Not worthy....

[Herewegoagain]

My TB figured it out - she loved the lap of honour and the frilly pretty thing. I was properly in trouble if I messed up and we had a pole (because it was always me to be fair!). She overall preferred dressage though - liked to be the only horse in the arena strutting her stuff so everyone was looking at her! Used to learn the tests then help me out if I forgot anything!!

Son’s pony needs the change of scene - arena hire mostly does it. New place, new jumps, new things to see, new problems to solve. Home before us had an arena and jumps - she was miserable, acting out, they nearly had her pts on behavioural grounds. She wants clear direction, no faff and regular off site entertainment if you want her to stay sweet. Which to be fair two people before us she had, and they did warn the next owners of this.

Yeah that makes sense. The RS pony I’ve been having lessons on was a bit of a crank in my first two lessons, the instructor was assessing my riding as if had a long break so we were just doing quite boring stuff. Last week she had me doing loads of transitions to try to engage the pony and get her thinking more and she was so much better. She’s getting on a bit now but apparently she used to go out competing and won quite a bit. She has a reputation for being mareish, maybe she’s bored?

 

[Caol Ila]

Is HHO great or what? I'm pure dead bemused by having two concurrent threads, one where people are questioning the ethics of riding horses at all, and another where people are like, I have no problems whatsoever with a seller advertising a 3 yr old filly as a competition horse only.... Plus I get some flack and patronising snash, which is always fun. I'm certainly not posting any more photos or videos. I just put that up to show mere trail horses sitting on their ar**ses to get down a bank. Now and then I need to be reminded why I don't. I forget......

Keep it entertaining, guys.

And just to reiterate, I'm not looking for horses. This BS just shows up as spam on my Facebook page, whether I want it or not. I use an ad blocker (FB Purity, thanks to a suggestion from a fellow HHO person) on my laptop, but there doesn't seem to be a similar thing for iOS. If you're paying FB to use algorithms to advertise to people who haven't made a deliberate choice to click on your page or follow you, I have zero problems with kvetching about the wording of your ad, on HHO or wherever else I like. I know this seller has a pretty good reputation and they are trying to be honest about a horse, but it still strongly implies that they have views of what certain types of owners are like (and Jesus Christ, I don't mean me...do I look like I want a 3 yr old TB??) based on their own stereotypes and preconceptions that may or may not have little to do with the horse herself. They could have worded it in a way to flag that horse needs an experienced owner, but it doesn't *need* to compete. No horse *needs* that. Humans, on the other hand......

 

[Boulty]

Here are some pretty (well some of them are pretty?) photos of the kind of crap I’ve made my hacking horses put up with (on top of lugging my incompetent arse around I mean!)





I expect them to stand tied up in various daft locations without wrapping the lead rope around their legs when I leave it a bit longer than the BHS says it should be …





Occasionally if there’s nowhere to tie up they get to wander feral














I expect them to keep their head in open spaces.



I expect them to keep me safe from swans

 

[Boulty]

I expect them to cross both over water (ie on a bridge) & through with minimal fuss

11 reactions · 6 comments | Bit of scary bridge crossing | Fiona Newboult

Bit of scary bridge crossing

www.facebook.com

I expect them to deal with tunnels of doom






I expect bravely in the face of “snakes”






We meet a wide variety of weird & wonderful animals (just not usually all at once!)

 

[Boulty]

There is rather a lot of visits to the pub (& also once a shopping centre Cafe Nero) Ideally the pony should behave well enough not to get us barred!









The pony should also be happy to squeeze through narrow gaps / occasionally do a U turn when the route is completely blocked

 

[Boulty]

Then there’s the assorted other everyday randomness that they have to put up with












It can take just as much work to “produce” a “happy” hacking horse who is reliable & safe in most situations as it does to produce a competition prospect. The qualities you’d look for in the horse and the skills you’d need would generally be slightly different though obviously & I’d argue that there’s different “types” of horse & rider within the happy hacker banner just the same as there’s a lot of variation in competition horses & riders depending on discipline.

Anyhow thought I’d flood the thread with photos in an effort to attempt to lift the mood a bit (& also cos I’m sulking and missing doing this atm so trying to cheer me up too!)

 

[Caol Ila]

Well, mine aren't as good as yours. They'd spook at a lot of that sh1ight.

 

[DabDab]

Is HHO great or what? I'm pure dead bemused by having two concurrent threads, one where people are questioning the ethics of riding horses at all, and another where people are like, I have no problems whatsoever with a seller advertising a 3 yr old filly as a competition horse only.... Plus I get some flack and patronising snash, which is always fun. I'm certainly not posting any more photos or videos. I just put that up to show mere trail horses sitting on their ar**ses to get down a bank. Now and then I need to be reminded why I don't. I forget......

Keep it entertaining, guys.

And just to reiterate, I'm not looking for horses. This BS just shows up as spam on my Facebook page, whether I want it or not. I use an ad blocker (FB Purity, thanks to a suggestion from a fellow HHO person) on my laptop, but there doesn't seem to be a similar thing for iOS. If you're paying FB to use algorithms to advertise to people who haven't made a deliberate choice to click on your page or follow you, I have zero problems with kvetching about the wording of your ad, on HHO or wherever else I like. I know this seller has a pretty good reputation and they are trying to be honest about a horse, but it still strongly implies that they have views of what certain types of owners are like (and Jesus Christ, I don't mean me...do I look like I want a 3 yr old TB??) based on their own stereotypes and preconceptions that may or may not have little to do with the horse herself. They could have worded it in a way to flag that horse needs an experienced owner, but it doesn't *need* to compete. No horse *needs* that. Humans, on the other hand......

But you don't know the horse and don't know the seller so you have no idea why they have chosen to use that phrasing, so why take offence to it?

Some happy hackers have been produced with an enormous amount of skill, but some have been 'produced' with very little skill at all. But I don't think the advertiser of the Tb was commenting (directly or indirectly) on the skill taken to produce a hacking horse. They are commenting on the aptitude and attitude of the horse they are trying to sell, nothing more than that.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Horses don't care what they do in life but equally owners do know what their animals are most likely to be best suited to or make a choice on the kind of home they want them in -- like stallion owners vetting mares to produce offspring that are an advertisement for the sire because they're 'out there' and doing stuff rather than sitting in a field.
There's definitely reverse snobbery on this thread too, just do what you personally enjoy with your horses and let others do the same hey?? We invest so much time, money and effort in these bizarre beautiful creatures no one should feel guilty for what they do and don't do with them.

 

[dreamcometrue]

There is an obsession in doing something, our present society is based on the fact we have to do something and spend money. They do not want us to learn how to amuse ourselves, and have turned even basic activities like walking and cycling in an opportunity to buy the right kit, so you can do it better.

Oh @honetpot this is spot on!

 

[Tiddlypom]

They do not want us to learn how to amuse ourselves, and have turned even basic activities like walking and cycling in an opportunity to buy the right kit, so you can do it better.

If we’re going on thread diversions I can categorically state that modern walking clothing and waterproofs and modern cycling gear are far more comfortable than of old.

I cycled over 1000 miles from Lands End to John o Groats in 1979 over 15 days on a 10 speed touring cycle carrying all my kit on the bike (no supporting sag wagon). If I were to do the same trip today my kit from my current specialist touring bike upwards to the breathable clothing is highly improved from the heavy cotton shorts and polo shirts that I wore back then. Shame my body hasn’t kept up with it all though .

 

[MuddyMonster]

Is HHO great or what? I'm pure dead bemused by having two concurrent threads, one where people are questioning the ethics of riding horses at all, and another where people are like, I have no problems whatsoever with a seller advertising a 3 yr old filly as a competition horse only.... Plus I get some flack and patronising snash, which is always fun. I'm certainly not posting any more photos or videos. I just put that up to show mere trail horses sitting on their ar**ses to get down a bank. Now and then I need to be reminded why I don't. I forget......

Keep it entertaining, guys.

And just to reiterate, I'm not looking for horses. This BS just shows up as spam on my Facebook page, whether I want it or not. I use an ad blocker (FB Purity, thanks to a suggestion from a fellow HHO person) on my laptop, but there doesn't seem to be a similar thing for iOS. If you're paying FB to use algorithms to advertise to people who haven't made a deliberate choice to click on your page or follow you, I have zero problems with kvetching about the wording of your ad, on HHO or wherever else I like. I know this seller has a pretty good reputation and they are trying to be honest about a horse, but it still strongly implies that they have views of what certain types of owners are like (and Jesus Christ, I don't mean me...do I look like I want a 3 yr old TB??) based on their own stereotypes and preconceptions that may or may not have little to do with the horse herself. They could have worded it in a way to flag that horse needs an experienced owner, but it doesn't *need* to compete. No horse *needs* that. Humans, on the other hand......

But no-one is saying you are a bad rider or your horse's are badly produced (well, except you in post #97 but I assu.e you were joking). In fact, you've received some really nice feedback, including from @Red-1 about your riding. Almost everyone has agreed their is a lot of skill in producing horses that are happy and confident to hack. Be proud of that achievement

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I wouldn't take it personally.

I would just take it to mean 'if you want a horse who will excel at hacking, and to enjoy your life whilst out and about, this one probably isn't for you.'

I have had a thoroughbred mare (Lady Gascoyne herself) who I effectively forced to go out hacking and it was like having a toddler with a loaded gun. Not fun for anyone - not the horse, not me, not my fellow riders, not the public - but I had it in my head that horses should hack to give them a break from the school and she'd eventually settle. She didn't. I had her from when she was 8 to when she was 16 and was sadly lost to a broken leg in the field.

A lot of people who hack do so because they don't want to be fighting with a Ferrari engine anymore. I think that's personal growth rather than being inferior, personally - learning what works for you, and your ambitions. And some people do just pootle about the countryside because they don't ride very confidently - that is a reality of a lot of people out hacking, not all but a lot.

I'm a huge advocate on under rather than over-horsing, and learning to do more with less horse. My Araby ones are perfect for it. Still sparky but sheer unadulterated fun.

If people wish to buy big sports horses as hacks, then that's absolutely their prerogative but I don't think it's necessary or that it shows any better horsemanship to make a hacking horse out of a sports horse than it is to just choose the right horse for the job.

So no, I wouldn't think it's anything about inferiority or snobbery. I would think it's purely like saying if you plan to cut bread then this paring knife is not for you. And when it's an animal and not an object that is in question, then I can see why a seller wouldn't want the horse put in a situation where it isn't ideal for it, and then potentially have it returned having had multiple upheavals along with possible drama about it being mis-sold or something like that. Or worse, stuck with a rider who resents it or becomes afraid of it. It's not worth the risk of the horse being stuck in an inappropriate environment just because some of us who hack probably would have the skills to produce it nicely.

 

[criso]

And just to reiterate, I'm not looking for horses. This BS just shows up as spam on my Facebook page, whether I want it or not. I use an ad blocker (FB Purity, thanks to a suggestion from a fellow HHO person) on my laptop, but there doesn't seem to be a similar thing for iOS. If you're paying FB to use algorithms to advertise to people who haven't made a deliberate choice to click on your page or follow you, I

I'm not sure it would trigger as an advert or just a page with horses albeit a business and Facebook algorithm has figured out you are interested in horses or your FB friends follow.

I get lots of horsey content I don't like because I watch other things with horses.

I follow that page as well as a few other racehorse rehomers even though I'm not in a position to take one on at the moment and Scotland would be too far.

I wonder if you would have come away with a different impression if you'd seen this horse as one of a list and the only one that says won't make a good hack.

 

[SEL]

I haven't seen the original sales post - but did they actually say the filly wasn't suitable for hacking?

The OP to this thread sounds very much like it is their preference that she goes to a home that will produce her for a competitive market and if she moves nicely then there will be a lot of interest. But that's very different to the assumptions on this thread that she will be too hot or scatty to hack.

My old boss had us hacking every OTTB that came to him. Some were definitely easier than others but he'd just throw a random teenager on anything the adults decided was a bit too bonkers and tell them to crack on. If they were particularly challenging he'd get on them himself (no hat, deck shoes, loose rein, cigarette in hand.....)

 

[Boulty]

Well, mine aren't as good as yours. They'd spook at a lot of that sh1ight.

Ah well I don’t take photos of the spooking

Seriously though the Welsh used to spook a lot but there was some kind of weird Welsh logic to it (mainly things that he felt were not in their “correct” environment, bits of grass that were the wrong colour & stuff behind hedges… oh & cows!)

PS not ONE comment on the statue with the boobs? Why do I even bother?

 

[criso]

I haven't seen the original sales post - but did they actually say the filly wasn't suitable for hacking

It says they want her to go to a competitions home not a hacking one.

This is the Facebook page, she's about 5 posts down.

Solway Racehorses

Solway Racehorses. 36,702 likes · 506 talking about this. Solway Racehorses is a Registered Business supplying quality thoroughbreds. rehoming centre We rehome these Racehorses direct from racing...

www.facebook.com

 

[MuddyMonster]

Ah well I don’t take photos of the spooking

Seriously though the Welsh used to spook a lot but there was some kind of weird Welsh logic to it (mainly things that he felt were not in their “correct” environment, bits of grass that were the wrong colour & stuff behind hedges… oh & cows!)

PS not ONE comment on the statue with the boobs? Why do I even bother?

I'm sorry, I missed the boobs. I was distracted enjoying your pictures, admiring your ponies and mentally comparing the things we see and do regularly out hacking too. Forgive me?

I did get asked of mine was Welsh once though by a bystander because of his spooks at park benches ...

 

[SEL]

It says they want her to go to a competitions home not a hacking one.

This is the Facebook page, she's about 5 posts down.

Solway Racehorses

Solway Racehorses. 36,702 likes · 506 talking about this. Solway Racehorses is a Registered Business supplying quality thoroughbreds. rehoming centre We rehome these Racehorses direct from racing...

www.facebook.com

Thanks

So absolutely nothing here that says she can't hack (also probably not ROR eligible unless I've misunderstood advert). I'm not surprised she was snapped up because she is stunning but I stand by my previous comments that only humans care about competition homes the mare would likely be fine whatever she was produced for providing rider was capable of producing a 3yo TB. (although at 17h she wouldn't be my happy hacker because too many of our gates need dismounting to open / close and I'm short)

Given the size of her I also hope whoever has bought her takes their time to produce her. I'm not adverse to 3yo being backed but she needs to grow into that frame.

Totally unspoiled having been working away in pre training where they have done a fabulous job with her however she just is not a race horse and her future lies as an eventer/dressage/showing/ the worlds her oyster,
She will not go to a happy hacking home, I want to see this filly being produced where she has a bright future in a competition home.

 

[SEL]

Also...

Some nice horses on there. Probably a good thing he's miles and miles away!

 

[AutumnDays]

@Boulty those pictures are great! Making me think asking them to go for a hack now and then isn't a bad thing after all! (Providing your horse is suited for it of course, seeing as this thread is about being told by advertisers that some horses have more potential than 'just' being a hack. FWIW, I agree that hacking is a big training thing with some of the situations you are expected to deal with out of the blue!)

 

[Red-1]

It says they want her to go to a competitions home not a hacking one.

This is the Facebook page, she's about 5 posts down.

Solway Racehorses

Solway Racehorses. 36,702 likes · 506 talking about this. Solway Racehorses is a Registered Business supplying quality thoroughbreds. rehoming centre We rehome these Racehorses direct from racing...

www.facebook.com

Thank you for that.

She is a LOT of horse! She is also taken already - unavailable.

I like some of them on the page, not so much others. Many seem to be advertised as a good hack, or who can be retrained for any job.

I don't see how someone could get upset at any of the adverts TBH. I would be grateful that the seller is trying to place the horses to the best of their ability.

Reading between the lines, I would say that this mare has an engine and needs someone who has core strength and inbuilt reflexes to stay on top of, and improve, her balance.

She would be too much horse for me now, I'm sure! I'll stick with my trusty ID X. He gives me a minute to recompose if I lose my balance and gives me a second if I am not paying attention!

 

[humblepie]

Thanks

So absolutely nothing here that says she can't hack (also probably not ROR eligible unless I've misunderstood advert). I'm not surprised she was snapped up because she is stunning but I stand by my previous comments that only humans care about competition homes the mare would likely be fine whatever she was produced for providing rider was capable of producing a 3yo TB. (although at 17h she wouldn't be my happy hacker because too many of our gates need dismounting to open / close and I'm short)

Given the size of her I also hope whoever has bought her takes their time to produce her. I'm not adverse to 3yo being backed but she needs to grow into that frame.

Totally unspoiled having been working away in pre training where they have done a fabulous job with her however she just is not a race horse and her future lies as an eventer/dressage/showing/ the worlds her oyster,
She will not go to a happy hacking home, I want to see this filly being produced where she has a bright future in a competition home.

She could do some of the RoR things I think although she isn’t an ex-racehorse. I personally think they should’ve had to race for RoR but equally it is good that there are educational and other opportunities for those who didn’t make the racetrack.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Ah well I don’t take photos of the spooking

Seriously though the Welsh used to spook a lot but there was some kind of weird Welsh logic to it (mainly things that he felt were not in their “correct” environment, bits of grass that were the wrong colour & stuff behind hedges… oh & cows!)

PS not ONE comment on the statue with the boobs? Why do I even bother?

Never saw it

 

[Barton Bounty]

She could do some of the RoR things I think although she isn’t an ex-racehorse. I personally think they should’ve had to race for RoR but equally it is good that there are educational and other opportunities for those who didn’t make the racetrack.

Yeah she will be eligible for RoR I think as long as she has the correct passport I think.
I also think they should have been racing for it too

 

[Barton Bounty]

Also...

Some nice horses on there. Probably a good thing he's miles and miles away!

He has a few crackers, he id too close to me I often skip past his tiktoks

 

[stangs]

If I went on AAD and said I was planning on buying a working lines Malinois to accompany me on walks and do nothing else, people would quite rightly tell me that that’s a stupid decision. I might reply saying “don’t look down on those of us who don’t do dog sport - I’m just as capable as socialising a Mali and training it to walk nicely as anyone else” but that’s besides the point. The point is that the dog is genetically unsuited for the job. It might end up coping after all but selling that dog to me would be setting it up to fail.

As we’ve all agreed, horses who do the happy hacking job need a specific skillset. It’s not inferior to the skillset of the competition horse - if anything, it may be even more demanding - but it is still a skillset not all horses can develop. And, as much as many TBs do become happy hackers, that’s not what they’re bred for so many won’t ever be suitable for the job.

The dealers saying that they won’t sell to a happy hacking home is just them saying that they don’t think the horse can develop that skillset. That’s all.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

@Boulty, I'm jealous of the diversity of your hacking! Around here, it's all lanes, cows and tractors. To the point that most the horse at the riding school struggle with the very rare sheep we come a cross. To be fair to my Little Madam, she dealt very well with trains, bridges, tunnels, gates (once she'd figured out they weren't for jumping), fords, etc... during the brief time we were in the UK. The help of a steady companion was needed for the sheep at first, but then he didn't like cows, so that was a fair exchange.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Thank you for that.

She is a LOT of horse!

Reading between the lines, I would say that this mare has an engine and needs someone who has core strength and inbuilt reflexes to stay on top of, and improve, her balance.

She would be too much horse for me now, I'm sure! I'll stick with my trusty ID X. He gives me a minute to recompose if I lose my balance and gives me a second if I am not paying attention!

I think this is a good point

Some horses can balance and carry themselves but she's big and young and if she's got an engine as you suggest, under the weight of a rider could end up moving biomechanically incorrectly and causing herself an injury. Plus mentally some horses like to be asked questions, given tasks, led to stimulation and get daft if they're not; others are happy to occupy their own brains on a long rein
I couldn't manage a horse like the one in the advert, my mother certainly would have used to been able to, our styles are quite similar but I couldn't help a horse out in the same way iyswim

I think the filly is really lovely and hope she's gone to a good, experienced, long term home. I do like that the seller not just describes the horses but the sorts of homes they may suit.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Now the FB page has been shared, having had a brief scroll, I saw quite a few aimed at lower level all-rounder/hacking homes. Although, I can appreciate some people out there might think hacking isn't a skill (and perhaps I didn't mention that before - I can't really remember - as I have experienced it on occassion over the years but I tend to think it says more about the t'other person than me) - I don't think this seller is one of them.

I do wonder if an advert looking for a hacking home rather than a competition home would have garnered quite so much attention.