Honesty what’s your horse like to ride

[Honeybee]

Paris is great hacking out with others but by her self is easily spooked.
Hunting she is brilliant point and jump, schooling is hard work but only because she is still very young.
I’d say not a novice ride although definitely not a hard ride

x

 

[charlie76]

She is usually lovely on the flat- tries really hard and you could have a beer whilst cantering as she is so smooth!
Jumping she is green but willing and gives you a good feel.

Hacking- great in company but can be a little spooky if on her own.She will canter in a group and I can survive!

Going to parties- brilliant, rises to the occasion

 

[SSM]

Donkey is the laziest slug in the world, keeps my leg muscles going!!

However she did turn into Turbo Donkey out hunting, gave me the most wonderful day and at no time did I feel out of control or worried (once we cleared the first jump!!)

I give my girl 10 out of 10

 

[Nic]

Dubh-

Dressage - takes a while to settle
SJ/XC he is fantastic, so scopey.
Hack - difficult, jogs

DA-
Hacking - very laid back, brave, and sensible.
School - settles very quickly

Gus - Armageddon proof but knows who he can take the pee with!

 

[Parkranger]

I'd say he's not a novice ride but not evil (or I wouldn't be able to ride him).

Flat work can be shocking and needs to be ridden proactively. Hacking out he's usually ok - great on roads but needs to build up his confidence again hacking out on his own.

x

 

[ColleenIsh]

My last mare was great to hack out she was basically bomb proof ... flat work was nice

.... jumping ?? She was fantastic only you bounce into the fences ... Had to set her up but only until 2 strides out cause she just took a dive as if to say right let me go now .

She was probably the best horse I had . Miss her very much .... So anyone around ballymena line in n.ireland who bought her from laurel view stud . get intouch . Would love to know how she is .

 

[Kelly1982]

I would say Senza is very forward going and like Paris she is not a difficult ride but i would never put a novice on her as she can be quite lively!!

Flat work is really good considering her age but her jumping needs a lot more work as she rushes and is all legs so we tend to ahve quite a few down at the mo

She is good as gold out hacking but can be a bit spooky on her 'off' days and sometimes when she is on a straight she will get excited and rodeo the whole length of it.

At shows she is actually better behaved than at home

 

[cosmo_sam]

George is inherently lazy, and if someone tries to ride him with lots of leg soon becomes very dead and shut down. If he knows you mean business from the off he's actually a very forward and lively chap!! I think lazy is probably the wrong word, it's more of a case as he's efficient with his energy usage!!

He's VERY bouncy and uncomfortable at the beginning of a session, and only really becomes sittable on when he starts working through his back. I would never recommend someone not used to him gets on him and trots him straight off - they could end up in traction!!

He's good to hack, in company and alone, but can have the odd wobble/snort

He loves jumping and is very bold and honest

He can be iffy about ditches XC though, but he has only seen a couple

He's VERY wide, xtra xtra wide M2M saddle fitting, and so long hacks can leave you looking VERY John Wayneish!

 

[Loupride]

Pride is very comfy on the flat, can sometimes be a bit lazy but only if he doesnt feel like working. He loves to jump and gives a lovely feel over a fence, can get a bit excited and can be strong after a fence if he is feeling happy

Can get bored very easily so has to be kept amused! As for XC, thats where the fun starts, get all excited, starts to shake and just bounces around until he can finally start. Very carefull XC, not going to hurt himself

All in all Im very lucky, he is very sane & safe with a bit of character thrown in for good measure. He just likes to keep it exciting but I'd trust him with my life

 

[BBs]

Winston :- Rolls Royce dressage pony. Sensible hacking but fun with the occasional buck. Very scopy jumper but not the bravest. Turns into a speed demon out hunting, very much a gentleman, but bloody strong hunting.

Snoopy :- Spacehopper! very very forward going, opionated, cocky, bold and is always up for giving something a go.

Bertie:- although now retired, he was the boldest, bravest horse I had ever ridden. HIghly opinonated, exceedingly strong, 100% safe but jogged everywhere!

 

[Tierra]

Lovely on the flat - by far the best Ive ever ridden. Comes very very light in front and has an incredible amount of power. Works to PSG so knows the movements but has to be asked very correctly or just takes the piss (hence he's teaching me so so much as he's not at all forgiving)

Hacking - good but very spooky... My horse is quite deceiving because he can *feel* very lazy but on the other hand, is very sharp. He gives absolutly no warning if he's going to spook and he's quite violent with it. Also run off with me a few times when I can honestly say ive had absolutly no breaks. Sadly we lost our off road hacking so we're not hacking atm

Jumping - weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Im a wimp though so I dont do much

He manages to drag me over them though so full credit to him for that. Would love to see how he went with someone capable on him.

Wouldnt call him a novice ride but for someone who isn't phased by him, he's ok. He can be a very confrontational horse to ride and because of his nature, you have to work through problems in a round about way... you CANT confront him directly otherwise he'd get to the point of being dangerous. Very clever horse.. will take full advantage of any weakness you have as a rider but this is precisely what makes him a good teacher - he won't forgive any mistake. Never the less he's the most fun i've had with a horse in years

Love him to bits

He's more like a large pony than a horse in my eyes

 

[harrihjc]

so laid back its unreal, at everything he does! He is a littel on the lazy side with schooling, but he's only 4 so I think its to be expected. He's not an easy ride because of laziness and greeness, and occasionally he naps, but I feel safe on him and he's perfect for me!

 

[Puppy]

LOVELY!

She is comfy; safe; forward going but responsive; I never struggle to get/keep her attention; she's smart; likes her work. I just find her the perfect ride ..... except strictly speaking I shouldn't have bought such a biggie,

but I never feel over horsed.

 

[vicm2509]

Baron is a sane and pretty laid back. Hes green but coming on very very well. He loves to please. He needs to be ridden properly, I doubt a beginner could get him to canter. Hes a little lazy if anything but pretty push button.

Jumping, quite nervous as I think he was faced with too much too young before I got him. hes willing to please but his confidence gets in the way, trying to build it up with poles and small jumps. Hes got lots of scope though. Will jump almost anything rustic though.

Hacking, fab in company but naps alone, confidence issue again. He gets really sweaty and tense. Almost mastered the napping, just need to get him to relax now.

I love him to bits

 

[Tempi]

Bloss is anyones ride in the school, however not everyone would be able to get her working nicely and correctly. She can be lazy in the school aswell.

Out hacking she can get very excited, and has a huge buck! On her own she spooks alot and can nap at times, but soon gives in.

Archie is nervous of other people riding him, and il probably never let anyone else on him apart from my trainer. He can nap in the school, has paddy fits if you ask him to do something he dosent want to. Has be known to rear, but hasnt done for a while now. Out hacking he has to go in company, he gets upset if another horse comes up behind him, he stresses when he sees other horses in the distance, he can nap, even in company. Hes definately NOT for the faint hearted and is a difficult horse to ride.

 

[sloulou]

Bart - very wide and has such a large amount of shoulder in front of the saddle that his neck looks hugely long from on top of him! He's quite lazy, but not a complete donkey. Really stands off fences. can be nappy, but in his old age (19) he is a safe hack really.

Reg: Well, I love him! neither of my sisters will ride him - which tells you something! He's quite short striding and trot can be bouncy - canter very rythmical when schooling. Tendency to spook and run (on hacks or in school) - which puts others off him. He can be very strong. Gets excited jumping, but settles in a course. Hacking - bit spooky and bouncy at the mo - but I think that's the weather and lack of turnout! Has already given me so much confidence jumping.. bless

 

[harrihjc]

Maddy is really easy if you just sit and let her do what she wants. She will jump anything, and she will do everything as fast as possible, she's ridiculously strong, and if you try to slow her down or interfere with what she's doing in any way she will have a huge paddy.

 

[_jetset_]

Hannah sounds a bit like Bloss... anyone could get on her in the school but she will not give you anything if you do not ask in the correct ways. However, I wouldn't let many people hack her out as she can be an absolute bugger, especially when you give her a blast. If you catch her too early she throws her head up and bolts, and too late she has gone and it take a long time to get her back. Also, if you get stressy on her, she gets stressy back and will throw a paddy.

Grace is a very green and nervous horse to ride, and I would not put anyone I like on her

She is getting extremely confident with me and is going like an absolute superstar, but if you don't get on and work her from the very beginning she will throw in the biggest bucks, spook at her own shadow (actually does do this

) and generally get more and more worried about things. On a hack she has eyes on stalks as has not been out much, and tends to shoot back and half rear if a big truck or motorbike comes near her. She is getting much much better with this as I have been taking her out on her own and she is getting more confidence in me when I say, "Go on, it's ok!" I think eventually, her hacking will be great when she has more experience in it.

 

[H-J]

Spider - Best mover ive sat on, extremely long stride, very cheeky and opinionated, wants to give anything a try, if she is scared of anything she will trot passed it, or if approaching a fence she isnt sure about she goes into trot to give herself some more time to think about it!! Extremely scopey.

Mac - Complete gentle giant at 17.2hh, total gentlemen, scopey very clean SJer, brave, not really bothered by anything, only spooked twice since I have had him! Can be strong when he gets going SJing or XC

 

[Super_Kat]

Storm: she can either be a total uncooprative plod or very wound up and a nightmare to handle (usually hunting, TC'ing or on some rides). She's fab out on the roads, can be very strong and she's very frustrating because she's capable of so much but her attitude is rubbish!

Missy: When hacking we have to walk almost all of the way. She's very spooky on hacks (things become 10x spookier in trot) and if she spooks she'll buck and on the roads that isn't good! In the school when she's on her own she's fabulous when she's working properly but when in there with others she goes stuffy and spooky and doesn't move forwards, she just coils herself up and acts like a prat which is very frustrating!

Olympic: Lovely! He has a big trot which I love when he's in an outline. his canter on the right rein is fantastic but he feels a touch stiff on the left rein. He is such a saint when jumping he'll jump anything and really looks after me

On the roads he's okay in most traffic, he get's a bit jumpy around lorries or really big tractors but always walks past calmly. I hack out alone alot and he will nap occasionally although he's starting to realise that playing silly buggers on the road isn't the best idea! He's hacking out in company on the long rides and he's good as gold and we have a blast, he's ace

 

[Chex]

Chex is great to hack, but is really strong as tends to go where he pleases at his own speed! Jumping he's fab, schooling is awful though, he's far too sharp and refuses to slow down again. He's an easy ride, but I wouldn't let a novice on him because I know he'd gallop off and yank his head down. Safe as houses though

 

[4whitesocks]

Well he sounds a little like Cosmo's George to be honest - if he can get away with only operating in one gear he will but if he knows you mean business from the off he will respect that. His flatwork with a good rider is excellent but with me it's a matter of how much he can get away with...
he has a fabulous jump, great bascule & when he uses himself he really uses himself!
He will NOT 'take you round' or 'carry you over' anything - if he senses a lack or confidence on the riders part he reckons if you're not convinced neither am I - in that sense he has been a fantastic horse for me as I have had to stop dithering & just get on with it!

He is good to hack in company but still prone to the odd spook, have done very little hacking by himself yet....

All in all despite the fact that when we both got together we were 'green', he's a cracking little horse, lots of fun & full of surprises (in a good way!), very clever & anyone who has ridden him has enjoyed themselves!

 

[fizz-tally]

jay is good to school,loves to jump,can be very very very forward & spooky while hacking

fizz,lazy

 

[MrsMagoo]

Schooling - fab ride once she had relaxed, can be a bit tense to begin with. Sometimes has the odd lazy day but generally pretty forward going

Can be a novice as such is wishing just to plod around in walk maybe trot but for working properly def not a novice. Can take the piss somtimes - as Rachskeff knows full well lol

SJ - loves jumping, pretty bold and not strong. Has been known to take the piss by ducking out last minute but usually when the rider is not riding properly. squeals when excited, can occasionally buck or jump around after jumps....

Hacking - Not too bad, can be a little spooky on bad days by herself but generally ok. Doesnt mind traffic etc. Can canter out but I wouldnt ever gallop her really. She gets tooo excited and bucks, which are impossible to stay on!!!!

XC - her old owner said she was brill and jumped everything, but did get a little strong. We shall find out Sat when we go for a practice

 

[tormor]

Django: Hacking in company he is good but out by himself he spooks a lot and can get quite scared at times. Jumping he loves and is always really foward going (for a cob) and thats the same for hunting. flatwork well its not our best. sometimes he is good but other time he is so uncooperative and just tries to do his own thing. driving he is good but tends to pull like a train! He could be a novice ride but to get anything out of him you would need to be more experienced as he is a typical lazy cob!

Reilley: he is a tempremental old git. He only likes certain people riding him, if he doesn't want you to ride him you're on the floor. He loves his jumping and hunting but flatwork get him angry and will rear. He doesn't hack out alone because he naps and rears. Is good hacking out in company as long as he likes the other horse! Shows just blow his brains so has to have a fair amount of calmer. He is good at going fast which he likes lots. He is definatly not a novice ride.

 

[JessPickle]

Pickle: quite lazy to ride on the flat, but perfect for novices, partically for lunge lessons as he is speedier on the lunge. He is on working livery at a riding school so that says it all really

Jumping, very honest ride, like to go quite fast but tends to slow as you get closer to the jumps. Allthough you can trust him a lot as he rarely refuses and usually just gets on with it. good for someone learning to jump

Hacking- Suprisingly not a novice ride at all, VERY fast loves a god gallop, has to be ridden in a stronger bit out hacking. Very responsive quite a wimp and a bit spooky.

XC- I havent done any on him have just seen him doing it, quite brave at it, very fast fairly strong, but would take anyone round the course witha decent score

 

[S_N]

B = Not a clue - never ridden her

Hector = As above, only a yrlg though

Berry = FANTASTIC!!! Forward going, fairly sane hack (unless beaches or stubble fields are involved, then it's a case of go like stink untill you can't go any further). Boring in the school though, it's never been his fortee, unless he's been on micronised Barley to give him energy, and then he tries to buck you off

. But that's only with able bodied riders - he verges on saintly with his RDA charges! H'e's a damned good driving horse too!!

 

[Blizzard]

Lance: Def not a novice ride, takes the pee big style if he knows he can get away with it, generally lazy in the school. However i put my step dad on him last weekend, who is a novice, in the school and Lance proceeded to take off with him and veer towards jumps, aswell as buck and spin LOL. oops!
Out hacking he can be SO lazy, then all of a sudden be ripping your arms out while you try to stop him cantering home! He is also a nappy bugger at times and very spooky alone, big wuss.

Beau: Total gentle giant at 17.3hh, never seen him spook yet totally laid back takes everything in his stride, big gorgeous paces but a very smooth ride, my totaly novice partner does everything on him and the horse looks after him and tries his best to please every time, he is the best horse Ive ever had.

 

[Ellaxx]

Well he's a lovely hack, relaxed but keen and not spooky, will deal with any situation on his own or with others. Showjumping wise he's very eager to jump, not spooky over fillers, but doesnt have much style yet, so its tricky to leave all the fences up!! XC he's totally wonderful, brave beyond his years, he really loves it too. His flatwork isnt the best, he can get quite argumentative and it takes a while for him to work properly but he's gorgeous when he does. he's only young so not worried about that.
He's not silly so a novice could hack him etc but when it comes to competing/schooling he's doesnt know what he's doing yet so needs an experienced riders help.

 

[pottamus]

Riding in company...forget it he is impossible. He turns into a plunging Tigger and either wants to race everything or kick everythng! Not nice!
Hacking on own - great...this is what we do best! He can be a bit of a lazy so and so on his home turf but take him somewhere new and he livens up lovely! Can be a bit sharp and spooky but I put that down to being Welsh!

At pony parties (endurance) he gets really up for it and you just have to let him get on with it for the first half hour as he will just trot and trot and is very forward and so you just take your leg off until he settles a bit. But does not get stupid or anything. If we get passed then we just do an even quicker trot to try and catch up!!! Bless his little legs!
Schooling..forget it..his brain switches off and the shutters come down as soon as he steps hoof in the school...makes for really hard work and lot's of bucking if asked to canter...we school on hacks anyway.