is there such a thing as the perfect horse?

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Jericho

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I am having such a dilemma. After 7 months I love my mare in all ways except for the fact she is not the nice ploddy hack I wanted but it is her sharpness whcih makes her an angel to school and I really feel I am riding well and producing a nice horse when I get some good work out of her. I have her up for sale because I think that the grass is greener on the other side and that if I sold her I would find the perfect horse which is just like her i.e. great in traffic, never puts its ears back, doesnt have any medical issues or huge psychological issues or nastiness, is great on the ground but is just a bit sharp to hack out. I think I am being unrealistic and need a kick up the a*** and should appreciate that every horse has its quirks - whats your take on it? Do you have the perfect horse? Is there such a thing as the perfect horse?? I am not a novice horse owner but have had a 10 year break from them and I never used to stress like this - I just got on with it. Help - give me a sanity check!!!!
 
In my opinion, the perfect horse for a relatively experienced, but in no way either novicey or professional rider, does not exist.

Speaking as one of these riders, I'd be bored on a ploddy hacking horse and soon get fed up with it, but i do struggle a bit with my TB as I feel slightly overhorsed. I handle her fine but the thought is always at the back of my mind.

Just lately I've been feeling really jealous of this kid at my yard and her pony - it came from a french meat farm, it has the most atrocious conformation I've ever seen and an ugly face to boot - but she does everything her owner will ever want to do, they know each other inside out and love each other to bits.

I think the perfect horse exists for certain riders, but not all. I can't even imagine my perfect horse if I could invent one.
 
I'll be the first to second that!! Rather fond of ponies myself
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ha ha I seem to remember my first pony 13hh 18yr old dartmoor x mare that cost a £150 back in 1985 was pretty damn perfect - did everything with her and had loads of fun - none of the angst now. Maybe thats just the rose coloured specs or maybe its just time smooths out the rough edges of the memories!
 
The grass is never greener on the other side!!!She sounds like a gem....if she sharp but safe then that not a bad thing
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,u will grow together!!You could well sell that nice natured mare and end up with lord knows what....better the devil you know
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I have the perfect horse
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He sane enough without being boring
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He does everything I ask, when I ride well he goes well, when I ride like poo he goes averagely
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He is my best friend, I know him inside out and we trust one another without a shadow of doubt
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So yes it does exist!

(He is a horse too, 16.3hh, although he does have a very pony quality!)
 
I do NOT think there is a "perfect" horse but I DO think there is a horse that is perfect for each one of us. If you do not feel safe hacking maybe you should find another?
It sounds like you have given it some time and if hacking is what you want to do (and do often) I would think you would know by now what you think

I am in the same boat atm and have been with my last TWO horses I have bought so I feel your pain
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I was so sure about the last one too
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It is a hard choice but better to find what is best for you both now than wasting any time. You will know what makes you happy and life is too short and horses are too expensiveto care for and require too much time to have major doubts. The fun goes out of it that way and the horses are not happy either
 
I would class mine as "as near perfect for me as could be" - but she has her faults. She isnt as 100% in traffic as was believed. She can get stressed travelling sometimes and I have to monitor her weight unlike the TBs I usually have.
I think what I am trying to say is that she is as perfect as I could expect from a horse.
Go and have a sit on a few that are advertised and see what you can find - you never know you may be rushing back to have a sit on your own!
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would also like to say 7months is no time at all
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,had my lad 12 nd half yrs(6mnth old)and we have only really gelled this yr,scary hey,flatwork fab before but since moving yards have had lessons and realised it worked so well because although he was in an outline it was the outline he wanted,correct but novicy,now i have asked for more uphill we have argued for weeks,i have won,lol
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....now working great....they all have their quirks,if they didnt they wouldnt have personalities,just like us...are you perfect???lol
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My horse is perfect for me. He has given me so much confidence jumping, I never jumped a course or confidently over a cross pole. Now I Will happily jump a 3f3 course confidently, working hunter course mind, sj is bit to much stress for me
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He is right for me in everyway, he is such a gentleman very willing to please has come on so much, surprises me everyday, learnt flying changes, didnt think such a humungahorse could do them.
Sorry for the waffle but I Do think there is a horse for everyone.
 
Yes there is such a thing as the perfect horse - I have tonnes of them.
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I think you are probably right to look for another - although your mare sounds ideal and she may well be the perfect horse for someone else. Let that someone find their perfect horse in her, and you continue your search for YOUR perfect horse.

I actually think you are being very responsible and intelligent about this - well done! I hear so many people whinging about the things their horses do and yet they plug away with them for years and years and still never seem to get anywhere. Cut your losses is what I say - go out there and find "the one", because I can tell you they are most definitely out there.
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i done a post on this a while back, asking what my gelding was worth, he really is the perfect horse, novice thumping around or experianced wanting to jump 4ft and do flying changes...

unfortunatley i have just discovered the poor boy has allergies. very managable but a big put off if i was ever to sell him.
 
No-one can make the decision for you but if you are unhappy with one aspect of your mare's behaviour maybe you would be happier selling and looking for another horse? I have had several horses over the years but it is only in the last 12 months that I have found my perfect one.

She's a 13.3 hh Highland and is a safe but forward going ride. You could put anyone on her and she would look after them but she will only work correctly if asked properly. My instructor says that, "She doesn't suffer fools"! I like that though because it has made me try a bit harder to improve my riding and I know that I am a better rider than I was 12 months ago thanks to Nelly.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.
 
Hi there

I must be the luckiest person in the world because at the moment I have two perfect horses.

My Andalusian Jalisco is just the best. He's the most unflappable horse in the universe. Drop a bomb behind him and he wouldnt care, crawl between his legs he wouldnt care, goes anywhere, does anything you ask him, never kicks or bites, flies round a x-country course when I ask him and when I want a donkey he is one! He's happy, cheeky full of fun, a larger than life character.

My show cob is only 1% behind in the perfect stakes as he can sometimes be a bit of a worrier but never does anything remotely silly and gives me the best ride ever. As with number one horse he has a lovely nature, never kicks or bites, goes anywhere does anything I ask, again I cant fault him.

Dont give up, your perfect horse is out there, you may not find him/her just yet, I've been riding for 38 years and I've only had my andalusian almost 3 years and my cob for about 5 months.

Just be realistic with regards to your ability and expectations!

Good luck with your search.
 
I know exactly how you feel - I have had my boy for about 5 months now - I have only really just started working with him the past couple of months and we were doing well until he rodeo'd me off last week and I hurt my back. He is only 7 and was backed late so he is a bit anxious about being ridden. I just want a simple horse that I can have fun on (which is what he was sold to me as, have since found out some truths about him - and I had been looking for months) but others tell me that I would be bored and that he will be the horse I want given time.

I just don't know anymore! I sold my TB after two years as he was just a little too sharp for me and thought I had found the ideal replacement. I suppose time will tell, and others seem to think he is lovely and if I think about it I think he will be great too, I am just not sure if I am the one to bring him on - as I sit here with my back aching.........

try and listen to your gut feeling about it - thats what I am trying to do, cos I don't want to spend another two years wondering what could of been.
 
Can I suggest if you want the perfect horse you get a My Little Pony or a rocking horse or something?! Or maybe even a bike!
Horses aren't machines so even if there are great 99.99% of the time they can always be unpredictable and shy or spoke or have a mad half hour.
And even the great ones go lame/get arthiritis etc...

Appreciate what you've got she sounds a lovely 'person' and as it says above you'll probably get bored with a plod, or hate the schooling side of things when you have to kick kick kick to go anywhere!!
 
My horse is perfect for me!

Most people would hate her - she's a live wire, rears, bucks and can barge. Its just what I love though, she's come from being labelled unrideable to winning 2 foot 6 SJ and I can't say I loved her any less when she used to rear vertically inhand or took 15 minutes to mount ect than I do now. I always wanted a challenge and unless you count fizzy/eagerness as a fault, she's got a perfect temperment, is very talented and damn beautiful.

Most people would hate her...but for me she's perfect.
 
I have a perfect horse - known at home as golden balls or wonder boy!

All very subjective though as has been said above - he came to me cheap from Doncaster sales because he certainly wasn't a perfect racehorse!!
 
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