quirky and talented vs sensible- what would you rather have?

diggerbez

diggerbez

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as title really... would you rather have a quirky/naughty horse that has serious talent but occasionally lets you down in the behaviour department or a sensible horse with slightly less talent but a more even temperament so you know what you are getting every day? (i realise that in an ideal world you would have somewhere in the middle and i know that all talented horses aren't quirky...just before someone jumps on me :rolleyes: )
 
Depends on what the quirks were....

My mare is usually quite sane and sensible, but she certainly has her moments and there are certain things that she will only accept if you do them a certain way, like tacking up - you cannot tack her up in a hurry, and you have to put her saddle on first - if you hurry her, she WILL have you off!! Lol :D
 
it would depend totally on the quirks tbh.
having had both, i'd got for talented and quirky BUT only as long as the quirks weren't of the "oh, i know, i'll use all my amazing power and atheticism to ditch my rider, shall i?!" type...
 
Depends on the quirks and if they can be overcome. For me if the less talented could only go to novice but you would be placed every time but the more talented could easily go intermediate and you would probably not win but get round and it be a bit hit and miss with doing well or badly, I would take the talented one.
 
its hard to decide isn't it! my little horse is very talented but super quirky (in a nice way) and everything is quite nerve wracking/ working out how he will respond to things... got on a 5 year old (same age) at trainer's today- had literally just arrived on yard... had a quick warm up and then popped it round a course of fences, scary fillers and all... don't get me wrong, it wasn't talentless at all...but seemed all very 'easy'- was wondering if i would actually prefer an easier life! ;)
 
I think it is possible to have the talent and sensible temperament in one horse - I have had 2 like that (one tb and one wb). The first (TB) was possibly a bit quirkier than the current one but he doesn't have a bad bone in his body - he would be overly bold one second, then a complete woos the next. Incredibly spooky but majorly talented. Unfortunately I got him a few years too late and physical problems probably didn't help but the scopiest horse I could have ever had - a number of knowledgeable people said he could have gone advanced eventing (unfortunately raced for a number of years successfully so made my job harder) and I'm sure with a better rider he would have been much more successful, but had a lot of fun (and bad times) in our few years eventing together.

New boy (WB) is so chilled out he makes you think that there is no scope there but he is talented - very good dressage, clean sj and bold xc. Everyone I have had instruction from think he could be a seriously good eventer and I am getting to the stage where I can seriously trust him. Have only had one xc fault in 10 horse trials (and have won and been placed) so really enjoying competing him. Had him less than a year and thought that I wouldn't affiliate until next year - now contemplating Novice!!! Everything moving a lot quicker than I thought!

At my age (and in my situation with an intolerant boss!) I couldn't take on something that was difficult - I keep my horses at home and have no arena, so have to be able to get on and hack out/exercise/school in field - sometimes not having sat on them for a few days without complete freak out! I don't know why but since moving my horses from a livery yard to my home they have all become a lot more chilled out - and our yard is not quiet either as part of a busy cattle/sheep farm!

I couldn't go for something that was sensible if it didn't have a bit going for it - I like my horses to have a bit of character, but cannot cope with something that is 'difficult'.
 
I'm never really going to want to jump huge and my mare will jump anything I will want to jump, she's bold brave and honest and looks after me the main thing is we have fun!! she gets abit excited and strong but not quirky and I wouldn't have her any other way!!
 
Sensible any day!

I have both - one is the easiest horse you coudl possible have. I can (and will once he's older) take him anywhere and do anything with him and he behaves impecabily.

The other has bags of talent, moves beautifully and is stunning to looks at but is as sharp as hell and can be very stressy. Whilst his talent can be channeled, it's hard work and frankly often not worth the hassle. Everything with him is that little bit harder as you have to come to compromises.

He would be worth it if I wanted a 'proper' competition horse but riding is just a hobby for me and a stressfree relaxing time is more important that wining rossettes.
 
Quirky every time! When I was horse shopping I tried out a lovely mare with exceptional breeding. Bit of a plain horse to look at but obviously very talented and just the sweetest temperament. She was definitely one of those that would be super consistent and a real trier - Miss Dependable. Took me ages to decide but at the end of the day, that's just not what I want! I don't want to know how my ride will go before I even get to the paddock.

My last horse came to me with the reputation of being a psycho killer monster. It was all of the crazy things that he did that I miss the most. He was my once-in-a-lifetime horse. Sure, I had to walk into arenas backwards and he'd rear when I messed up, but I loved every minute of it. My current horses make me laugh every day at their antics. I have to work a bit harder with them and I hit the dirt every now and then, but I ride because I love being pushed harder and challenged. It's not for everyone, but it's for me at this point in time.
 
Sensible and talented, but not dull!
For example Emerald is supremely talented but so odd, we now work around his little foibles such as at Church Farm he will jump round the SJ ring, but not round the workers ring, he loves jumping at Aintree, won't even try xc with him other than very dull places because he just doesn't get it! But he does have a huge amount of scope and dressage judges love him!
The mare we had for sale last year was impeccable to ride and do, but tbh I just found her a bit boring to ride (no random leaps sideways at invisible monsters etc!)
 
I agree with Kerilli, quirky is fine as long as it's not bone-breaking stuff. Havig said that my WB used to be not just quirky but pretty terrifying to get on TBH, but all due to discomfort. Now we have got his back much better etc his confidence is just growing and growing and he has become very sensible, docile, almost asleep at times yet as soon as he gets to work he lets the talent shine through and is doing great!!!

I think your 5yo will probably mature digger2, then you will have a superstar!! He just sounds like he's still finding his feet and building his confidence.
 
would have always said talented with the quirk but now I've got one talented but sensible (not dull) I'm quite enjoying the novelty-although I'd love better brakes!
 
zefragile said:
Sensible (but not boring). I just want to have fun, not be a world beater.
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Yup, this for me. I work full time, have to find time to see my husband on the odd occasion (that's not when he's chasing me round XC course with camera in hand! ;) ) and so need something that can cope with a day off here and there or a quick 1hr hack/30min school on busy nights. Not something that needs 2hrs work per day to stay sane.

I reckon Hopalong could be left months and be the same temperament when I got back on, just would lose fitness! She still makes me work and has enough character not to be boring though.

I'm never going to be good enough for Int/Adv eventing, so a good, scopey horse that can get to Novice easily and help me out a little is what I need! ;)
 
I guess it depends on the individual riding the horse, your personality and your own drive for success, some people prefer a challenge, then when a quirky type does give you his all and you do get less frequent results but has that wow factor, suppose there is no feeling like it, where others may get more out of it competing a horse that is more consistent type of horse but you might not always get that same feeling of achievement?
 
Ive been there with 'quirky and talented' and i got totally fed up and annoyed with the quirky side of him, one minute he was an angel the next a total nutter - he was very unpredictable. Could go out and get 70%+ affliated BD and in the next test 50%.

I also had sensible Blossom at the same time, but she was in foal hence i got another horse. She would go out and give 110% every single time and more often than not win every class, she won at the Nationals and was placed every single time out in dressage/jumping/x country and she also hunted and hacked out like a dream. Now i have sensible Blossom back i wouldnt swap her for the world and i would certainly never get another quirky horse knowingly - in fact the horse i had put me off buying horses forever and i will now only breed my own.

ETA - my quirky horse was dangerous aswell, not just quirky, he cleared warmups on many occasions and would rear and bronc on the road with me for no reason at all. Nothing wrong with him physically as i spent ££££££s getting him checked by hundreds of different people.
 
I think I would have to go with quirky and talented, as long as it wasn't stupidly dangerous as Kerilli said.
In the past both mum and I have come back from rides on Beau and commented that he was be a bit boring - sure he shied but he never tried to clear off, didn't/doesn't leap up and down with excitement as we approached the usual canter spot...all traits we should be greatful for I suppose but we did spend a few months dedicatedly trying to liven him up with more fast work :)
And now, though it does worry my ocasionally (in terms of if I fall of where would he go road? Bridle path?) I actually enjoy his leap in the air antics at the PC grounds as he knows galloping and XC are probably going to follow, and bucking and trying to clear off after fences SJing. The fact that he won't walk over white lines on the road with me but does with mum. All dead branches are horse eating and must be avoided at all costs, and all his other little foibles that he has developed over the years.
I suspect we are mad. :D
 
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Somewhere inbetween. I had a lovely lovely horse, who was consistently winning and being placed at lower levels, and had loads of scope, but wasn't too fussed about using it. He was easy to do in almost every way though. I sold him as I always said he would be my perfect "winding down" horse :)

I wrote Lucky off when I spoke to her old owner on the phone, and was far more interested in the other 2 she had for sale. That's because she described her as "very sharp" and "Not the sort of horse you can give a day off, but very talented and clever". However, I just clicked with her. She can be sharp, and can buck for england, but when it's needed, she WANTS to work and get on with the job. She will be difficult when you first go into a ring, but as soon as you start asking something of her, she will buckle down and give you her all. I can also do everything I need to on a daily basis with her, such as hacking out on her own, take her out in the lorry on her own, etc, without too much of an issue. Therefore she is quirky, but with you, if that makes sense.

You can have the most talented horse in the world, but if it doesn't want to work with you, it could be the least talented thing in the world.
 
I can accept a bit quirky, but have my limits.

A friend of mine is a pro rider and she has the ride on a super, duper talented young horse, probably a world class horse. Is the best horse I've ever ridden. But this horse has a naughty streak with a vengeance, rears and broncs for England and has put any number of people (good riders) on the floor. Now I'd give anything to be able to feel the talent of this horse every day, but I don't think I could put up with the fear of the explosions. Would rather something a bit less talented that wasn't going to try to kill me on occasion.
 
If your knowingly taking on a quirky horse, it all depends on your own confidence and riding ability! If your happy to persevere and the horse gets your respect and your kept in your comfort zone then the partnership can work.

If a horse is continually quirky, then you would think that there is some kind of trust issue/pain going on. There are very, very few horses who really want to do a rider over.

I don't mind quirky, and have had a few aslong as i feel i am getting inside their heads, if i felt i couldnt, and the horse was 'riding me' then it would be time to quit.

If you want to compete, bottom line is at the end of the day you have got to believe the horse will be good enough to get results, its no good if its napping and rearing that won't win you any results.

Trainability within your comfort zone is what anyone should look for IMH.
 
hmmm difficult one for me and something i am thinking about a lot just now whilst horsey shopping. I had a quirky but talented little mare - no badness but everything was a learning curve, but then she had done a fair bit of racing.

She was cold backed at first (few handstand circuits of arena when you got on!), wouldnt stand for anything (studs, farrier, grooming, eating, etc!) had rotten feet (not a quirk but tricky to get out and practice when she went well as that would be when the shoes flew off!) hurdled and rushed fences but jumped everything, then when she decided to slow down and concentrate she thought "ooo thats too scary to jump mum!"

BUT she was mega careful, had scope to burn, read XC fences so well, just seemed to know how to do steps banks ditches etc, and had a fifth and sixth leg! beautiful paces for an ex racer (my DR trainer loved her) and was safe as houses to hack out, I think she just might of been really something :( such a shame she was taken so suddenly . So I cant decide if I want something like her or if the easy life (with quite a high price tag??) :rolleyes:

think i will take up another hobby!
 
I have a quirky and very talented horse and i now also have a 4 year old who seems so far to be sensible but less talented i think. I've yet to decide which i prefer however i did have a pony alongside my nutter horse that i could go out and near enough be guaranteed a placing with which was nice but i wouldn't have given up the power and feel of the quirky horse so maybe the answer is to have one of each.

NB my quirky horse isn't dangerous, he will never try to get you off, he's just a pain in the a***e about EVERYTHING
 
I 'think' Twizzy is near enough to my perfect horse she is very quirky as PS will agree, she will happily go round for 30mins and then deciede that something, such as a pole is going to eat her, jump side ways and then carry on like nothing has happened, she wasnt quite as bad as this when I first got her but she is now a lot fitter and sharper i suppose i have just got used to it.

Other days she wont look at anything, ask her to jump a scary horse killing fence and she will more than likely jump it, ask her to jump a small upright inthe school with lots of ground lines (storing poles under the fence) She will more than likly think the poles will jump up and get her so we have to give it extra 3ft of air, just in case! Im pretty sure she wont change at all, but if you give her somethign to take her mind of the monsters hiding she is fab :D :D :D
 
I think if you want a compeitive horse, one that wants to work, compete and win they will all have a bit of personality about them.
I wouldnt put up with talented but difficult but I do like a horse that has stuff to say for itself, they are the types that learn quickly and can think themselves out of trouble when you need it most.

I think most horses bred nowadays have the raw ability to do well. Breeding has come on so much. Attitude and trainability however is harder to breed then looks and movement IMO.

My 5yr old is so easy, so much easier than my last horse. Ive achieved in 6 months with him what it took me 2 years to achieve with the last horse. Both horses are very talented, last horse was a really remarkable jumper. Saying that current horse can be spirited and switched on, he is not a donkey. He has something to say and personality, how ever he is so straightforward to train! He will just do whatever you ask him to do. He learnt rein back in 10 mins and got a 7 for it in his first Novice test the next day.

So basically I would want talented and sensible with a little bit of extra spark for when you need it! :D :)
 
I had both and ended up selling the sensible one !!

I love the quirky one he is so talented and even though i dont ride him i take great pleasure watchign someone else win and go to all the big shows with him x
 
I like quirks. Its what helps make a horse more individual. I also think its nice to ride something more challenging. My own horse is possibly too quirky but that has improved my riding an amazing amount so that I can ride talented horses that are more sensible. My horse is more than capable of novice Dressage and when younger I thought he had more but circumstances mean I can't really get passed his quirks, not enough mileage for him. At home though he's far better. Last year I loaned a more sensible horse that has jumping ability- it was great to get on, go places and have fun but not the sort of horse i'd have bought as I felt we couldn't in further, he was at a limit Dressage wise. Could jump higher but that's not my cup of tea- what we did jumping was fun.
Both my horses don't jump though so it was a nice change. As long as the quirk isn't the horse trying to kill you (eg rearing and falling backwards to land on you) then quirky is nice:-P
 
theres quirky and then theres quirky..............previous mare was totally unreliable, one day working GP, one day would kneel down and refuse to move, or rear and then run in to the fence. no rhyme or reason, no pattern,no self preservation, and no riding her through it. i would never take on something like that again, as its just a waste of time and money and a total heartbreaker too.

CS could be described as quirky i suppose-has to be blindfolded to load, bit of a tit to hack, very sharp in the warm up, but when he gets in the ring he gives me 150% and does what it says on the tin, so i totally forgive him the *quirks* which dont affect that.

TBH, having only ever had re-schools and rehabs, a totally straight horse would bore me i think, i need something with a bit of a quirk to keep the velcro butt in working order lol!
 
In general, quirky and talented but depends on the quirk. If a horse was sensible but would not event at the level I want to, I would not want it. There are some things I will not put up with and there are some things I will!

I am quite no-nonsense about loading, travelling, standing quietly at shows. I compete on my own a lot and I would not stand for a horse that took an hour to load each time.

The girl who sold my horse to me, who knows me well and whose opinion I set a lot of store by, told me that the horse would do the level of eventing that I wanted to do, but that she had reared in the past. She also said the rearing was something I could easily cope with. Do I care that my mare might sometimes spin, spook and wave her front legs at a monster in a hedge? No, she goes past in the end. Would I care if she went vertical for no reason out of the blue? You bet I would! It is about degrees.

My horse has oodles of talent and is ridiculously genuine - she made our first Novice feel tiny despite my rubbish riding and she jumps big hairy 1.20 oxers from the impossible strides that I see; she is not even trying at that height. I am really really lucky to have her and the odd tantrum about a horse eating monster out hacking does not detract from that!
 
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