pre Novice despite being clueless! when he turned out to not be brave enough to go further i sold him. i really really wanted to buy a more experienced eventer that i could do some Novices with to give myself experience but i just couldn't afford one....hence why i now have a 4 year old. i guess i might ruin him on the way but its all i could afford.....
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FWIW i worry about buying professionally produced horses- if a horse has only ever been jumped by someone with a perfect eye for a stride will they not get very confused if they then go to an amateur...?
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FWIW, being without a horse now but previously having competed to ** on a home produced (give or take) pony, my shopping list would be an established Int / ** horse (a reliable correct person but not a Badminton horse) to get my eye in competitively again, and a super duper baby. There is a lot to learn from an older horse, it was not financially possible when I was Junior / YR but it would be how I would like to start out again now (or in 6-8 months.....)
 
I think it totally depends on the individual horse. Attitude is everything IMO. All I can say is that I wouldn't spend a fortune on something ever. I much prefer to put the work in. The one horse I bought for quite a bit of money (at the time) because he was well bred etc. turned out to have a stinking attitude so his clearly brilliant ability meant nothing! Yet, the horse I have now who cost me less than £3k and looked a state when I got him has been fantastic - he hasn't got as much ability but makes up for it with his attitude and has taken me further than any other horse.
 
wish my nag had some experience of eventing (or show jumping/dressage or anything in fact) before I bought him. Have tried my best but atm without any help I am stuck with a stroppy naughty horse.
 
Depends on your agenda and the horse I think.

My old boy was homemade and we had a blast for a few years but suddenly when it became apparent he was not going any further due to his attitude it became very frustrating.

New horse has a couple of points and a good track record at novice - I am hoping to learn a lot from him and enjoy his trainable approach.
 
It was interesting what a big deal - justifiably - was made about Tony Warr's horse at Badminton last year. While he was obviously a lovely horse and fantastically produced surely part of the reason for the fuss was that he was an anomaly and that's a relatively rare occurrence? Which would suggest the vast majority of horses at that level are not "home made". (Although I know one regular on here did produce a "first horse" to go to Badminton.
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My first event horse was 7 and had 2 points when I bought her, when I was aged 17. She took me from novice to 3* in three seasons.
She would have had a much nicer time had I had a schoolmaster first. She would then not have to have put up with all my mistakes on the way (I made every mistake in the book and she saved my life on several occasions).
I was very lucky that she was bold and talented, which counterbalanced the lack of education I gave her. My abilities did not match hers at the time. I was very lucky. Have been trying to find one as good ever since.

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WHAT A GREAT POST!!!!

You will go far, and don't stop looking!!!

My daughter is in the same position as you, and has been lucky enough to have a brilliant pony who has taken her, over 4yrs, through PC, Intro, PN, Pony Trials, Jrn and Champs, and Intermediate - all in complete safety and harmony!

She also, for a while had her elder sister's horse who had competed very successfully to 1* before injury. He taught her a lot about horses, and she did well on him.

HOWEVER! I think it is difficult to be an amateur, and also TEACH a young horse new dressage things like changes if you have never done them before yourself!!

Perhaps a schoolmaster comes into his own in this case - but they are SO EXPENSIVE!!!!

Also, if they have been ridden by male pros, they are used to a very strong leg, and total precision.

In the end of the day, you can hire horses to teach you the in's and out's of dressage, but there is nothing like working up a partnership together for the jumping!!
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PS If you find two suitable horses - do let us know and we'll have the other one!!
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