I have just read that happy hacker post and it has got me thinking...

R2R

R2R

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My 'thing' is bringing horses on. I enjoy breaking, re-breaking and schooling young and problem horses. I believe I do it well, my horses are happy, contented etc.

The highest level I have competed for the past two years is all unaffiliated levels (to open) and BD Prelim and BSJA British novice. I do an awful lot of hacking too.

Prior to this I had a very good horse who I sold on who was schooling 1.30's and jumping consistent double clears at newcomers/foxhunters.

There seems to be an ingrained 'thing' in this country that in order to be a good rider, you have to compete. I dont think this is true. I get more satisfaction from my four year old jumping his first course than I ever did going clear at foxhunter level.

I wonder how many people have the ability, but choose to put it elsewhere? And why do people judge you by what level you compete at? Am I less of a rider because I ride prelims?
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I also think plenty of people also have the ablility but not the horsepower, and end up having to sell their best youngsters etc as thats what pays the bills.

Ps. not me I def don't have the ability! and also don't think I would have the patience for youngsters
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I think everyone enjoys doing different things and there is a lot to be said for producing nice youngsters. I say this also as I do quite a bit of local RC writing for walk/trot/prelims, and it is easy to spot those that have been broken well and for whom this is a good relaxed educational experience as opposed to those youngsters whose owners can't really cope or reassure the horse so it just becomes one big excitement and I always wonder if the horse will just think that is how you behave at these things if that makes sense!
 
I don't really compete- just local level stuff, mainly showing and ridden classes...

......I have only relatively recently got back into horses (5 years ago) after the kids/career thing.....my time is spent working, being a mum and wife and the horses are a hobby that has to fit in around everything else. I would have loved to have made horses my job but was discouraged.....the industry was even worse for pay and conditions back then, no chance of qualifications etc like there is now.....

I enjoy riding, hacking and schooling my horses....I have brought on and schooled up a couple and sold them when outgrown for more than I paid and I think given the opportunity this is something I would have been good at in a 'professional' capacity.....I am pretty good at taking a shaggy mess and turning it into a show pony also
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However my priorities are my family....and taking it up a level is just not possible for me.....also I am complete wuss and really don't have the nerve to compete affiliated......doesn't mean that I am any less of a horsewoman just because its not my living or my 'professional' sport though....
 
What i got from TT was that these so called "NUMPTIES" are only good enough to be happy hackers, now i have been to international shows and local shows as a spectator and have seen bad riding at all levels. And found it arrogant to presume us hacking enthusiasts do it because we can,t do anything else, i for one will not hang my head in shame because i choose to hack out above competing. As a horse comunity we should be there for all our horse owners, down to the person who keeps horses as pets and never rides to the proffesional competitor.
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It really doesn't bother me what other people think, you learn that there is more important things to worry about, doing your own thing what ever that is and enjoying what your doing and just as importantly your horse enjoying it too, even if your both pretty cr*ap it lol.

Of course everyone likes to do well and its good to have a target to work towards, this is not my point but it did use to amuse me when you go to competitions, when your in the warm up ring, you notice other competitor getting so annoyed with their horses, it's like there lives depend on jumping a perfect round or doing a perfect test etc, calling their horses d*ckheads and clouting their spurs in the sides and jabbing them in the mouth and moaning and carrying on because there not going right, I just think for god sake, get hoppy horse, if you can't cope with not being able to be in complete control of a live animal, or take up knitting!

sorry that turned into a mild rant, its raining today and its damped my usual lighted nature.
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Gosh, not less of a rider at all! Prime example of someone with stacks of riding ability who didn't compete very often was my old ym(PaintedLucky on here
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). Now she can ride, and if she had still been my ym then she is the person who I would have wanted to back my pony. I've seem shocking riding at all levels, it isn't specific to those who are labelled happy hackers.
 
I did read almost all that thread, made me laugh a bit TBH for a number of reasons...

1. It's harder to hack Jess out by herself than it is to school as she is quite ummm "attentative" to every bush/ white road marks etc etc...

2. I had a jumpcross comp on Maggie the other day. It was a complete disaster! We normally jump 2ft9 courses happily in lessons (yup you guessed it, with a qualified instructor!) and then in the 2ft3 (lol, i was so scared) course i was sooo tense poor Maggie had no idea what i was doing! Should i not have done the competition? More lessons would not have helped me... i know the horse and her style over small jumps well. I guess competition nerves bring out the worst in people.

3. I actually hate competitions, i enjoy schooling and the like for other people but the actual comps i find to stressful and expensive.

4. there is a girl at my yard that competes pre-novice but will not hack her horse out as she is scared of him. What does that make her? She doesn't ride badly, she just lacks control out on hacks!!

So to answer.... I think people probably ride worse at competitions due to nerves/ being tense etc. It certainitly doesn't mean that they are rubbish riders at home schooling etc.
 
completely agree!!! many people are perfectly capable and may even have the horse with the ability to compete to a high standard but do not choose to! im not competitive at all, i enjoy the odd show just to get out n have fun n different scenery!
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I agree with many of the thoughts above. I've never done anything more than riding club and occasional ridden show and love my hacking. I would have loved to have been able to do more with my horse this year as had more time due to being made redundant but the lack of funds meant I could not justify any more expenditure on shows, RC camp etc beyond my usual monthly horse costs. Have kept my lessons going though and made progress in my jumping there so while I may not have had a ribbon to our name or no outings to give us a bit of a excitement and variety we've had a good summer. I also know I can do better at my riding but don't have confidence in my abilities which frustrates my instructor as he thinks we have hidden talents (or maybe hidden shallows!). Whatever you do with your horse within whatever parameters your life allows, it should all be about enjoyment, not judging others. The horse is such a humble beast why would we try and impose some sort of hierarchy of riding greatness based on what the person who sits on top chooses or doesn't choose to do or are able to do with their animals. I know some people who can't actually ride much anymore but they are some of the best horsewomen around.
 
There is a lady whose yard I used to be on who schools her fantastic horse to I'd say Grand Prix level: yet she has never competed him in 10 years of ownership. Doesn't want to, just has fun hacking and schooling him.
 
I totally agree here. In my time i have had 5 horses and i still have 4 (Irrie died of colic last year) My horses are here for keeps. We never use to be into competing so it was all local level RC stuff and just some fun at the weekend. This was with Rosie and Elvis. I have never been into competing myself as i have never liked all eyes on me. I always pushed my sister into to competing side. She gets a real buzz for it. This is when we got Irrie on loan and would go out and do bits and bobs. Then the loaner wanted to sell him and at the time we couldnt afford him so he went back. A year later we got a phone call and his price had been dropped so i bought him for her and i payed for her lessons, bought a lorry and we were out every weekend show jumping, hunter trails, ode's as well as a lot of hacking. In the time irrie had to go back i tried to push my sister on elvis but got comments from others on the yard that 'its all about the competing and winning not the happy hacking' We had rescued elvis and he is nothing like on irries scale so that was really hard to deal with at the time as there was no way we could keep irrie.
It is very upsetting to have to put up with comments like this especially when you do everything possible for your horses.
We now have a youngster that we have bought on and are competing in show jumping working towards bsja. I agree with you R2R, we had a horse that was always in the ribbons and would do anything for you but we are more pleased getting the youngster around a course with a couple of knock downs as it is more of an achievement.
I am a happy hacker but i also school with my horses best interests at heart. I also school whilst out hacking being happy! I think each to their own.
 
I think a lot of the time (or at least in my case!) a lack of funds and having to be reliant on other people kind of puts an end to peoples thoughts of competing before it even begins! I have no doubt that my horse could (with the right rider-not necessarily me!) move up the BE levels quite easily. However I don't own transport and when I can afford the £100 to hire it they won't hire to me so I have to be reliant on my dad (which when he then crashes it into the stables and you have to pick up the £300 repair costs is not a good thing!) makes getting my horse out anywhere very difficult! (We have next to no local shows as well!) As such I would generally rather spend £30 on a lesson or plan a go for a long hack than compete as it's just too much money and hassle!
 
I laughed when I saw a reference to "higher level" riders. Who is to judge which is "higher level"? Producing a good hacking horse is a skill in itself. Many "higher level" (ie competing) riders that I know went and brought themselves a ready-made horse and get where they are with regular help from an instructor. Nothing wrong with that, but does that make them any better or higher level than someone who has backed their own horse and brought it on nicely to be a safe ride? I don't think so. You're either a good rider or you aren't, but we all had to learn sometime, and I guess the skill is in taking on board what we are taught and improving. Whatever our chosen discipline.
 
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