Interpretation of gets confidence from its rider

[Tarragon]

When I was a teenager, I had a pony that was traffic shy. Initially, I wasn't traffic shy, but roll on a few months and we were both anxiously looking out for the next gateway we could hide in if a vehicle came past! My inexperience meant I couldn't manage his reactions and so I became wary of them and fuelled his own fears.
We did get through it together - eventually
In an add, "needs confidence from rider" means nothing without knowing what level of rider confidence is needed and what level of anxiety they have to manage.

 

[Hallo2012]

id describe both of mine like this tbh-they are very straightforward ponies, happy to have a go at anything out hacking, will go over under through etc and not spooky or silly but thats because i sit there in a daydream, reins in one hand, laughing and chatting and dont get stressed by anything.

if someone started to wind them in to a contact and kick and stress and pat and coo about every noise/object etc it would ruin them as they are very tuned in to the rider and both very forward going and quick thinking.

i would more say it means they will feed off your worry if you are a worrier.

 

[Maxidoodle]

I haven’t read all of the replies. I think it’s one of those phrases which can be interpreted in many ways. My previous mare I would have described as taking her confidence in her rider, in that she was absolutely great, unless I did something, I.e. a bird flew out of a hedge unexpectedly and I leapt, she then took fright at me and spun and ditched me.

My current mare, I could also describe as takes her confidence from her rider, in that she will March along, past enormous tractors, machinery, vehicles but if there is a killer leaf or a bag that she’s not sure of, she will need a little push on to tell her it’s ok, if you don’t, she does the slowest turn around to head home ever.

Im afraid you are going to have the owner for more info on exactly what they mean by the phrase. Could be absolutely nothing.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Means it naps

I agree

 

[Shilasdair]

A potentially nappy nightmare which may have dramatic 'hoof to forehead flounces' at anything or everything.

 

[DeliaRides]

This is so interesting and useful to read because people's perspectives on this are not what I expected. I didn't expect this to be such a negative thing. I would have described daughter's pony as taking confidence from rider at times, because she's 7, and whilst she flies over SJ usually and clearly enjoys it, you can see her uncertainty occasionally with bigger jumps or with fillers or solid XC fences....you can literally see her saying or feeling 'oooh....bit bigger that, with a very scary filler'. When daughter was younger and just sat there, pony would occasionally swerve to one side (happened maybe 5-6 times ever in our first 12 months with her). As soon as daughter realised this and actually rode her, gave her clear instructions, answered her 'question' ('Is this what you mean me to do?'), and provided reassurance that yes, she really is supposed to jump it, the problem disappeared. She hasn't swerved with my daughter in about 18 months. But if someone else gets on her and just sits and points her at things, the same thing might happen.

She is certainly not spooky or nappy or alarmist anything like that. So I should stop thinking of her with this description I guess!

 

[holeymoley]

I wouldn't say it's nappy. Probably a bit like mine in terms of jumping- generally jumps small but if comes across something opposing then if you're not confident to kick him in to it then he won't jump. Another one, if you're anxious out hacking then I'd imagine he'd spook at everything going.

 

[NinjaPony]

I’d take it to mean quite spooky/sharp and feeds off rider anxiety. My Welsh is like that, you have to show him everything is fine and ignore any antics. I ride a big warmblood who is like that too, he’s not sharp but you have to hold his hand and reassure him that he’s doing what you want and make sure you ‘ride’ him but without over facing him. You have to be calm and in charge.

It’s not the kind of horse I’d buy for myself again because I’m an over thinker.

 

[SO1]

Thank you.

I feel definitely ready for a new pony.

Unfortunately 1st pony I viewed took off with its rider on the road when a van came past, 2nd pony turned out had not been ridden regularly for 2 years and was therefore a bit unsettled and needed bringing back into work, 3rd pony was super but coughed a fair bit and may have a mild dust allergy to hay and at the yard I am at they are in at night and it would not have been worth taking the risk.

Pony I was meant to be seeing today who sounded perfect I have had to cancel due to Covid related reasons and not sure if I will get to see him before he sells due to not being able to get time off work easily for viewings at short notice unless I have a meeting free day and being quite far away. I am trying to make sure I have someone come with me for viewings where possible for moral support.

I am feeling down about the whole situation. I am not really comparing ponies to Homey I just want one similar to him who is going to be fairly straightforward and gentle nature. I guess I am feeling a bit impatient as Easter is coming up and the more time that passes the more I am feeling lonely without Homey, weekends are bad enough even though I have other hobbies and can visit friends I am now trying to keep weekends free so I can do viewings.

I am trying to get enough information out of sellers before viewing to try and avoid time wasting.

I honestly think that how a horse behaves depends entirely on how much he trusts his handler/rider. Herd animals need a leader - if you are not that person a middle-ranking or lower herd member will worry. You won't be able to assess this at a viewing because it will take time to build up that trust.

You are probably going to be upset with me over my next comment because the sentiments you are expressing in your question makes me wonder if you are quite yet ready to look for another horse.? You admit you are still grieving but you also seem to be about to compare every horse you view to Homey. Truly, I don't think this is fair on the horse - or you. I think you need your mindset to be on genuinely moving forward with a new horse partner and not on looking back to the past. Homey is in the memory box - you need to be ready to make new memories.

 

[Red-1]

Thank you.

I feel definitely ready for a new pony.

Unfortunately 1st pony I viewed took off with its rider on the road when a van came past, 2nd pony turned out had not been ridden regularly for 2 years and was therefore a bit unsettled and needed bringing back into work, 3rd pony was super but coughed a fair bit and may have a mild dust allergy to hay and at the yard I am at they are in at night and it would not have been worth taking the risk.

Pony I was meant to be seeing today who sounded perfect I have had to cancel due to Covid related reasons and not sure if I will get to see him before he sells due to not being able to get time off work easily for viewings at short notice unless I have a meeting free day and being quite far away. I am trying to make sure I have someone come with me for viewings where possible for moral support.

I am feeling down about the whole situation. I am not really comparing ponies to Homey I just want one similar to him who is going to be fairly straightforward and gentle nature. I guess I am feeling a bit impatient as Easter is coming up and the more time that passes the more I am feeling lonely without Homey, weekends are bad enough even though I have other hobbies and can visit friends I am now trying to keep weekends free so I can do viewings.

I am trying to get enough information out of sellers before viewing to try and avoid time wasting.

I know, it is awful looking. That's how I ended up buying BH unseen from a video. I simply couldn't face going to look at any more. Most were unsound, most owners were apparently not aware of that. Some were deliberately being mis-sold. Some were good on paper but I just didn't feel the love.

It was a silly move really, but he looked sweet. And sound.

 

[Cloball]

I had a melt down veiwing and felt down about my riding, the state of humanity the stress if it all without having to contend with losing a beloved friend.

 

[SO1]

That is why I am trying to have trusted friends, my sister or an instructor accompany me. It is very hard.

I had a melt down veiwing and felt down about my riding, the state of humanity the stress if it all without having to contend with losing a beloved friend.

 

[ifyousayso]

A lot of the time it means very spooky, could have big reactions. I would be concerned that the horse is very green at at older age and hasn’t seen the world. My first horse was very spooky to the point it was stupid you couldn’t hack without a load of spooks anything different would have a meltdown. In fairness to the horse she was keept in a field by herself and wasn’t ridden for years so unfortunately was too late to change her mindset. In a arena was perfect was a very sweet mare unfortunately previous owner just ruined the mare.

 

[Ozbride]

I would say this about my horse. She does not nap, but had a bad past where she was broken very harshly. If she gets nervous a kind and confident rider can make her do anything. But a nervous rider will make her worry more and she will bolt. She really is amazing in the right hands, so it wouldn't put me off asking more questions about an otherwise potential horse.

 

[sassandbells]

Great thread and some really interesting replies, I think it totally depends on what the owner says though as it’s so open to interpretation..

One of my mares who I backed myself I would describe as totally laid back, a sensible, confidence giving horse and I’ve had no issues with her whatsoever. She’ll hack alone or in company, not spooky, never shown any sign of bolting or spinning etc. just in generally good as gold and she was the same for my riding instructor who would hack & do schooling that I wasn’t quite capable of.

put a complete beginner on her (you know the ones who have no fear of anything yet) and again she was good as gold.

I let a friend borrow her for a hack one day and it was a disaster. Friend is an equestrian and rides her own pony but is a very anxious / nervy person in general and I can only assume my girl picked up on this and was spooking, rearing and spinning at things we’d strolled past with no reaction the days before and after. Happened every single time with this rider (only 3 times as decided it wasn’t worth it).

Had a different friend hack out out with me after that, who is again a very anxious / lacking confidence kind of person and my mare was a bundle of nerves. I was there to see it this time and couldn’t really believe it, it was like she’d had a complete personality transplant. My friend wasn’t riding any differently to how I normally do so I couldn’t really explain it. Again, I took her out alone the next day and she was good as gold.

I’d say she definitely takes her confidence from her rider - I personally wouldn’t have describe my horse as unsafe in any way as I’ve never experienced it myself, but those friends who rode her probably would.

 

[ponynutz]

It isn't confident with new things and needs leg out hacking/over jumps.

Alternatively: it's a real life breathing horse not a novice's plod.

 

[Hepsibah]

I always assumed it means it can't cope with a nervous rider and nothing more.

 

[estela]

I also feel it means the horse/pony is not suitable for a novice/nervous person as it would require an experienced rider in certain situations ie meeting scary things out hacking or maintaining control in group situations etc.