I'm getting old and cranky, but ...

Lovely thread, spot on from another grizzly old geezer here.

From working with hunters and pointers (and I never had brakes which made life exciting and fun
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) I now want a quieter life - much quieter I might add and just toddle around our lanes. I just need to find the small tank that can take me to have fun together.
I don't want a
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or a
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I want a
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with regards to not selling unsuitable horses one I do wonder how many people are worried about the money they might loose now the horse is not as good as when they bought it.

(I've been quite happy with my 14.2 do anything welsh for the last 8 years ;) )
 
I am an old fogie and I blame the Schockemoles in the early '80s for starting a trend for highly schooled (often overbent) athletic horses :p Before that everyone was happy to ride with with washing line reins on their more than competent native crosses :rolleyes:
 
Sometimes its can be just circumstances. We have two 13:1 / 13:2 ponies (one very forward going & one more laid back) and a quirky / talented home bred 15:3 mare who I share with whichever girls want to ride her. We didn't set out to breed a sharp competition horse type (we chose a very laid back stallion) but that's what we ended up with and we are way too fond of her to contemplate selling.

The ponies won't be sold on to allow the girls to upgrade because that's not what we do. Our horses & ponies are family members. If one of them wants to do more than the ponies can do, they have to do it on our mare. To start with, that means being over horsed because she isn't an easy ride and her jump / general enthusiasm can be hard to contain but, so far, we've managed OK and the girls enjoy riding a horse with her scope.
 
Bang on the nail mrs B.

You also managed to put it in such a way that everyone could see the sense in what you were saying.
Many here have tried and failed to make the same point, but have been hammered for the very suggestion.

Brilliant post.
 
I know the answer to this one! :D
Because it looks pretty and they've been encouraged to get said expensive horse by unscrupulous characters who just want the money :rolleyes: IME anyway :(
 
Well said :)

While I did enjoy riding the well-bred horses at the riding schools and at Uni, I much prefer owning a native. Low maintenance so cheaper to keep, can leave unridden for extended periods of time (eg 4 years) then hop on with absolutely no problems (other than lack of fitness).
Mine's a bit more silly than you'd expect, but even that is on a manageable scale, where you can laugh at the spooking, not scare yourself :)

And it's not too far to the ground when you do fall off!
 
I totally agree with your post Mrs B, but I have to say that I bought my then 4 yo at the age of forty and at the time was more than a match for her. Ten years on however I seem to be ageing a lot faster than she is!

I still take her for a pretty fast spin (with the seatbelt tightly fastened) but I wish she'd hurry up and decide to take life a bit more gently :o:D
 
I'm a grumpy git at heart, if not in years.

What I want to know is, where are the schoolmasters? I spent the first seven or eight years of my riding career on 20+ year old horses who knew everything. The first horse I got was a comparative youngster, 10 years old, but she was a "finished" horse if you know what I mean. The next horse, four years later, was 7, bigger, a bit more unfinished, a lot more powerful, but not so much that I was put off. If you want more horsepower, I think you have to prepared to up your game a bit. That horse is my schoolmaster now and she's fantastic.

People jump into horse ownership with both feet, buy a youngster, think it'll be just like training a big dog. Or they fall in love with the idea of backing their own horse (the reality is different).

At the end of the day, a horse you're scared of cost the same to keep as one you're not.

That all said, I remain quietly bemused by all the horse owners out there who shout, in kind of an alarmed way, "Stand! Stand! Stand," at a wiggley horse, and the horse continues to wiggle. They could shout, "Bagel!" and get a similar result.
 
Mrs B, you're sooo right... I've come to the same conclusion myself.

I'm now looking for a sensible horse, I do not want to be over horsed and to be honest, I don't care what my new horse looks like, it is all about being suited to one another and good temprament.

So the posh folk may look down on me once I get my new horse, which will probably be hairy and stocky, but will be a good sort and not prance down the street flying into the road all the time and throwing rider off (I hope!)
Wise words Mrs B!
 
Buds_mum said:
Love my happy hacking cob more than I can express. We may never go past novice level at dressage or event past rc but I can hack round the villiage and be safe as the houses.

However...
More people would have a safe happy hacker if they... Ahem...

Fed less and exercised more!!
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Wise words there!
 
I used to see the appeal of the 17hh ex-racer that spent its life going sideways or upwards, but that was when I was young and thought I was unbreakable.

Nowadays, I want a nice, safe, sensible beastie, who can cart me around without turning a hair at anything. Sure, it'd be NICE if it was stunningly beautiful and had people swooning as I went past, but I'd much rather have something that can happily live out 24/7, doesn't require individually gold-plated oats imported from Switzerland, and can go for a week without injuring itself.
 
Coo! Just caught up with this one ... thank you for not calling me a stuffy old codger and joining me on the step :o, although yes, we may have to go for a room full of comfy sofas :D
 
Another thought... If you buy a horse which then behaves badly, hurts you, frightens you, won't operate, etc, you still need to think about your responsibility to it and to other people. If you couldn't ride it, and you generally don't have difficulty riding horses, it seems fairly likely that if sold, the horse will likely spend its life alternating between pros/dealers who can ride it and make money, and amateurs like yourself who will get their limbs and hearts broken, and lose a fortune for the experience, because as I said before, there are more of these horses that great riders to buy them. I always advise people in this situation to just get rid, but it certainly isn't an easy decision to make and you really have to harden your heart.
 
ahhhh that's why it's so nice to turn up at our yard with a bunch of woolly ponies and unglamourous horses who really are just expensive leisure pets. If they don't get ridden for a day/week/month they couldn't give a dam but will quite happily plod quietly round the block if a saddle gets thrown on once in a blue moon:D The most extravagant bit of feed on our yard is linseed and pony nuts. Actually managed to ride the cob for the first time in about a month and he almost didn't recognise what a saddle was:rolleyes:

I see no point in buying a horse that can 'jump this high, do amazing dancing tricks, runs through fire blah blah blah' if your not actually going to do it.
 
The way I look at it is...
I might well look good (although I doubt it) on a flashy warmblood.
I probably don't look so fancy on my native.
But I probably don't look so good in plaster either, and that's probably what would happen if I overhorsed myself.
I'd rather be underhorsed any day. I don't bounce like I used to.

<can I pinch some of Arizahn's angle brackets and is there any room in the Old Gits' Lounge?>
 
Flame_ said:
Another thought... If you buy a horse which then behaves badly, hurts you, frightens you, won't operate, etc, you still need to think about your responsibility to it and to other people. If you couldn't ride it, and you generally don't have difficulty riding horses, it seems fairly likely that if sold, the horse will likely spend its life alternating between pros/dealers who can ride it and make money, and amateurs like yourself who will get their limbs and hearts broken, and lose a fortune for the experience, because as I said before, there are more of these horses that great riders to buy them. I always advise people in this situation to just get rid, but it certainly isn't an easy decision to make and you really have to harden your heart.
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Absolutely. I had a horse from a five year old: 16hh TB x Welsh D - fine and fun for the first 2 years who decided aged 7 (and having been introduced to showjumps) that hacking was booooring, schooling was a bit pants too but jumping was just brilliant and if I didn't let him JUST jump, he'd try to make my life er ... entertaining. This would entail starting to bunny hop (in either walk, trot or canter) then drop his shoulder, rear and try to spin.

Not much fun. I knew he had talent, I also knew I had to take responsibility not just for him but for anyone who might take him on. So I was absolutely, brutally honest when I sold him (for £1000, losing more than quite a bit).

I refused to let most people who rang even see him and I fortunately found him a home with a competition yard where my sister-in-law rode. They had him on trial, the YO saw what I could see in him but couldn't handle and while owned by others, he stayed on that yard until the end of his life last year and she competed him. He spent his life doing what he loved best and excelled at, and won a class at Hickstead.

He had a very happy life, but only without me as his owner.
 
I'm going to 'buck the trend' here and probably regret it, but I bought a horse, she ticked all my boxes and her worst fault when trying her was if you stopped riding her she stopped going forwards, so for a slightly nervous aging owner this was going to be perfect.

First week I had her she bucked me off twice - other's also rode her with no issues, including the person I bought her off - the second time I came off I hurt my back so ended up not being able to ride for a bit, so she got some time off until I was able to get back on, she's bucked me off since then and got other's off however had I not stuck with her and kept her I suspect she'd have ended up in a very sad place.

I can get on her whenever I want now and she's really good. I have learnt so much from her and one of the lessons is to not give in, and horses can take a long time to settle into a new home, some simply dont like change and will react in the only way they know how in her case to buck when ridden. Was I overhorsed? Possibly, am I glad I stuck with her? most definitely.

Yes she did knock my confidence, but she's also boosted it as I've done things on her that I might not have done on others, also she's improved my riding no end as she does what I ask - so I need to ask correctly to get what I want.

I can see how other's feel that you should sell on if you've totally overhorsed yourself, I've seen a child coming off ponies being totally overhorsed and ended up giving up riding, but then there are times you've got the right horse but need to learn how to manage what you've got.
 
SadKen said:
I completely agree. I bought an Arab. I should have bought the fell pony who made me giggle when he bucked with me bareback. Having said that, I always wanted an Arab, and the me of 20 years ago (that I thought I still was) would have bounced on, no probs. My lad is very quiet for an Arab. I am getting help with him, and gradually losing this strange fear I never had before. When he goes well (which is every time since my first fall) he makes my heart sing. I'd still go back and tell myself not to buy him if I could. I'd also still probably buy him anyway. But that really makes me a bit stupid.
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I think I am in the absolute same position as you :rolleyes: Mine is the horse I should have had ten years ago (but I still had my dear Lloyd and couldn't part with him). I have only had my Anglo three months and so am hoping that all the people that keep telling me I will get there with him are right :o
 
I'm going to go slightly against the grain here ...

I'm an ex-professional rider, now turned leisure rider. I received as gifts (haha, long story) two massive, very young, extremely well bred European warmbloods a couple of years ago. The definition of flashy. We don't do much. They're still a work in progress and really not ready to compete. However .... Even as a leisure rider, I wouldn't have anything else! I love the look of the warmbloods, I love that when I put my foot on the gas there's power under the hood! I've hit the deck more times than I can count and these horses would perhaps be better suited to someone who was going to put them to regular use (I don't have much time due to setting up my own business at the moment) but I love them both to death and they have a secure home for life with me. I am even planning on shipping them to USA when I relocate there in a few years time.

Call me crazy but I really don't want to ride a native or a cob. I have nothing against them, all horses in my eyes are wonderful creatures but for my personal taste I just want to ride a huge, stunning Ferrari!

I would say at times I am overhorsed. I'm not very big and they are, and when they are fit they are both quite a handful, I do manage them carefully with correct feeding and plenty of turnout. I think if these people who are overhorsed are taught how to manage their animals they would instantly find them easier. There's far too much over feeding around in my opinion.

I do love a challenge and am still youngish and able to bounce somewhat! I get so much pleasure from my crazy beasts, so don't assume just because someone appears to be struggling or going through a bad patch that they are unable to cope. Riding means different things to different people. Some people are quite happy to battle on with a nutter because the sense of achievement when it all comes right is fantastic.

I do not however like to see the PC kids constantly moving from one train wreck to another. There's a lot of this in my area. Dangerous and damaging in my opinion. Ruined riders and ruined ponies are something I see all too often when I'm teaching.
 
I have always brought horses on their temperament and still think this is the most important thing when buying a horse.

Last time I purchased I was looking for a 15.2 -16.2 safe but fun schoolmaster.

I brought home a 3yr old 16.1 (now 17.0) highly bred warmblood which had just 3 weeks of ridden work.

6 years later and she has been and always will be my perfect horse :) Like you say, it's not what they look like or how they are bred that counts - she is way posher than I ever wanted, but she had the right temperament for what I wanted to do and we just clicked.

Hacks on own and in large groups, goes galloping, XC etc. aswell as looking pretty in the dressage ring :)
 
Agree with OP; there seem to be an awful lot of owners with very fancy horses that are very good at telling people what they should be doing with their own horses but you never actually see them riding their own... Seems a lot of people like them as a bragging thing? I like them sensible and have realistic expectations that I am a) not very bouncy these days and b) only wanting to do local events for fun so why get something that would be wasted on me and scare the life out of me?
 
People do need to set their expectations - a hairy cob may not always be the answer though - I know enough idiot Section D's for example that are definitely not a leisure riders ideal!
I'll confess I've got a 17hh TB, she's raced. She'll go up the road like a lamb but has her moments of snorting and doing an excellent dragon impression - whilst actually going nowhere :rolleyes: Some people have looked at her and said "ooh you're brave" - no not really I just know her and if they actually looked whilst she's prancing like a eedjit my reins are actually loose, and she's still not going anywhere. In the only showing class we've done so far I was the only one to show a proper gallop (it was RoR) judges commented on well ridden / bravery - again no - I know I sit up and she stops in 3 strides from flat out and will ignore whatever else is going on around her. Neither of us is brave but together we'll take on just about anything and most importantly she makes me LAUGH I come back from a hack out with a big grin, she does fun rides, xc, sj whatever I ask her to without being a idiot, but to those that don't know her she can look like a fiery beast and her size does put people off - I love the fact she's got a good deep shoulder and is actually pretty hard to come off! If I have to dismount on a hack she'll happily walk with me until I can find something to climb to get back on (that's the one disadvantage with her size - no way I can get on from the ground!)
Sadly people don't seem to understand management in the old fashioned sense these days - they read all the books and have the lessons without the time and experience, I know we all have to start somewhere but I think it is the "modern" way that shinier is better sadly :(
 
I agree 100% as well. I also think that when you go and see a lovely horse to try it may go really well and you think I have found the one after months of searching but then what people forget as I did!!! that once the horse comes to your yard they change. The stress of a new place and rider plus you have to get on first and if like me you have limited help it is always going to be scary! I have learnt it is much better to have a horse that you can actually ride and take for a hack rather than have a head turner which you are just too scared to ride!
 
Another going against the grain here.

Unfortunately buying horses isn't black and white, you can buy something that you think is the perfect horse for you and your ability that for whatever reason turns out not to be. It's very difficult for alot of people to get on a new horse and feel confident in dealing with any problems it throws at you; from the horses point of view it is also difficult for them to learn to trust it's new owner/rider so things aren't always going to be plain sailing.

I bought a mare at the end of last summer, timing wasn't perfect as I was dealing with a fair amount of crap at work which meant I lived at work for 6 weeks solid (thankfully horses came with me!). I saw my horse advertised and will admit that I instantly fell for her looks, but from reading the advert knew she was just the type I was looking for. 5 years old, ISH, hunted in Ireland, had a few little outings XC schooling, nice temperament etc. On paper she was everything I was looking for (although a bit over budget!).
When I tried her she had a couple of small little bucks but didn't do anything awful, I really liked her and decided that she was the one. So she came home with me.
Initially there wasn't too much drama, there where a couple of small hiccups but being young and green I expected that. She got progressively worse though and became very sharp and explosive, it got to the stage where I dreaded riding her.
I had her back checked and then moved her home so she would have more consistent handling and I'd have more opportunities to ride (unfortunately no school though).
The first time I got back on her I was expecting all sorts of drama from her but she was fine. For the next few weeks she continued to be almost perfect, I really enjoyed riding her and she seemed to love hacking, nice and sensible and forward going.
But then for no reason that I can see she started napping (which involves spinning, bucking, broncing at speed down the road, reversing into ditches etc!). This has now been going on since November. Some days I feel we are making progress, the next we seem to be back to square one.
I will be the first to admit that she probably hasn't had the consistency she needs, due to various things we do seem to be a bit stop start in regards to exercise but that can't be helped and she's got to learn to cope with that.
So in my case am I overhorsed? Possibly, if she'd have been with a Pro they probably wouldn't have had these issues, or at least they would have gotten her over them quicker then me. But am I prepared to give her up? No, the thoughts not crossed my mind, I am determined to get to the bottom of her and look forward to the time when I can start enjoying her properly again. If by the end of the Summer I haven't made any progress then yes, I probably will have to have a re-think but I am hoping it won't come to that. I don't want it to come to that.
So basically my point is, although I didn't set out to by a difficult horse (which some people seem to think I did!) I have landed myself with one, I may now be over-horsed but I'm not going to sell her just because we've come to a few bumps (or mountains!) in the road. I will do everything I can to get us back on the straight and narrow together.
 
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