Is the true 'all rounder' underestimated?

Doormouse

Doormouse

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I was having a discussion the other night with my OH (which turned into a somewhate heated argument) about a the true all rounder and their worth. From a public point of view horses that excell at one thing become well known and sometimes famous, but the true all rounder who does SJ, eventing, hunting, showing, hacking etc is always considered just an average horse. Often horses that excell at one discipline are unable, due sometimes to financial worth, to do anything else and very often don't have the temperament either. Personally I think that a horse who can do everything should have more credit because to maintain a sunny outlook and be kind and honest no matter what you ask them to do has to have an exceptional temperament and be very willing.

Just wondered what others thought?
 
Too right!!!

If you have ever tried to buy a true all rounder - easy to keep, can be ridden every day or just once in a while, good temperament and can turn a hoof to anything, then you will be amazed at how much they cost and how difficult they are to find!!
 
I'm very lucky to own one of these :D B does dressage, SJ, XC, showing, LDRs Hacks out and often nannies the babies, can be left in a field and then just ridden away however he does have his quirks as he doesn't like clippers.

He was a diamond in the rough though and a lot of work has gone into him in the past 4 years :) but now I DO have an alrounder and he is currently teaching mummy Boogles to ride :D


I think "true " allrounders are going out of fashion because you see more people wanting to "specialise" in one particular discipline be it SJ / eventing etc.
 
I was very very lucky
I bought my horse from a fairly novice rider
So she didnt realise just how good the horse was (nor did I when I bought her)
She was advertised as a novice horse for hacking and schooling but as "not a novice horse for jumping"
Since then she has got me jumping up to 3 foot (though normally only 2"3-2"6) she really is an allrounder, and genuine, should have cost more then she did.
I do think they are underestimated, but then again, they do cost alot
 
I think so! My chap is definitely an allrounder, and it is such a great thing! He does everything, including drives. He is worth his weight in gold. The 'specialist' horses round here all tend to be excellent at what they do, but they have so many other quirks that they can only do their one thing well.
 
IMO the true definition of an all rounder is a horse which can turn his hoof to anything, be it Dressage, Showing, Show Jumping, Cross Country, Hunting, Hacking and even polo/horseball! He won't necessarily be outstanding at anything in particular but he will always try his best for you. He will hack equally well alone as in company. He will give his rider confidence, look after them and they also have a fantastic temperament.

I am also lucky enough to own an all rounder. :)
 
Agree with all. But they never seem to get the recognition they deserve. Take for example a horse I was lucky enough to know a few years ago, he was a Grade A show jumper, an advanced eventer, did dressage to a very high standard, hunted hounds, took a 60 year old hunting in a big hedge country in the field, did lessons for children and adults and RDA in his free time! He retired to RC level and was only pts at 26 years!

It doesn't matter how big they jump or what level they reach, the fact that they give their owners fun all year round and can be taken anywhere is so important.
 
I have an allrounder too :)

He:
Competes unaff dressage, always placed and usually high 60s plus, RC areas dressage and equitation and has always been in top 3 in arena.
Has BSJA winnings at BN and Dis, area RC at Nov/Int, multiple RC SJ champion and won inter schools comps with a 13 year old girl.
Is rarely unplaced xc/ht (his favourite thing!) and unbeaten unaff ode (only competed at 2'9/3').
Competes levels 1 and 2 BHS Trec, never been placed lower than 3rd!
Team chases, shows at local levels, can turn a hoof to games and loves pleasure rides.

All this with a fairly novice rider (only been riding a year when I bought him), he is so safe but a fun ride, certainly not a kick-along type!

I certainly do not underestimate allrounders!
 
What prompted this arguement was that I was at a SJ comp the other day with my 4 year old, first show, on my own and as I was washing her off (standing in eating grass while I washed between her legs) a loose horse came galloping past us flat out bucking and going and 5 mins later I spotted said horse being lunged in the lorry park on very small circle and it was turning itself inside out. Now it must have been about to jump in a fairly big class as that was all that was left and I just thought to myself, all very well that it jumps high but what a nightmare to live with!
 
I totally agree! They are like hen's teeth, I think I may have just found one though, (see gushing mummy post above :p)

Often horses don't have the ability/training to do everything, and I sometimes think that doing a bit of everything is such a great education that it allows a lot of them to do anything well.
 
JessandCharlie said:
I totally agree! They are like hen's teeth, I think I may have just found one though, (see gushing mummy post above :p)

Often horses don't have the ability/training to do everything, and I sometimes think that doing a bit of everything is such a great education that it allows a lot of them to do anything well.
Click to expand...

Love the new horse, just went and looked at pics!

I think you are so right, too many horses are too precious to anything other than their chosen discipline and I reckon they just get bored and naughty because of it. Also they are almost naive about life cos they never see it.
 
Those of us who do have all rounders do value them very highly indeed, however they tend not to be the most expensive well known horses because very competitive or professional riders are looking for a horse that has the ability to take them to the top of their game and might mean a horse that has specialised or been bred for a specific activity.

however an eventer is i suppose an example of the all rounder at top level especially if they also do the roads and tracks section.
 
i don't think they are as popular as they used to be as people mainly focus on one discipline
for eg. when looking for a show jumper for example, i might glance past the alrounders section as they seem more 'averagey', but would look for something specialised to the discipline i am looking for

the saying, "jack of all trades, master of none", is sometimes the case with these 'alrounders'

i'd also say they are far more popular and seeked in pony club homes
i know a 148cm which did pc eventing, sj, dressage etc, behaved well in all and did fairly well, selling for 10k
however, if it was 16hh, it would be harder to sell and at a cheaper price, simply because that type isn't so commonly saught.
 
May I refer you all to my post about "Cassidy the ultimate professional" . He is a true all rounder. OK at 19 a dressage test would possibly be a bit stiff, but hell,I bet it would be accurate. But maybe dressage isnt your thing and you suddenly have the need for a stand in ,horse to show jump 1m 20 and you havnt sat on him before in your life. Step forward Cassidy. Or maybe your a keen but relatively inexperienced Pony clubber doing tetrathlon and your hore is sick.Who do you need to take care of you around Borde hill. Or perhaps a days hunting . Being an allrounder doesnt mean just average.
 
showjumperxo said:
however, if it was 16hh, it would be harder to sell and at a cheaper price, simply because that type isn't so commonly saught.
Click to expand...

Would it? It might sell for less, but I think they are commonly sought. Of all the riders I am friends with I only know one persons who has the kind of aspirations that a good allrounder couldn't manage.

I think allrounders were great and I am very very jealous of you all. I am trying to turn my boy into one. I think! He is nearly there, he just gets nervous when jumping at shows. On the other hand he has lovely paces so he wins dressage competitions.
 
I am lucky to have my perfect horse that i bred myself..Have owned her mum 16 yrs and bred her to a good solid stallion i knew well.
She is 16.3 ISH and will do anything i want and enjoys it to. I wouldnt sell her for anything as i know i couldnt afford to replace her. I think that a true all rounder is hard to find and generally dont come up for sale very often .
Good post :)
 
I have an alrounder too :)

He
Hacks and is used as the yard nanny
Events
Showjumps
dressages
Does county level showing
does all pony club activities
Plays polocrosse - taught him myself
Hunts

Basically, whatever you want to do, he will give it his best shot :)

I love my horse :D
 
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