Opinions please

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foo

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What are your views on people buying "quality youngsters" to happy hack people. Do you think that this is a waste of talent?

My mate would like to buy a lovely youngster, she would show him and like to ride him herself, she wouldnt hold him back as in she would get him professionally started and hopefully competed.
 
Thats what I told her, trouble is some "know it all" has told her she couldnt possibly buy him as it would be a complete waste of a possibly talented animal. WTF !!
 
I like to think I have a 'quality youngster' (Izzy) she is a KWPN and has good bloodlines, unfortuately unless I can win the lottery and buy myself a lorry and the license to go with it, all ill be doing is happy hacking her, might get the odd chance to go to a local show now and again (see pic in sig).

If I had the opportunity I'd love to do county level showing and aim even higher.
 
I see no issue why any talented horse should not be allowed to just be a happy hacker, so long as the horse is well cared for then it doesn't matter what job it is bought for. An owner should be able to buy any horse they wish for the discipline they wish to do without being ridiculed for their choice.
I can understand sellers wanting to sell a competition horse or a youngster with potential to a competition home, but IMO any good home should not be over looked, it is the quality of care that it important not ensuring the horse is competed every week because it has the potential to.
 
I had a similar question directed towards my yearling Rox from a good friend of mine. He did well showing this last year, she asked me if I wanted to go to the top in showing - I said no, I want to get him out and about for experience for him, but just want him as an all rounder for the local circuit. She then asked if he had the potential to get to the top would I sell him to a person who could get him there. I said no, I bought him for life, not for someone else to produce. She has the opinion of the wasted talent - but I disagree. If he turns out a good horse, I want to keep him to enjoy myself!! xx
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You mention your friend is wanting to compete him so to me that says she is wanting him for his looks and talent? If you wanted a happy hacker i would wonder why you would spend so much money on a youngster, surely you would buy a happy hacker??
However from the breeders point of view they breed top quality youngsters to do a job, so as a breeder they want their stock out doing a job and the name out there with it.
 
A horse neither knows nor cares that his potential is being "wasted". As long as his basic requirements for food, water, shelter, exercise, etc are met your friend should not worry what other people think.

Potential is very subjective anyway and is far from being a proven ability. I know of a beautifully bred horse from very famous show jumping lines that can hardly gets his legs over a trotting pole!
 
I have a really talented horse and I dont compete. we hack, go to clinics and have some fun with lessons. I get annoyed with the assumption that hacking is somehow a lesser discipline when most dressage riders and horses I know can't ride/be ridden outside of an arena
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To have a good mannered, balanced hack who is great in traffic, on own and in company is IMO potentially one of the most difficult animals to produce-it never used to be but seems to be a dying art.
my horse doesnt care-he enjoys his work, his every need is met!
 
So lovely to hear people being positive about this. I have put myself through so many guilt trips of not competing enough, not jumping high enough etc. But my horse is ridden at least 5 days a week and has his bedroom cleaned every day which is more than can be said for my childrens! The main reason we have our horses is to enjoy them
 
We hear to often or see in adverts for youngsters. Will go far in any sphere. What a load of codswhollop. If it doesn't get the training and is happy doing whatever your friend or who ever buys him wants him for. Breeders are happy enough to sell as a HH if they have or are born with a problem. To me a happy hacker can work alot harder that these show horses depending what the happy hacker does. Some endurance riders tend to call themselves happy hackers. lol
 
the horse is unaware if it has reached its potential! many badminton horses have hacked and hunted on buy quite happy with their lot!! A horse will be happy as long as it is well fed, well looked after worked accordinly and has a bit of fun and a few outings to strut their stuff!
 
Thankyou for all of your replies. I have passed these on to my friend who now feels alot more comfortable about purchasing her young horse.
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