Outgrowing your horse

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WishfulThinker

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I have had this though in my head for a few days and wanted some more experienced views.

I have had my horse for 3 years now, and only in the last 4 have we finally gelled and we can do more than we ever could (3ft spreads, gallops etc) as I was so nervous before. I have been having lessons and would now say that I am up to the level I was at about 7 years ago (I've had a LOT of time off), but I still have a few hangups about speed/height/trust.

Now my horse is 11 and a cob. Not by any means perfect or talented but a fun mess about horse. When he was on loan he was doing up to pre novice xc and hunter paces - but with a much braver more naturally skilled rider (she had only been riding like 2 years). He can be stiff and doesn't like to bend, and although we can do a few goes over jumps, he can be funny about a whole course of SJ, and will refuse or run out or tank off.

Now I am not saying that I am better than him, but part of me really wants to see what I am like on a slightly more advanced horse - what I would class as a good RC horse. One that isn't so funny jumping and has better paces and movement. Part of me feels that because he has funny paces (imagine a ricking horse - the legs move but the body is always level) and funny about jumping I am not going to progress. I am not aiming to compete, but the opportunity would be nice if it arose. I wouldn't say its envy of anyone else on the yards horses as I have no inclination to ride the ones I have seen, they are either faaar to advanced or have traits that I know my now mild nerves would aggravate.

I am just worried I sound so selfish, and that I don't think my horse is good enough. My OH pointed out that once I can do all the stuff the loanee did THEN i can CONSIDER getting a new horse, but until then I don't need one (he says the same about my car!!!)

I just feel I need to ride another horse, even just to see. But I REALLY don't want to go to any of the local riding schools as to be honest I don't want to be watched and I don't rate the horses much - behavior and general apperance.

What u all think?
 
How about going to a riding school and having a few lessons on one of their more advanced horses? Somewhere like YRC or Talland would be more suitable than a local place, I think they may have residential/weekend courses..
 
I'd try to improve him yourself. Get lessons to help with the jumping and maybe try something new on him like trec or polo lessons. If then after a few months you feel the same move on.
 
ummm... i'd say have some good training with someone who can help iron out your problems with your cob first. the better you ride him, the better you'll ride anything, so it's worth it. a course of showjumps shouldn't be beyond him... if he gets strong and tanks off/runs out etc, you need an instructor who knows how to help you to stop him doing that! cobs make good little jumpers usually, cos they've got natural knee action so they automatically get their knees out of the way.
getting a new horse is always a risk... you might not gel with something that has more about it. if you can get a perfect schoolmaster (not that there's many of those about!) then fantastic... but would you be bored on a horse that was push-button? some people are, believe it or not!
you could put your lad out on loan again and look for a loan horse, i guess... one that's more to your taste.
why not try a riding school further away, one with a good reputation? but until they've assessed you, they might not put you on anything really nice, i guess.
 
I REALLY want to do TREC, but there is no where up here that does it, and also I have a serious lack of transport. I am hoping to take him to do some messing about on an XC course.

His unpredictability is also putting me off a bit as one day he will jump like a start, never refuse, the next a 2ft straight will freak him out - along with changing the jump wings.

I am going to see how he is for the next few months and then decide. He loves hunting - never refuses out hunting (I hate it). So if I could I would send him away to do that for the winter.

I couldnt afford a new horse unless I sold him, and he wouldn't be easy to sell on - although he would be ideal for treking. I did also think of seeing if a Riding School might do a swap for a bit and take Beau for one of theres.

It's also probably that when I bought him he was a total handful - a VERY green 8yrs old, adn now he has matured and levelled out and so the extra sparkle I liked has gone. I am going to try changing his feel to see if he has more ping and is a new challenge.

You may all roll your eyes now :P
 
Wish you were a bit nearer - my friend is looking for something smaller to hunt this winter - she already has another horse to do the RC stuff so wouldn't be bothered about the SJ bit.
I hope that whatever you decide that you are both happy
smile.gif
 
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