seabsicuit2
Well-Known Member
I have 3 lovely and promising 5 year olds for eventing and I have to sell one now as just cant afford nor have time for running 3 horses. None of them have done anything competition wise so I cant just choose the horse that is having the most success, anyway that would be an unfair way of judging them as all 3 have done very varying amounts of work and are at different stages. I dont feel I can really ask any trainers for their opinion as I dont think anybody would appreciate them for what they are& be quite able to see the end picture as to what kind of horse they will end up being...
How would I choose? I keep going round in circles as to which two horses will end up being the best ones.
I have-
Cult Hero X Ghareeb gelding. Lovely attitude and temperment, very very genuine. Spooky and stressy and heavy breathes a lot but always does what you ask of him would never question you. Fabolous straight paces and a very uphill ride. Feels very light, scopey and carefull over a fence.Slight lack of balance in canter but nothing bad.
Take it 2 the Limit mare. Just adore this mare and we have such a bond. Do feel that she has the biggest heart and would do anything for me. Massive paces but again lacks balance in canter but not bad for a green 5 year old that hasnt done much schooling. Having said that, she does flying changes every time we change slightly change bends while cantering down our wiggly canter tracks. Very bold, never spooky or silly or stressed which I love. Feels very scopey over a jump with plenty of power. Does not move straight in front ( dishes in front) but l think that her front legs straighten up when she is being asked to work properly.
TB mare- ex racehorse. Could be incredible she is just an amazing athlete. Has such good joints, good limbs, feet, and is so sound. Totally straight mover, Just floats in trot and can canter all day on the lunge and never break her rhythm. Amazing power over a fence and very carefull. So light on her feet. BUT has a history of napping badly but dont feel this is her fault as she went to a novice rider/home when she came out of racing, where she was pushed to the point where she didnt want to leave the yard or even walk around an arena. I have spent months longreining. lunging etc and generally rebuilding her muscles/mindset. She has now finally had a really good two weeks under saddle and seems to be going from strength to strength. But I'm just not fond of this horse in the slightest! She is perfectly sweet natured and easy to do, always has her ears pricked and is sweet but I just cannot feel any connection with her at all. I almost feel that she is a quite dim and simple. Maybe she is still shut down after racing and having such a hard time readjusting to her life out of the racing system? I do think that she is a horse that thrived on the regimented routine of a racing yard, and now that she is out of it, she still feels quite lost and insecure, and although she is doing the work asked of her now, she finds schooling/hacking/normal riding activities work is all quite alien to her still. Even tho its 14 months since she came out of racing. She is a quiet person and for me, lacks oomph,presence, character and intelligence. Simply there is no spark there. But wether this would come with time once she starts to build confidence in herself again and enjoys her job? Or wether she's going to be one of these horses that is happiest being in a secure and somewhat insitutionalised environment, such as a dressage or showing yard rather than trying to make her into an eventer? I just dont know, its one of these things that only time will tell..
So who to sell? Money is not an issue, its just moving one of them on to a good home. I would be gutted to sell the TB and see her doing amazingly well with someone else, she is like my special find! But equally I would be upset to sell one of the other two and for the TB to pack it in at some point during the line..
How would I choose? I keep going round in circles as to which two horses will end up being the best ones.
I have-
Cult Hero X Ghareeb gelding. Lovely attitude and temperment, very very genuine. Spooky and stressy and heavy breathes a lot but always does what you ask of him would never question you. Fabolous straight paces and a very uphill ride. Feels very light, scopey and carefull over a fence.Slight lack of balance in canter but nothing bad.
Take it 2 the Limit mare. Just adore this mare and we have such a bond. Do feel that she has the biggest heart and would do anything for me. Massive paces but again lacks balance in canter but not bad for a green 5 year old that hasnt done much schooling. Having said that, she does flying changes every time we change slightly change bends while cantering down our wiggly canter tracks. Very bold, never spooky or silly or stressed which I love. Feels very scopey over a jump with plenty of power. Does not move straight in front ( dishes in front) but l think that her front legs straighten up when she is being asked to work properly.
TB mare- ex racehorse. Could be incredible she is just an amazing athlete. Has such good joints, good limbs, feet, and is so sound. Totally straight mover, Just floats in trot and can canter all day on the lunge and never break her rhythm. Amazing power over a fence and very carefull. So light on her feet. BUT has a history of napping badly but dont feel this is her fault as she went to a novice rider/home when she came out of racing, where she was pushed to the point where she didnt want to leave the yard or even walk around an arena. I have spent months longreining. lunging etc and generally rebuilding her muscles/mindset. She has now finally had a really good two weeks under saddle and seems to be going from strength to strength. But I'm just not fond of this horse in the slightest! She is perfectly sweet natured and easy to do, always has her ears pricked and is sweet but I just cannot feel any connection with her at all. I almost feel that she is a quite dim and simple. Maybe she is still shut down after racing and having such a hard time readjusting to her life out of the racing system? I do think that she is a horse that thrived on the regimented routine of a racing yard, and now that she is out of it, she still feels quite lost and insecure, and although she is doing the work asked of her now, she finds schooling/hacking/normal riding activities work is all quite alien to her still. Even tho its 14 months since she came out of racing. She is a quiet person and for me, lacks oomph,presence, character and intelligence. Simply there is no spark there. But wether this would come with time once she starts to build confidence in herself again and enjoys her job? Or wether she's going to be one of these horses that is happiest being in a secure and somewhat insitutionalised environment, such as a dressage or showing yard rather than trying to make her into an eventer? I just dont know, its one of these things that only time will tell..
So who to sell? Money is not an issue, its just moving one of them on to a good home. I would be gutted to sell the TB and see her doing amazingly well with someone else, she is like my special find! But equally I would be upset to sell one of the other two and for the TB to pack it in at some point during the line..
