One person horse?

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darkhorse123

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Ive had my horse 4 years, hes 10. Hes my first horse and we have been through a lot together with me being a novice and my daughter losing interest3 years ago we both had a lot to learn but with good instructors and friends we got through and now have an amazing bond.
This last couple of months has been tough - bad winter so not as much riding, ive been ill and had personal problems - so two other people have been riding him, or trying to.
Both stopped due to his bad behaviour, he was silly for them - no brakes, ignoring aids etc he even tried to buck one off and hes never ever done this - hes a cob - can be bolshy but never dangerous.
Today I forced myself to ride him after hearing these horror stories (im the original nervous nellie) and he was fine! No problems at all! He hasnt been out for at least 4 weeks due to me and the weather and he was a total dream.

So - do you think horses can be one person horses? And im not asking for vanity - I really want a sharer for him, would help me lots - but i love him to bits and dont want him screwed up or upset either.

Opinions please
 
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I have a 'one person' horse. My daughter just can't get a tune out of her, and Star is just so uncooperative and bolshy with her. I am 'The Chosen One' as far as Star is concerned :D
 
My mare is ok for others to ride and she will tolerate other people handling her but she shows a definate preference for me. She grumps at everyone else but not me and when she was really ill last summer whenever I left her stable she got really upset, even if there was someone else still in the stable with her
 
World Champion Reiner Bernard Fonk's wife Anne had a lovely horse she competed to European level, she gave her to Bernard to ride and the mare would do nothing for him at all, Anne took her back she rode no problem.

We have a KWPN 10 yr old mare arrive to re educate and she would buck, rear turn round and all sorts for all the riders/trainers, I sat on one day for fun and she just rode off perfectly I am definately no better rider than the others but she liked something I did I suppose, I've bought her now and she's mine and no-one else rides her.

So yes I believe there is such a thing as a one person horse.
:D
 
I think there is such a thing as a one person horse, although maybe the horse just doesn't know how to respond to somebody with a different riding style?
Or is that the same and i'm confusing everybody? :D:o
 
My gelding is a one person horse! I've waved goodbye to three sharers in the past six months - they simply couldn't get on with him at all! Shame as I struggle to find the time to exercise him daily which is what he really needs. I've just had to make time by riding at the crack of dawn!

I think sometimes they are just very sensitive and learn all your little aids and signals and can't be doing with someone else who doesn't do it quite like you. My gelding also won't stand for any rough handling and I've since learned from someone else that one of girls who was riding him was a little heavy handed with him so that explains that! Having heard what I did I'm glad to see the back of her!
 
Absolutely!

He knows and trusts you and by what you have said you have a bond thats been forged through fire. He also, after four years knows what your asking of him and there is less chance of any confusion, we all ride differently even if we do ride by the book.

If you are like me and I call myself a novice, you'll be less demanding in your riding eg, such as riding collected between leg and hand and expecting higher standards from him rather than just thinking, oh, let's canter here.;)

I have a friend who rides my girl. She wears spurs and carries a schooling whip when she does and after two years they look fantastic together, but it wasn't always like this. We were laughing last week at my girl. We were tacking her up together and all of a sudden Ellie nuzzled my hand, I looked into her eyes and she had that oh dear I'm worried look, please help me mum. She finds it hard work bless her.
Im sure she enjoys her sessions though as whinnies when she hears my friends car coming up the track. Stick with it if you can and find someone good, patient and willing to ride him. It does them good, adds some variety, reajusts the controls and it's nice to watch someone else ride your horse properly too.;)

Good luck.
 
ty everyone for your replies. I am very much a novice (though today my riding partner did point out i dont have enough confidence in myself which is probably true) and I truly thought having more experienced riders on him would help.
I think i may have to forget about getting a sharer then - lol the little bugar but i do love him - funny thing is I was only ever meant to be his groom and sponsor lol :)
 
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My little mare is now 24 and until last year was only ridden by me since age 4! We have such a close relationship it's like we're psychic so I don't even know/ notice what aids I'm giving or her body language, we both just read those signs and know what each others thinking. Three people have ridden her (mum, hubbie and friend) and all didn't get on with her. Then last year I found a new rider who has a very similar attitude/approach to me. She and pony hit it off immediately, and have since done all sorts, including out on a fun ride on their ownhaving great fun. I think it just takes the right person.you will know when you find them! Good luck.
 
trojanpony said:
My little mare is now 24 and until last year was only ridden by me since age 4! We have such a close relationship it's like we're psychic so I don't even know/ notice what aids I'm giving or her body language, we both just read those signs and know what each others thinking. Three people have ridden her (mum, hubbie and friend) and all didn't get on with her. Then last year I found a new rider who has a very similar attitude/approach to me. She and pony hit it off immediately, and have since done all sorts, including out on a fun ride on their ownhaving great fun. I think it just takes the right person.you will know when you find them! Good luck.
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ty so much - my cob is very much into voice - i was going to say voice commands but its not that, id say more voice reassurance ( maybe thats not correct but its just how he is) - someone mentioned whips,i never ever need one - for eg if hes nervy i talk him through it and hes fine.
I and he needs a rider that understands that i think - ty all
 
I have exprienced both ends of the stick,
i had a horse 'gifted' to me because no one got on with it, and neither could i so we had to do exstensive research to find the original owner, who turned out to be a novice and the horse had learnt her ways over the past 5 years so we turned the horse out for a while and bought him back to basics he is still iffy but we gave him to another novice and he went beautifully i really believe despite being the most stunning and well put together warmblood i've ever seen he in heart was a plod and loved his hacking.
my current horse has only ever been ridden by me or jockeys so he now is so use to my riding that when other people get on him he gets a little confused but now i am putting him on loan and i feel its tough love and hes got to learn
 
I think allowing a horse to become a 'one person' horse is a really silly thing to do. Sure they may prefer you to anyone else, because you know their little ways but essentially I believe any horse should be able to have someone new get on and be safe on. I can't see how if your horse wouldn't allow that it would be anything other than a matter of having to put a fair amount in schooling them until they did allow that.

Until a horse/ pony is fairly top end, I stand by this. Once they're at the top of their game, they're allowed to be a bit pickier... But equally, you have to think long term. What would happen if you were injured and couldn't ride, or everything went wrong and you could no longer support your horse? You need them to be as amenable as possible to ensure that you could find them a new home safely...
 
Lolo said:
I think allowing a horse to become a 'one person' horse is a really silly thing to do. Sure they may prefer you to anyone else, because you know their little ways but essentially I believe any horse should be able to have someone new get on and be safe on. I can't see how if your horse wouldn't allow that it would be anything other than a matter of having to put a fair amount in schooling them until they did allow that.

Until a horse/ pony is fairly top end, I stand by this. Once they're at the top of their game, they're allowed to be a bit pickier... But equally, you have to think long term. What would happen if you were injured and couldn't ride, or everything went wrong and you could no longer support your horse? You need them to be as amenable as possible to ensure that you could find them a new home safely...
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I agree with you - i do feel guilty ive somehow ruined him despite tryng my best and spending lots on lessons for us both - yes i do worry - as you can maybe tell i didnt intentionally do this - i never wanted this to happen
He was bought for my then 14 yr old daughter to ride, she got fed up - id fallen in love so kept him and tried my best
 
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My horse has only ever been ridden by me, and will only ever be ridden by me. She is very funny with other people on the ground. Do I care? No. Do I think I should make her be ridden by others? No. What would I do if I was injured and unable to ride again? She would live out in the field with the herd and not give a monkeys about never being ridden again.
 
darkhorse123 said:
ty so much - my cob is very much into voice - i was going to say voice commands but its not that, id say more voice reassurance ( maybe thats not correct but its just how he is) - someone mentioned whips,i never ever need one - for eg if hes nervy i talk him through it and hes fine.
I and he needs a rider that understands that i think - ty all
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I said stick.

My friend uses spurs and a schooling whip to support, not to beat or bash. She is a competent rider who has produced horses as a job. She is switched on, connects and is a sympathetic rider. I'd hate for someone to think I'd let anyone loose on my girl with weapons!

I however don't use spurs or a whip. You have to know what your doing and be a competent rider and I don't consider myself to be anywhere near her level to do that.
 
zaminda said:
My horse has only ever been ridden by me, and will only ever be ridden by me. She is very funny with other people on the ground. Do I care? No. Do I think I should make her be ridden by others? No. What would I do if I was injured and unable to ride again? She would live out in the field with the herd and not give a monkeys about never being ridden again.
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:) - agreed! my boy is defintely in his lifelong home :)
 
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