How is your horse for other riders?

noblesteed

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Had an interesting morning with my horse. He's 13 and I've had him for nearly 5 years. I took my nephew and sister-in-law down to the yard to see him. My nephew is 8 and never ridden before. My sister-in-law has ridden all her life on riding school horses.
Nephew had a sit on and I led him round the field, had a trot etc and said it was 'awesome'! Horse was a total star. SIster-in-law got on and rode off round the field but horse was only interested in what I was doing. She said he was watching me the whole time and not really listening to her. She can ride, I have ridden with her before but my horse was SO lazy and ignorant, she was tired out! Then she rode past and I told him to 'get on' - he took off in canter and then went really nicely for a whole minute or so, then went back to looking for me!

Last time husband rode him he behaved like that too... Now I know I should be honoured my horse loves me so very much and we have such a strong 'bond' but it gets a bit embarrassing when you tell people how lovely your horse is but when they come and try him he's a ploddy ignorant git for them! How are other peoples horses for new riders?
 
my horse does the same - even with experienced riders - esp as its not worth fighting her or they could get in all sortrs of trouble! funnily enough though she tends to be ok in ride judge situ.... its like she knows her job then - btu she still always has an eye on me!
 
Mines pretty much the definition of schoolmistress. She'll go quietly for a toddler, nanny a young or novice rider anywhere anytime, respond only to perfect aids for a more confident novice, whilst still remaining safe & using her own judgement. Or be challenging (but safe) for an experienced rider. Only thing she won't tolerate is any form of rough/aggressive riding, has & would dump anyone who tried it.
 
Reg is utterly charming :D I love that, as it's all down to Al's hard work! He shows in RoR classes and so has to be ridden by other people, and at his first 'big' (county level) show Al was told he was an absolute pleasure to ride and that he was beautifully schooled. A granny or a toddler could hack him out, he works well for people and is polite and genuine. If they're nice to him. I think if someone was rough or aggressive with him the least of their worries is what he'd do over what Al would do!

When Al rides him, he gives that bit more though :D

I think that that is one of the things she should be proudest of- not the results he's now getting or how well he works for her, but of the fact she's managed to create a horse who is anyone's ride despite being almost the only person to ride him since he came out of racing :)
 
My 15yo TB is a fantastic with beginners, I've had children as young as 5 walk around on him and I don't have to lead him he will just follow me and stop if I stop etc but as soon as someone who can ride gets on he turns into a demon!
 
She will go the same for other riders as she does for me.
ie. has her own mind, does what she wants and if you make her do what you want, she scowls the entire time.
 
Depends entirely on the rider!

My TB now can be ridden by most competent people I'd imagine (I've only ever put on good riders/pros!).

However, aggressive riding works him up and he gets super panicky and will then start to really misbehave, esp jumping.

The few pros I've put on have been SJers, he doesn't go as well for them on the flat as me - but he has particular buttons that need to be pushed (eg won't work well if you trot straight away, you have to spend 10-15 mins walking him doing lateral work etc).
 
I was thinking about this the other day, I think I have let him down :(, he loves doing pony rides and will go well for some one that knows what they are doing and asks him to work with them rather than tells him to, but those inbetween he turns in to a complete donkey for. Will pretend he doesnt have a clue what they want and has never been schooled in his life and especally loves doing this with those that talk the talk but cant back it up or just expect him to go perfectly for him without any effort. But then he can be funny with others on the ground as well so I suppose in some ways its just the way he is, he is very good at judging people and uses it to his advantage at times (ok all of the time, hes a pony what do you expect?!).
 
hes a good boy as always, but havent had him long so only 3 of my friends have ridden him so far and only once each, latest one was last week and he was going nicely for her, altho was trying to stop next to me in the school for a cuddle and did keep his eye on where I was :D
 
Like others have said, with children or vunerable people they are gentle and kind. With arrogant (unfair) riders they are stubborn and wilful.
While both are easy rides, my mare can be spooky, anxious and quite a handful with some riders which amazes me because the first time I ever sat on her I thought I'd come home. She is super responsive, willing and workmanlike but apparently while she was up for sale, she'd seen off a few buyers before I tried her.
 
My horse is horrid, he bucked/reared the last 'professional eventer' off six times just walking out to the xc course :O/

He has worked well in the indoor school though for one of my friends, even though ahe was only on him 2 minutes, but havent managed to get anyone else on him to try again! It might be that he doesnt like men, need to recruit/con someone into taking him down the field again!
 
will go well for some one that knows what they are doing and asks him to work with them rather than tells him to, but those inbetween he turns in to a complete donkey for.

I think he might believe he's a mare...:p

Most geldings I know need to be told to do something, or reassured into doing something. Most mares you ask or they will plant or dump :D
 
I think he might believe he's a mare...:p

Most geldings I know need to be told to do something, or reassured into doing something. Most mares you ask or they will plant or dump :D

Its not the first time it has been said :cool: but I was looking for a mare as I like them so that suits me :D he gets on best with riders that like mares as well. He only dumps if you have really upset him but he's well practiced at a sit in protest :rolleyes: with the occasional 'I will rear if you keep going' just to make sure.
 
My mare is touch button for me, half pass, piroettes etc just with gentle seat aids and the lightest touch of the leg. But anyone else and she won't even canter for them unless they point her at a jump and then she's a guided missile. Jumping days are over though sadly.
 
Ours are required to be quiet enough for anyone to ride (actors, mostly) and still look like real horses, but not all of them are good enough for this. I have two absolute gems that will carry total no-nothings whilst looking regal, one takes a bit of direction from the ground (usually me behind a bush) and another who is a pro's ride only. A horse that can be ridden by anyone is a credit to their trainer. A clingy, unresponsive or panicky ride usually means the training has been inadequate.
 
I have recently tried riding my friends horse but haven't been able to get anywhere with him! :/ We both ride to approximately the same level. She can get her horse working very nicely, working properly over his back into a contact etc, I can't get him to do anything! With me he sticks his head right up and goes like a giraffe or will go on a loose rein happily. I keep trying different things but can't get a consistent answer.

I mentioned this to an experienced instructor who teaches us both and she said my riding style is very different to my friend who is a bit "germanic" whereas i tend to be quite soft.

I find it quite depressing but am probably going to give up riding him as he may need to be ridden in a way i don't want to ride.
 
All of my tbs can be ridden by anyone as they are used to that from training. It kinda bugs.me when people say their exracer can't be ridden by anyone else - they are used to it! They just may not go as well.

My natives go well for anyone with a good seat, strong legs and light hands. My shetlands just rip the mick out of anyone smaller and less strong willed than me!
 
big girl will test any new rider to see whether they are worthy of riding her:o She'll be incredibly slow and bloody hard work and then if they manage to get a canter she'll tank off :rolleyes: If the rider doesn't take control madam soon will! but saying that she will do 'lead rein' for a total novice as long as the person on the ground is confident.
ginger twit goes the same for anyone but likes a confident rider to give him confidence.
 
My girl is the most switched on horse I have ever sat on. if you ride to the best of your abilities she will behave and not put a foot wrong. However if someone gets on her and give her a bad feel she will quickly put them in their place and show no mercy in doing so!! Especially if you smack her for no due reason, or you get a bit handy..she has a wicked buck! I wouldn't let anyone else hack her but me as she is a spooky horse and sharp with it and I would hate someone to fall off her.
 
Little welsh D totally adapts. For me she is lovely, beginners she plods, experienced people can get her going well after she argues with them and people who think they are really good but infact are not get a good wake up call!! :p:p

Nesta, also welsh D :P Can go forward, engage, soften work over her back etc beautifully for me, but anyone else gets back on she reverts into switched off cob that just wont listen. ;) Except for my instructor of course who makes her look absolutely fantastic but then I would expect that :D
 
Mine is pretty good for other people, and looks after nervous or novice riders. He always looks to me though if someone else is riding him, which is nice. He is a demon for me sometimes though!!

He ignores people who do not ask him to do things in the right way - he is an excellent teacher, I've had to relearn how to ride since I've had him!
 
I share my friend's horse and he's mostly a total angel with me on his back. However he's scared off a few other riders and he's been giving his owner a really tough time. It's very upsetting for her as she thinks he hates her on his back. It's really interesting reading the other posters stories on here who've got horses who also object to certain riders because they don't like how they ride or feel the rider is not in charge. He chucks off anyone who upsets him or treats them to one of his " let's see how you like it if I go really fast" tricks. Lol. We are working on it and he's getting better. Hopefully :)
 
My 13.2 is a little sod! If I am riding the new horse she stomps along with her ears back walking slowly - I bought the new horse because I thought I was too big for the 13.2 to ride her as much as I wanted to. She is ok if I am not riding something else but is very cheeky even then and refuses to trot or once trotting goes really slowly or canters. :o. The other two riders are novices (but they aren't doing anything awful) and I think she will be ok when they improve a bit but she is a character!
 
My TB is an absolute gent with other people and seems to adapt his way of going accordingly.

My 8 yo niece rode him and I have also led my almost 3 yo son walk round and he has been the consumate dope on a rope. On the other hand I let my friend take him round a local HT a few weeks ago. Her horse is currently on box rest and she had ridden my lad once before taking him to the competition. He was absolutely push button coming third in a class of over 40 :D I was as proud as punch of him.

I would like to think that he goes best of all for me but he really is pretty easy for others.
 
My 13.2 is a little sod! If I am riding the new horse she stomps along with her ears back walking slowly - I bought the new horse because I thought I was too big for the 13.2 to ride her as much as I wanted to. She is ok if I am not riding something else but is very cheeky even then and refuses to trot or once trotting goes really slowly or canters. :o. The other two riders are novices (but they aren't doing anything awful) and I think she will be ok when they improve a bit but she is a character!

Lol..looks like she was perfectly happy having you on her back and is now sulking and feeling rejected :)
 
Mine is excitable, anxious and yobbish regardless of the rider.

He is too busy looking at everything else to bother about who is sat on him.
 
Mental coblet is a church mouse but will not jump for anyone else tb naffed off with only other person, I just verbally ask him to stop but he didn't listen to her at all
 
Lol..looks like she was perfectly happy having you on her back and is now sulking and feeling rejected :)

Yes she honestly is. She hates the new horse!

When we were out the first time my neighbour couldn't manage the horse gate on her and I couldn't do it on the youngster so I ended up getting off then she got off too so I showed her on the 13.2 how to do the gate and her ears were pricked forward and she was prancing along as happy as larry!!! I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. My neighbour is tiny, about 6 stone and a very gentle rider so it's definitely not her riding or anything the pony is specifically jealous of me riding the new one :D
 
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