Is my horse being wasted on me ?

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niagaraduval

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So, I bought my boy from a dealer, he was straight off the track at 5. We had a very difficult first year, this included lots of tears. 5 years later I can honestly say I think he might be my horse of a life time.. We get on so well and have such a strong bond I could think of him as my son. LOL. I love him so much it's crazy.

Anyway, since having him I have never had a school, so just hack all the time. I do have a small field though that I can ride in somtimes and set up a few jumps. He really loves jumping and is good at it. He is also such a beautiful boy, every time I hack him out people stop and say what a beautiful horse he is (I swear he knows it too !).

Having just turned 10 I can feel that he is really at his best. I have never competed on him, he has never been to a show. A lot of people have made me feel like he is wasted on me because I don't compete, I am just a happy hacker who likes to jump for fun and have lot's of gallops, and just have a nice time.

In some respects I can see why other people think he is wasted as he has a lot of potentiel, but I don't honestly plan on ever selling him (unless I HAVE to..).
 
Lucky lucky horse, he came from the racetrack to a sales where his future was very uncertain and rocky to say the least. He was lucky enough to end up in your hands where although initially life was difficult you persevered and stayed with him. Now he enjpy his no pressure life and enjoys hacks around the countryside with an owner who loves him. And you think he may be wasted on you??? Are you mad??? He is one of the luckiest horses off the track today!!!!! xxx
 
I think that happy horses are never wasted. Wasted horses are the ones that end up on welfare organisation posters IMO - lives chucked aside without a second thought, sometimes before they've even begun - like the pregnant mare that was allowed to starve to death because her owner was too idle to throw one of thousand bales of hay she had stored in the very next field over the fence. Now that's what you call a waste - of the mare and her foal!

I have never met the horse yet that puts pictures from the show report bits of Horse and Hound up in its stable and fills in its own show entries... all they want is to be healthy and cared for. :)
 
You shouldn't feel like that at all, it sounds like you are blissfully happy together!! You obviously have made him into how he is now after your difficult start, so just sit back and enjoy your horse of a lifetime!! :)
 
Who cares? He's happy and loved so he certainly doesn't lol. So many poor horses being slaughtered and dumped, he has a good home and a loving mommy and makes u happy then no not wasted. Dumped at the side of the road is wasted. Don't worry just enjoy ur horse. He won't be grazing along thinking 'dam i'm so wasted with this person.'
 
Horses don't know they can have careers they just know they are happy settled and understand what is required of them he's your horse and as other posters have said he fell on his feet when you bought him home from the sales if he loves jumping perhaps try to fit in doing a bit more with him but don't give it another thought just enjoy him.
 
A possible alternative lifestyle for him could be lots of traveling in a lorry, sleeping away from home and his herd, competative stress on mind and body, and also just for good measure, uncomfortable and ill fitting tack!

Nah!! He'll give that a miss;)
 
Totally agree, he has no concept of what else he could be doing... As long as he is happy and healthy and loved he won't want for anything else... Least of all rosettes... Until they start making carrot flavoured ones!!
 
NO NOT WASTED, with the horse world in the state it is, any horse who has a good home with tlc is not wasted and are the lucky ones. I couldn't care if people I know never rode their horses as long as they are looked after who cares. Honestly love enjoy your horse because he's one off the lucky ones. You only have to go though the local sales to see what horrors are happening so please don't worry.
 
Sounds like a great partnership. I'm sure he sits in his stable at night thinking oh if only that woman would take me to Burghley ;)

The only thing that matters is that you and him are happy, and it sounds like you are and your horse is probably spoiled rotten I'd guess :D
 
Thankyou for all the lovely replies ! When I tell people he has never competed ever they just think that I don't bother doing anything with him and it's a waste.

He is very spoiled and loved :D I hope he knows he's lucky !
 
You and your horse are the lucky/content ones. Sure, there are those that live to compete and think that if you don't you are missing out, but you have a rideable, loyal, FUN horse that loves his job. Continue to enjoy him and you won't go far wrong.
 
If he's happy and ur happy i cannot see a problem at all.

During the summer i gave up my loan horse as he was sold. He was vvvvv talented jumped and dressage horse (i always felt he was too good for him, especially when a dressage instructor told his owner he was wasted on me and she should have him!!) but he was at his happiest on a hack. Although he was ace at everything he didnt seem to enjoy it and had to be pushed into it!
 
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