Horse and owner compatability?

[alainax]

I am bringing a youngster on for a friend just now. She has 2 lovely horses but just isnt "clicking" with the youngster.

I was wondering if you think that some people and horses are meant for each other and others are not?

The horse in question is a lovley 14.3hh Appaloosa. His owner knows he is beautiful and had a great personallity, but just doesnt like riding him.

She has a large ( almost cleveland bay style) mare, who has a huge big neck and built like a tank!

The Appaloosa is finer and more foward.

She finds the mare ideal, who is the opposite of the Appaloosa.


As it is just now she is debating wether to sell him or not for somthing more like Holly.

Personaly i cant fault him, he is perfect in every single way and is a one in a million horse. But... its not my decision to make, and there is no point her having a horse she does want to ride!


Shes in a dilema as to wether to sell him or not. She loves him and knows hes lovley but maybe for someone else....


Has anyone else been in this situation? WHat would you do??

 

[Brownmare]

Wouldn't it be boring if we all like the same type of horse!

Sounds like your friend has made her decision even if she doesn't yet realise it. Let him go to a home where he will be appreciated for what he is instead of trying to make him into something else. Maybe you could buy him???

 

[Letslip]

I think most definitely some people click with some horses that others don't and most definitely have a more favoured 'type' of horse.

If she no longer enjoys riding him then maybe it is time for her to find a replacement, he is more than likely someones elses perfect horse and she may find her own additional perfect horse, plus riding is meant to be fun and enjoyable and once that is taken out of the equation I believe that something should then change to make it fun again!

 

[L&M]

I am a great believer that horses are like people - some you get on with and some you don't, however hard you try. I spent a fortune on a lovely dapple grey show cob but we just did not click, even though I persisted for 6 mnths, so eventually sold him on to a new owner who is very happy with him. Equally the horse I replaced him with, although not the 'stamp' I was looking for, is spot on and we clicked from day one.
Wish your friend luck with whatever decision she makes.

 

[Elsbells]

I for one have always said I'd love a gelding and the horses I have clicked with, have always been mares

Horses have to click with you too and that's not always the owners choice

 

[alainax]

Wouldn't it be boring if we all like the same type of horse!

Sounds like your friend has made her decision even if she doesn't yet realise it. Let him go to a home where he will be appreciated for what he is instead of trying to make him into something else. Maybe you could buy him???

Thanks for your reply, the best scenario would be for me to buy him! as he is my ideal, but i cant afford him

Yes shes thinking he would be a wonderful young teens jumper, as hes from jumping lines and is currently a happy hacker. She does want to see him go to a home where he can be used to his full potnetial.

But like me, she has a soft heart, and is attatched to the wee monster

I do think your right tho, the decision is already made. . .

I think most definitely some people click with some horses that others don't and most definitely have a more favoured 'type' of horse.

If she no longer enjoys riding him then maybe it is time for her to find a replacement, he is more than likely someones elses perfect horse and she may find her own additional perfect horse, plus riding is meant to be fun and enjoyable and once that is taken out of the equation I believe that something should then change to make it fun again!

Thanks for taking the time to reply

Shes never really enjoyed riding him, up untill very recently he would become very hyper when she was on his back, which wasnt ideal for either of them.

I asked her if he behaved perfectly in every single way ( which he id with her today) would you still feel the same about selling him? She said she feels like she just hasnt "clicked" with him, and wouldnt chose to ride him over Holly.

I am a great believer that horses are like people - some you get on with and some you don't, however hard you try. I spent a fortune on a lovely dapple grey show cob but we just did not click, even though I persisted for 6 mnths, so eventually sold him on to a new owner who is very happy with him. Equally the horse I replaced him with, although not the 'stamp' I was looking for, is spot on and we clicked from day one.
Wish your friend luck with whatever decision she makes.

Thanks,

FUnny you should say that, someone metioned to me that in the world things are like music notes, some are in harmony together, and other clash.

I Clash with Holly, and dotn really enjoy riding her, whereas i love Cochise, whereas My friend is the opposite

I for one have always said I'd love a gelding and the horses I have clicked with, have always been mares

Horses have to click with you too and that's not always the owners choice

Thanks for your reply... yeah i think your right. Although it pains me to admit it, its her horse and she has to do whats best for her...

 

[Cobber]

I was quite interested to read this.Ive had a horse on full loan for 4 months and we havent clicked. Even at the start i just didnt 'feel it' and threatened to give up on many occasions as he isnt totally straight forward but i persisted and four months down the line even though im fond of him i still dont get lots of enjoyment out of him and dont feel any great connection with him. However i got talking to a young tb mare on the yard and fell in love with her straight away. She is for sale within my budget so im weighing up my options....

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Some horses want to be with you, others just want to be with someone else. I believe they do choose, very much so. I had a lovely little Welsh Cob, a real little darling, but he just didn't want to be "my" horse, and in the end found himself a lovely home where he was driven, not ridden, which is what he'd done before and been very good at it, so was happier there than he was with me!

Sometimes you have to recognise a horse who's a "rough diamond" when you see it, and not be destracted by bad/green behaviour or whatever, and that's a real talent, for spotting a good 'un.

Just a suggestion, but it might be worth getting someone independent and unbiased to look at the situation from the outside and offer suggestions? It might just be that a little bit more work in a certain area is needed, or whatever, and it would be a real shame to miss out on a good horse for want of asking an opinion.

 

[alainax]

Some horses want to be with you, others just want to be with someone else. I believe they do choose, very much so. I had a lovely little Welsh Cob, a real little darling, but he just didn't want to be "my" horse, and in the end found himself a lovely home where he was driven, not ridden, which is what he'd done before and been very good at it, so was happier there than he was with me!

Sometimes you have to recognise a horse who's a "rough diamond" when you see it, and not be destracted by bad/green behaviour or whatever, and that's a real talent, for spotting a good 'un.

Just a suggestion, but it might be worth getting someone independent and unbiased to look at the situation from the outside and offer suggestions? It might just be that a little bit more work in a certain area is needed, or whatever, and it would be a real shame to miss out on a good horse for want of asking an opinion.

Yes i believe your right, hence asking for an opinion on here.

He is certainly in my eyes a rough gem, has his little "youngster-isms" but is super intelligent and so genuine.

He was a little green when i first started riding him a few months back, but now he bends beautifully, moves with ease with the leg, can mount/dismount with ease and is now opening gates!

I dont think its his talent, beauty of personallity that puts her off, its his size.

Hes got 7.5" bone, 14.3" nice condition. Shes 5'9" (iirc) and rides long. (im 5'5 and ride short)

She looks fine on him, legs look a little long when she rides in her long stirrups, and she doesnt feel comfortable riding shorter on him. (although does make a better picture)

 

[YorksG]

Sister and I have two very different mares, hers is 16.3 IDx, mine 15.3 Appy. I rode her mare yesterday (first time since I was the test pilot when we tried her ) I did not enjoy the experience and neither did the nare (behaved fine, but obviously did not enjoy the experience) Sister has ridden mine once in five years! My mare was the first one she sat on after breaking her ankle, again mare behaved well, but neither her or sister actually enjoyed it. We both handle both on the ground, but both mares are each sisters, their choice as much as ours