I think I have outgrown my horse ability level.

[Spirit2021]

This is my first horse he is is 10 years old he is a amazing horse but she just a plod along. Loved hacking doesn’t like competition can’t really jump 70 cm is the max high he can jump. He gave me back my confidence but I feel like now I want to do competitions and jump higher. Can you outgrown a horse abilities or am I expecting to much.

 

[Birker2020]

I'd be asking why he is a plod along in the first place? Is he overweight, or has he joint issues? This might be why he finds it difficult to be forward moving. Why is it that 70cm the max he can jump? What happens if he jumps higher than that? You say he doesn't like competition but what is the reason for this?

Can you not work on his confidence and see if you can have a couple of sessions with a trainer to iron out any issues and see if you can get him from plod to prance?
You say he is an amazing horse, and it sounds like you love him. Would it not be better to try to find out why he is like he is first, before contemplating getting something else? Hey, I'm not criticising, just seems a shame.

 

[MuddyMonster]

You certainly can. But I've also seen the owner regret letting their quiet, saintly partner go on a number of occasions - particularly if they've helped re-store the confidence and the next horse is a big step up. With increased talent can come increased sensitivity and athleticism.

Before you decide to part ways, I'd have a long think about what you want to do and be realistic in your riding ability, confidence, time and budget.

Is there a physical reason why he's quiet? Could you improve their schooling to make them more reactive to your aids? Will he get faster the fitter he gets? Mine is a dawdly slob when he's fat, unfit and allowed to be (not ridden forward) but he perk ups when he's a good weight, fit and he's ridden forwards - he's no racehorse but I wouldn't want one! If you want to compete, could you compete in a discipline that plays to their strength if you do want to compete - endurance or Trec for example if he loves hacking?

 

[milliepops]

are you also Lady 2021, because a similar question was asked last month with lots of helpful replies.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/have-you-outgrown-your-horses-ability-level.802355/

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Basically, yes. You may be able to tap into more potential in your current horse and you should be able to make any horse more responsive. But they can't all jump courses above 70cm. Horses do have a limit and a steady confidence giver may not be able to progress to higher classes.

 

[Spirit2021]

Deleted

 

[Spirit2021]

are you also Lady 2021, because a similar question was asked last month with lots of helpful replies.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/have-you-outgrown-your-horses-ability-level.802355/

Nope but the replies are useful.

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes you can outgrow your horses scope and ability.

 

[AmyMay]

How long have you owned the horse?

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

In the first place it would perhaps be wiser have a lesson or two at a good competition yard on a horse that is trained for competition and jumping in particular. Just to make sure you really are able for a horse to compete on.

You wouldn't be the first person to gain a huge confidence boost on a really good safe and sensible confidence giver, then think perhaps you can now do a lot more on a 'better' horse. Then within a very short space of time hugely regret letting your perfect confidence giver go, and finding yourself totally over horsed, confidence in shreds, on the new competitive version.

 

[maya2008]

My TB, who much preferred dressage, was persuaded to jump up to a metre with correct training with a good trainer. She even started to enjoy it (so long as I didn't muck up and she could guarantee going home with a nice pretty frilly thing on her bridle!). I jumped higher with other horses and had some schoolmaster lessons. in the end I decided that I didn't really have the bottle for much over a metre either - so we carried on as we were and put more effort into the dressage!

Make sure you really want to jump bigger than he can - with a share or lessons - before you make any decisions. Also, most horses can jump up to 90cm unless there is a physical reason (TB mentioned above had locking stifles - she had a physical reason, but with the right training could overcome it and enjoy herself. Her little 13.2hh pony friend was also happy up to 1m). With the right help, you could maybe have fun AND keep your confidence on your lovely boy!

 

[skint1]

I have yet to grow into the scope and ability of both of mine and I got them because they'd maxed out at "normal" work and needed quieter hacking homes I'd hang on to him and enjoy him, confidence and trust is easily shattered and hard to get back.

 

[sportsmansB]

What does your instructor say?
These horses are like gold dust, and confidence is hard won and easy lost

Most reasonably sound horses can jump up to say 90cm when fit and with correct training. Whether they have the inclination to leave the poles up can be another matter, but again training can help. All horses have the capability to do an elementary dressage test to varying standards depending on their physical make up.

 

[Spirit2021]

How long have you owned the horse?

4 years

 

[Spirit2021]

What does your instructor say?

I haven’t asked her yet but I will in my next lessons.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

What does your instructor say?
These horses are like gold dust, and confidence is hard won and easy lost

Most reasonably sound horses can jump up to say 90cm when fit and with correct training. Whether they have the inclination to leave the poles up can be another matter, but again training can help. All horses have the capability to do an elementary dressage test to varying standards depending on their physical make up.

If you mean they can jump a 90cm upright in a field, sure. If you mean they can be safe/competitive round a British Novice track (or unaff equivalent) then they definitely can't! Personally I don't like jumping horses anywhere near their limit either. If a horse finds 90 a strecth than you need a very experienced rider to steer it round on good lines, with a good and appropriate canter for the fences. That is not something someone themselves new to bigger classes should be doing.

If someone wants to compete and move up as they improve, the horse they start out on is not necessarily going to be the same one that they progress on. I am competitive and sold on my lovely Fell pony when I realised I wanted to event BE. She would not have gone higher than 80 and I would not have expected her to try. She was fab but we were no longer the right partnership for what I wanted to do. Same with the girls: Izzy moved on from '4 faults Lisa' - her fabulous cob pony - when she wanted to move up from 70cm and Lisa could not do that. Lisa has a home for life with a lightweight adult who just hacks. She is living the life of Riley. And Izzy went on to SJ 90cm+ and qualify for NSEA champs etc. We don't al have horses for life. As long as you sell on responsibly it is better to find a home who wants a safe confidence giver than to overface your horse because he/she can't really do the things you want to do, imo

 

[marmalade76]

If you mean they can jump a 90cm upright in a field, sure. If you mean they can be safe/competitive round a British Novice track (or unaff equivalent) then they definitely can't! Personally I don't like jumping horses anywhere near their limit either. If a horse finds 90 a strecth than you need a very experienced rider to steer it round on good lines, with a good and appropriate canter for the fences. That is not something someone themselves new to bigger classes should be doing.

If someone wants to compete and move up as they improve, the horse they start out on is not necessarily going to be the same one that they progress on. I am competitive and sold on my lovely Fell pony when I realised I wanted to event BE. She would not have gone higher than 80 and I would not have expected her to try. She was fab but we were no longer the right partnership for what I wanted to do. Same with the girls: Izzy moved on from '4 faults Lisa' - her fabulous cob pony - when she wanted to move up from 70cm and Lisa could not do that. Lisa has a home for life with a lightweight adult who just hacks. She is living the life of Riley. And Izzy went on to SJ 90cm+ and qualify for NSEA champs etc. We don't al have horses for life. As long as you sell on responsibly it is better to find a home who wants a safe confidence giver than to overface your horse because he/she can't really do the things you want to do, imo

Totally agree. And if you're regularly pushing a horse to it's limit, it's likely to throw in the towel before long.

 

[AmyMay]

4 years

Ok, so yes maybe you are ready for a ‘step up’ as it were.

When I returned to riding after many years of being horseless I bought a quiet little mare who I ultimately felt I’d outgrown after several years. The end of her ridden career forced my hand and I then purchased my absolute dream horse. He was everything I dreamt of, and a far better horse than I was a rider. But we rubbed along really well as he was a complete gentleman. However, I discovered that ultimately I wasn’t brave enough to do many of the things I wanted to do with him. He was too strong for me to hunt, too strong for me to do fun rides on and I was ultimately a chicken over a fence. The reality was that actually he was none of those things, I just bottled it...

So whilst you may now be under horsed, think very carefully about what you want and whether the reality is that your little steady neddy actually fulfills your needs.

 

[sportsmansB]

I haven’t asked her yet but I will in my next lessons.

I think this is a really sensible place to start
Your instructor should have a good idea of whether your horse is willing and able to move on with you (but hasn't yet been asked) or whether they would be happier showing someone else the ropes.

 

[KittyH]

I do a bit of teaching and have had clients who believe they have exceeded their horses abilities when I have thought that if they put more work into their development they could train their horse to a higher level. Equally sometimes a rider clearly has outgrown their horse ability wise and sometimes the horse could do it with a different rider and the rider could do it with a different horse, but it's not happening together! A really honest and open conversation with your trainer is certainly a good place to start, and if you feel they are telling you what you want to hear then go and have a session with a recommended top coach and tell them you are going for an honest assessment. If they think you are mismatched now they may have sensible ideas about how best to re-home your horse, what it is worth etc and what you should be looking for in your next one. If they think your horse can progress with you they should be able to point you in the right direction to start making that happen. Good luck, I'm in a similar position and it is a really tough call.

 

[criso]

I would get advice from someone on the ground who knows your horse and you well.

However it's worth thinking about it from the point of view of the horse. If it's going to be pushed beyond it's comfort zone or to the edge of its abilities, then it's not fair on them. They may be happy with what they are doing now but wouldn't be doing something else.

 

[Celtic Fringe]

I'd say you can outgrow your horse's ability. However, at 10 years of age your horse might benefit from some additional training, although he may not be the right one for you at this time?
My son definitely wanted to do more than my old cob could manage so he moved on to his loan horse and in due course was eventing at BE Intermediate level and easily passing his Pony Club B test. However, my old cob was probably nearly 20 and had already had a long and quite hard working life by then and needed a quieter time.

 

[Polos]

Yes, you 100% can outgrow a horses ability. As one poster mentioned above jumping 1 90cm vertical in an arena at home is hugely different to jumping a full up British novice or discovery with spooky fillers etc

it is not fair to push a horse to the top of its ability particularly if you are going to miss distances and not get a correct approach 100% of the time. He will start saying no and he can go sour.

I would look at getting an older schoolmaster that has had experience of jumping the bigger tracks and needs to step down, try and find something that hasn’t got a lot of blood so it won’t be too hot. It will be able to jump the 90cm-1m classes easily allowing you to get your confidence in these classes. You need something that has a plan to get over the fence if you get in a bit deep/ on a long one. You would need to start off small so you learn the buttons but courses of poles on the floor to learn about getting a good distance and placing poles in front of fences will help too. Then slowly work up to course hires and then shows but only when you are confidently jumping courses bigger than the height you are competing at at home.

I would avoid getting a youg horse unless you have a very very knowledgeable trainer and will be based with them. You need something that will give you confidence and not the other way round.

I was very lucky with my 11/12 year old mare though (can’t remember how old she actually is haha). My trainer sourced her for me as a just backed 4 year old and I’ve been based at their yard ever since. She took me from cantering poles on the floor to international 1.25. we tried a couple of 1.30’s but that was the top end of her scope but to be honest I don’t have the bottle for that height and it was more comfortable staying at a height she’s very competitive at.

before I had my mare I had a coloured cob that wouldn’t jump. It is possible to upgrade your riding by getting something a bit more ‘sporty’ but you have to be prepared to put an awful lot of effort in to learning to reride sensitive competition horses, to do it properly and successfully you need to work work work. They are an awful lot different to ride than the cob I had and that can cause a lot of people to loose their confidence. I had quite a few days wondering what the hell I’d done and regretting it. But now I look back and I’m so proud of how far I’ve come with my riding and producing my mare myself.

 

[LegOn]

Its lovely that your current horse has given you the confidence to feel you might like to jump a bit bigger and progress - they have obviously been a great mentor and teacher!

A few others have mentioned, be careful because all the confidence you feel on your current horse might not be available to you on a different horse, you will have to go back a few steps with a new horse to build up where you are with your current horse and then continue to build on and above.

Hopefully a good chat with your instructor will be a better gauge of your experience and your horses ability BUT at the risk of getting shot down - there are a few things you can do with your current horse to test the waters on how to bridge that gap, without breaking you or your horse! Improving your canter - this doesnt need to be jumping but work on creating a more powerful canter and making it more adjustable, and sometimes you can feed for a little blood with your 'happy plod' aswell - they might getting just enough energy for their current work but how would they feel if you up their workload and feed accordingly and see how you feel! Have you taken them out for a gallop? How responsive are they and how is their stamina?

Same for your trot - work on getting some difference paces within your trot, can they offer you a bit of collection and extension? All these things can help you understand what you are going to need when you jump bigger tracks and how much rideability you will need from another horse. Its not all about the jumps but how much rideability you can train in your horse! Can you do your current jumping but reducing and increasing strides in your canter between fences, can you jump combinations?

And finally if your instructor feels you are capable - try get some lessons on a some schoolmasters that have more experience and try riding some advanced horses to see how you feel!

 

[Kat]

You can outgrow a horse's ability but HUGE numbers of people who believe they have outgrown their horse's ability upgrade their horse and regret it.

If you can't afford to keep two I would be really cautious about selling your current confidence giving horse. Maybe consider a share or loan.

I would certainly look into upskilling your current horse first. If you get him fitter, improve his schooling and feed him higher energy feed could he do what you want to?

Lots of pretty ordinary cobs can compete successfully with the right training.

How far do you want to progress? If you are looking to be competitive at affiliated BS you may need to look at a show jumping school master, but if you want to have fun at riding club you can probably train up your current horse and have a lot of fun.

Also what is your budget? Can you afford to buy a good school master? Do you have the skills for a talented youngster? Or would it be more realistic to find something you can enjoy doing with your current horse?

Do not underestimate the fun and pleasure of an easy horse.

Have you taken your horse hunting? That normally encourages horses to be braver and more forward.