Sad! Just another Happy Hacker!!!!!

Time Tells

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Okay then. Years ago, it was easy to buy a safe hacking horse capable of doing a variety of activities to an acceptable level. So why is it there are so few of these horses left?

Now a days, looking for a horse which is not a green younster with good conformation, 3 nice paces and schooled nicely which can hack safely alone and in company without issue or spooking every yard is almost an impossibility. There are hundreds of horsey folk out there desperately seeking such a beast. Some may term such people as merely 'Happy Hackers' second rate horse people, which imo is such an insult. Not all of these people whom hack round the roads or lanes in order to exercise or give their horse relaxation or 'time off' so to speak, are idiots, lack ambition or ability, nor incapable of riding well or aspiring to anything other than sitting on a horse.

It takes great courage these days to get out there on the road exposing themselves and their horses to allsorts of dangers. A speeding car/lorry/motorbike, with an ignorant driver who feels horses should not be on the roads. A bird suddenly flying from the hedgerow, the ignorant gardener who starts the motor just as your horse is passing, children screaming, dogs chasing you, the scary tractor with the huge front loader high in the air or the rattling trailer it is towing behind, the combine harvester, which surely landed from space, a thousand and more frightening objects and noises to contend with, yet according to some, these riders are just a 'Happy Hacker'! I would like to see some show jumpers, eventers and like, expose their horse to all of this. Truth is many would not!

Not everyone wants to event, compete, jump, show or do one specific activity, but a variety and purely non competitive, just for pleasure. Why is it then that the Happy Hacker, generally has to ride a hairy mammoth, veteran horse or otherwise burnt out horse. Please do not misunderstand me, everyone to their own tipple and there is nothing wrong with these horses, it is just a generalization.

Recently I have made several enquiries in my quest for a safe hack. A safe good looking all-rounder capable of doing a wide range of non competitive activities, but doing all of them to an acceptable standard. Most adverts state '100%' in everyway, yet you call the seller and ask, is this horse capable of hacking ALONE for 20 yards without bucking, rearing, napping, spooking, spinning bla bla bla in traffic...errr I would never subject my horse to traffic, or well he/she will, but can be sticky, keep your leg on, or not alone.

Why? Is every horse now a days, reared for one job only and receives no life skills or education other than what the owner wants to do. What happens to that horse when the owner progress's and the horse does not, it is sold to someone else who wants to do the same thing. As for rearing horses and purely boxing them 'where ever' and never educating them to see even one vehicle on the road, is beyond me.

I can understand if you are a stud and breed excellent bloodlines, your horses are not intended to end up hacking round the roads and lanes, fair enough, but it appears most all youngsters now are aimed and reared with a specific event/task in mind. Supposing they fail, what then re-trained an older age, what a nightmare, so the horse suffers purely due to lack of education.

Okay, horses for courses, the 'Jumper, show horse, dressage horse, the eventer and then the all rounder, but very few of them can or will hack safely alone!

So the answer is buy a youngster and bring it on yourself, fair enough, but not everyone is capable or even wants to do this.

Too few safe hacking horses with the capability of a carrying out variety of tasks. I do not know what the answer is...does anyone?
 

siennamum

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Friends and I have had this self same discussion. Not only is it impossible to buy properly brought up & educated horses as happy hackers, it's near impossible if you want to find one compete.

I think it's partly because traditional methods were actually best and 'specialists' used to break in and bring on youngsters, they would ride them away and give them an education which resulted in sane, calm horses. Now everyone thinks they can educate a young horse and they do so by experimenting with lots of methods, confusing themselves and the horses.

I also think it's because we have had no loyalty to traditional hunter types, either IDxTB or native/cob crosses. instead the market has been deluged with poor quality (often stupid) warmbloods who have had an iffy upbringing and are as often as not unsound.

A final nail in the coffin I think is the way horses spend all their time in an arena. It results in injury and boredon/stupidity.

It's bizarre, sensible horses used to be the norm. Now they are the exception.
 

Time Tells

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I could not have put it better myself.

I was stunned, when I came back into horses having reared my family. I just could not beleive what I was seeing let alone trying. It is a nightmare, it is almost like all the horses have had a 'insane' light switched on, there is so few what I call normal horses left.

When I was young, I could buy the first or second horse I viewed and a stunning safe horse which would do anything I needed. Now, well I am just speechless!

Friends and I have had this self same discussion. Not only is it impossible to buy properly brought up & educated horses as happy hackers, it's near impossible if you want to find one compete.

I think it's partly because traditional methods were actually best and 'specialists' used to break in and bring on youngsters, they would ride them away and give them an education which resulted in sane, calm horses. Now everyone thinks they can educate a young horse and they do so by experimenting with lots of methods, confusing themselves and the horses.

I also think it's because we have had no loyalty to traditional hunter types, either IDxTB or native/cob crosses. instead the market has been deluged with poor quality (often stupid) warmbloods who have had an iffy upbringing and are as often as not unsound.

A final nail in the coffin I think is the way horses spend all their time in an arena. It results in injury and boredon/stupidity.

It's bizarre, sensible horses used to be the norm. Now they are the exception.
 

Happy Hunter

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Completely Agree!

We struggled hugely with this when looking for a horse for Mum - She is a competent rider and horsewoman - But at the age of now 60, didnt want a 4 year old as she says "I dont bounce like I used to!"
We just wanted a low level what I would call 'Riding Club Horse' - nothing fancy, we wouldnt have minded a few scars, just needed to hack alone in company and occasionally jump the odd 2' log with me during the summer!

In the end we pumped for a calm 4 yr old Cleveland Bay - I'm putting in the backing work, riding it away and maybe after a year of 'experience' Mum can take her on.

Sure, we found the odd horse that would do this for sale - But they were either 18-20 years plus, or 12k!!!

I think the trend for everyone to own the next Totilas or be the next John Whitaker has made people loose sight of the simple joy of being able to 'explore' the countryside! I think the trend in general leans toward a larger 'issue' of less and less people actually living in the countryside - I mean actually understanding the countryside, and truely appreciating it. That and less and less people hunting!!! (mind you some of those Hunter horses are the biggest nut jobs out there when not hunting!)
 
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horseless jorge!

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We have four happy hackers at our yard! :p Needless to say, Sam is not one of them.

One is now sadly retired through old age, one is a happy hacker only after years and years of work from being such a horrible mare, and the other two are were bought as general happy hackers bought like that. Lovely animals, that literally go out twice or three times a week, and the rest of the time they just relax in the field.

I could ask where they were bought from?
 

MerrySherryRider

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You have a point. My passion is in having sane, tough as old boots, healthy and happy horses who enjoy work. With mine, for their first year of ridden life, time spent in the school is minimal, mostly, they learn to enjoy getting out and about, learning to carry themselves with a rider over all sorts of terrain and to be able to cope with all traffic, bouncy castles, balloons in trees, building sites, riding in wind and rain without complaint.
They will learn to be ridden by a few different people and not worry about the rider twisting about, hanging off them to open gates, taking a coat off or opening an OS map.
I want them to be anyones ride, uncomplicated and straightforward. To mature mentally and physically so that they are ready to begin work in whatever direction they are most suited.
Then, if ever they are sold, or later become retired from competition, they will be useful as a hack for any level of rider. Its kind of their insurance for the future.
Quirky horses maybe great when they are in their prime, but options are limited for them as veterns. Happy hackers are so often the poor relations of the horse world, but a bombproof horse and rider have a longer shelf life. In terms of horse welfare, thats got to be worth something.
 

Time Tells

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You have a point. My passion is in having sane, tough as old boots, healthy and happy horses who enjoy work. With mine, for their first year of ridden life, time spent in the school is minimal, mostly, they learn to enjoy getting out and about, learning to carry themselves with a rider over all sorts of terrain and to be able to cope with all traffic, bouncy castles, balloons in trees, building sites, riding in wind and rain without complaint.
They will learn to be ridden by a few different people and not worry about the rider twisting about, hanging off them to open gates, taking a coat off or opening an OS map.
I want them to be anyones ride, uncomplicated and straightforward. To mature mentally and physically so that they are ready to begin work in whatever direction they are most suited.
Then, if ever they are sold, or later become retired from competition, they will be useful as a hack for any level of rider. Its kind of their insurance for the future.
Quirky horses maybe great when they are in their prime, but options are limited for them as veterns. Happy hackers are so often the poor relations of the horse world, but a bombproof horse and rider have a longer shelf life. In terms of horse welfare, thats got to be worth something.

Well Done! What a true horsewoman, this is how all horses should be raised. For the GOOD of the horse. Bring back these values!!!!

Sell me one of your horses...pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
 

horseless jorge!

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You have a point. My passion is in having sane, tough as old boots, healthy and happy horses who enjoy work. With mine, for their first year of ridden life, time spent in the school is minimal, mostly, they learn to enjoy getting out and about, learning to carry themselves with a rider over all sorts of terrain and to be able to cope with all traffic, bouncy castles, balloons in trees, building sites, riding in wind and rain without complaint.
They will learn to be ridden by a few different people and not worry about the rider twisting about, hanging off them to open gates, taking a coat off or opening an OS map.
I want them to be anyones ride, uncomplicated and straightforward. To mature mentally and physically so that they are ready to begin work in whatever direction they are most suited.
Then, if ever they are sold, or later become retired from competition, they will be useful as a hack for any level of rider. Its kind of their insurance for the future.
Quirky horses maybe great when they are in their prime, but options are limited for them as veterns. Happy hackers are so often the poor relations of the horse world, but a bombproof horse and rider have a longer shelf life. In terms of horse welfare, thats got to be worth something.

If I ever breed a young 'un, you can back it and start it!! :p
 

figgy

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Hi all, I have a newly backed 4 year old that all im doing is hacking, first he went in company as roads very busy double decker buses, motor bikes, tractors lots more,we was hacking past house when man started to cut grass my friend was shouting at man to stop but he couldnt hear and i want my horse to get used to all these things, in 4 months we are now hacking alone, and i know that what ever comes past us he will be fine. only had him a year. he is the best boy ever , hack hack hack horse of a life time. xx
 

Gorgeous George

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I am so so so lucky to have one of those gold dust horses :) he is currently 11 and so far we have done unaff and aff prelim dressage, SJ, eventer trials, arena xc, hunter trials, ODE. Ok so it's not to any great standard :D, but we do win rosettes and have fun :)

The best bit of course is that he hacks alone or in company, generally doesn't spook or do anything silly and is a saint in traffic and fairly forward going and that is worth it's weight in gold.

I'm competitive to a certain extent and love going to comps, but I also love hacking and finding new routes to explore so I totally see where you're coming from.
 

Azura

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People treat you differently if you have no interest in competing.

A few of the liveries at my yard compete (all low level and hardly get placed) and they are in their own little ''i know EVERYTHINg about horses because I've got a rosette'' clique. Two of the girls struggle to handle their 'competition' horses on the ground because they are ''riggy'' (they arent, they just dont respect the person who turns up to a ready tacked horse, jumps on, schools for about an hour an then hands it back to ''the staff''), my enemy's horse is really stubborn and bolshy and nappy, but she confuses this with being ''well bred'' and she thinks she is an amazing rider to be able to handle him (in a gag!) and the other girls horse could complete any event course riderless. i have exersized him on many occasions and he is just brain dead, point and go. Really boring but the owner thinks this makes her a really good rider.

But I dont know anything because i just ride a (well schooled, bomb proof, out 24/7, beutifully mannered) happy hacker . And i dont even OWN him!!!!!!!!!!!

He could compete, he has a lovely big stride and a lovely flowing canter, and loves to jump, but i dont have the funds or the interest. And as long as hes got a haynet hes is heaven.
 

hessy12

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I applaud these posts, what a great thread.

I've actually given up trying to find a new horse; all the ones I have tried have been basically unsafe, and I've been riding all my life (hunt, SJ, XC, RC etc) and like the rest of you, these 'quirky' type horses / ponies back in the 1980's were definitely the exception, not the norm.

Most folk I know who have horses are too scared to ride them alone out for miles and hours like I do on my gelding. Most of them leave them in the stable for hours and then wonder 'why is my horse so lively?'?
I will add to this mix by saying that every single horse I've viewed to look to buy has been absolutely NOTHING like it was described.

Hack alone? No chance, it won't leave the yard. Seen hounds? Errr, went bonkers and reared up, like had never met a dog let alone a pack of hounds.

So my search for a new horse goes on, but I am NOT lowering my standards to take on something that is basically nuts. At 39 with children I no longer relish that type of ride. I can handle a horse having a look and shying; I can handle a spin no problem, most horses do this. I'm just not willing to put up with rearing, bucking, won't go alone or in traffic and won't hunt.
Hacking is a joy and should not be a battle between you and your horse. 'Normal' horses love hacking, I guess that's why we call them happy hackers!
 

Bennions Field

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i've got one :) !!! he's even a TB x welsh cob to boot! i brought him locally for very little as an unbroken just turned 3 year old, backed him myself just as he turned 4 as he needed time to grow and mature, and total he's done about 6-8 hours in the menage since being broken in, the rest of the time he's just hacked out alone from day 1. he's naturally lazy so is very quite to ride, he's very happy to ride across fields / round lanes etc all on a very loose contact and a very relaxed rider ! i still pinch myself every time i ride him, he can be left for 2-3 weeks and then just pop the saddle on and he's just the same as before.

I know where you are all comming from as to be honest i've had the last 16 years with a nutty WB, who if he didnt buck you off would roll on you given half the chance :(!!!!! and spent many a time on the floor with some really badly bruised backs/legs/arms/head etc. i spent god knows how much on lessons/specialist checks on back and tack and got no where ! he had colic surgery 3 years ago now and i used it as a good excuse to retire him :) thankfully i have the resources/ room to let him spend the rest of his years enjoying his retirement with his 28 year old mother :)

they are out there, but just can take some finding - sorry but Bugsy the TB/cob is not likely to be for sale for the forseable future :)
 

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I did not want to high jack this post, so I have created a new thread named

Happy Hackers are 2nd class riders with no brain. This is because a friend of mine had a run in with an event rider, who felt she was just that, A 2nd class rider.

I am speechless that many fellow riders and horse lovers look down on those riders who merely enjoy riding without being competative!
 

Syrah

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It also makes you thankful when you have got a sane, sensible horse to ride.

Mine might be a plonker occasionally on the ground, but she's worth her weight in gold ridden - she's anyone's ride, hacks alone and in company, is green in the schooling department but is coming along nicely, isn't a nutter if she isn't ridden for a few days, but will do well at RC events, turn her hand to anything and looks as though she'll do very well at stressage.

The next time I threaten to sell her because of one of her plonker moments, I'll let you know :D
 

Little Squirrel

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This is a great thread and so true. I have young ID horses which I break for a breeder and also train pointers. The ID's are all big 3yo unhandled brutes when they come to me but they then get lots of groundwork are backed and then ridden on my terms. By this I mean they must hack out on their own and I should be able to ignite bombs on them by the time they go home. They all have to learn to stand untill asked otherwise. Not one of them have ever napped by the time the ridden stage comes along and I think this is due to the miles of long reigning they get, I even long reign over ditches and up and down banks. I try not to let them buck when they first have tack on, hence they never learn to buck with a rider.
I also beleive to let a horse be a horse, I go round woods on "mystery tours" as they are called around here, keeping off any paths and making my own way. Logs, trees, streams, banks and ditches are great to get a young horses mind working and let them realise they have four legs. All the horses enjoy their time here as they do something different every day. They leave as safe and happy horses.
 

SophieLouBee

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All of my horses hack, and all of the ones I produce, both for myself, and other people hack too.

Before anything leaves my yard, it must hack, it must school well in all three paces, it must either be working towards an outline, or already working in one, and it must be able to jump a mixed course of fences according to its height.

I'd be embarrassed if I sent anything back to a client if it couldn't at least do the above, and I wouldn't even bother putting it on the market if I was trying to sell it! All my young horses are produced to be allrounders, and then they can go off and pursue whatever sphere with a new owner, and obviously if a client wants the horse to do a particular job, they tell me and we focus more on certain aspects of the horses education more than others.

On the other hand, there has to be horses that are produced to do a specific job, and do that job above any other, very well, because some people wan't to compete and nothing else. To a lot of serious competition people, it doesn't matter if it doesn't hack or is generally a bit nutty, as long as it is talented enough to do the job they want it to do very well.

The day of the true 'all-rounder' does seem to be dwindling to some degree though....
 

ladyt25

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My sister and I have discussed this many times. We have always hacked out since we were little kids and you wouldn't expect a pony/horse not to. It never even crossed my mind that the pony may not go out on their own or may be scared of anything, they just weren't and i suppose you ride them with the attitude of not thinking about what 'may' happen!

Also I remember when we used to go try horses with a view to buy, there were only a handful of these that there were facilities to ride it in a school. You either tried it out in a field or out on the roads or maybe went for a hack. i think the times have changed - yards seem to have an arena as the norm as they have to to satisfy customers' needs. People school, school and school and that's it. Many are scared to hack out because of the what ifs and horses then do not get the experience and therefore IF they ever do get taken out they panic and develop vices (rearing, nappinh etc etc) and then the rider is even more scared so doesn't do it again!

I got my horse as a 4 yo and didn't even think about not taking him out on his own, i jst did it! He competed BSJA to NC along with doing PC area teams for several years plus ODEs, XC etc but the main stuff he does is hacking out. From the age of 4 he has been hacked by me and my mum who maybe is not the most balanced rider although has ridden since I was little. I would put any one on my horse to hack to be honest. yes he can spook but not in a major way, it's just him.

i bought a youngster last year, he's 2 now and I will start sitting on him next spring/summer and the first 'work' he will do is hacking out. I think it is sooo important!
 

minkymoo

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I hate being thought of as 'crap' because I 'just' like hacking - as in my sig - Hacking is not for wimps.

I am thinking of setting up a specialist website actually... I'll let you know how I get on.

:D
 
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cbmcts

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I do agree with all of you but remember that the roads are so much busier than they were in 'the good ol days'...in many places it is difficult to find safe, quiet circular routes that you need to road train a just backed horse so horses generally get less exposure to traffic and are much more at risk of a scary incident.

Also how horses are managed now is hugely different. When I was a kid (a fair few years ago!) youngsters were left out until they were 3 and in the autumn of their third year would be brought in to an intensive course of work for 4 - 6 weeks then turned away till Spring. There was no question that youngsters would be kept in for 20+ hours in winter or on busy livery yards which IMHO can teach them some horrendously bad habits through stress, boredom or a variable quality of handling. The lack of turnout in many yards isn't conducive to have a sane, safe riding horse in many cases either...
 

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I bought my mare when she was a just backed 3 year old. She is 6 now and is an absolute diamond in traffic. It wasn't always the case, but long reining her round the farm and standing at the end of the driveway as a variety of traffic whizzed past, did her a world of good.

The yard I was on at the time didn't have any hackers on it, so when we were ready to hack, we were on our own.

Yes, she has had wobbly moments and I've had to give her the confidence to go forward and now she isn't fazed by anything.

I am incredibly proud that I can ride her where I want, when I want and not have to overly worry about whether I'm going to get back in one piece or not.

She also does a reasonable dressage test and has a nice little pop at her :).
 

Azura

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If a horse can be as disciplined as a Happy Hacker THEN maybe, it is ready to compete ;)

You would think wouldnt you.:rolleyes:

When one of the ''comp club'' first came to the yard i offered to show her all the nice hacks around the yard. She just looked down at me and said 'no, WE dont HACK!'

I know why now, she should have said 'no, we CANT hack'!

I love being able to take off on a sunny evening for an hour or two without neeing to tell twenty people my ETA and where exactly im going and have to chain myself to a lead horse.
 

Apercrumbie

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Very true. I think it's mostly due to the fact that arenas are becoming more and more common so people are no longer forced to hack if they want to excercise their horse. It's certainly understandable with youngsters - you can feel much safer in an enclosed arena than in a field or on the road. There is no doubt that it takes a lot of work to produce a good hacking horse and it's a shame that fewer people do it nowadays. The horses I know that hack out a lot are more relaxed, better mannered and generally happier horses than the ones I know that don't.
 

Kadastorm

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I agree that many horses are not hacked regularly and spend more time training for one discipline.
At our yard, as soon as they are ready, we take our youngsters out and keep taking them. Even if we feel one is struggling with the breaking process, we get them on a slow hack with our older horses and they are fine.
ours have dogs, cats, chickens,ducks, cars, tractors and screaming kids to deal with at the yard so a nice hack out is time for them to relax. Yeah they may spook at the odd thing here and there but none of ours rear and some who can buck rarely do, they all are taught to go anywhere in a ride and ride and lead.
They also all do a nice dressage test and jump/ show/ xc.

Ours are happy as they get variety, problems are dealt with straight away and they arent stuck on the yard all the time. But we are lucky, we dont have many busy roads close by so we can gradually introduce busier and scarier roads, a luxury many do not have.

Maybe you should come see a couple of ours we have for sale ;)
 
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I completely agree with the OP!

So many people look down on Happy Hackers as if they are 'just' hacking because they are not capable of doing anything else. However, this is most often far from the case and a Happy Hacker is NEVER 'just' a Happy Hacker. It takes great skill and bravery to ride out on the roads these days, especially with the many idiots which are now on the roads. Also, just as there is an art to jumping a combination fence in Show Jumping and to performing a perfect medium trot, there is an art to opening a gate and controlling a spooky horse.

It shocks me to see just how many people don't hack out! All of my horses do hacking as the majority of their workload. I think hacking is great for teaching a horse to go forwards naturally rather than nagging them for hours on end in the school and making them even more bored! It is also fantastic for young horses as it helps them to see lots of things and gain more experience which in turn helps them to become more confident. Also, it is fantastic fitness work and teaches a horse to be more careful (when crossing rutted ground) which will in turn help when training a horse for Cross Country, for example. It will prevent a horse from becoming 'stale' and also help to stimulate them mentally.

I've had all of my horses since they were youngsters. I have hacked them out from the beginning (both on their own and in company, on roads and along bridleways) and I am proud to say that I could not take any of them anywhere. They have also been schooled, and are now fantastic all rounders... generally the sort which are hard to find! I have just sold one, who was snapped up within the first week because she is so honest and genuine and even though she is still green she has gained a lot of experience through hacking both alone and in company and this will help with any further training the owner wishes to do with her.

Sorry to ramble on, this is just a subject I feel strongly about!
 

flowerlady

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Friends and I have had this self same discussion. Not only is it impossible to buy properly brought up & educated horses as happy hackers, it's near impossible if you want to find one compete.

I think it's partly because traditional methods were actually best and 'specialists' used to break in and bring on youngsters, they would ride them away and give them an education which resulted in sane, calm horses. Now everyone thinks they can educate a young horse and they do so by experimenting with lots of methods, confusing themselves and the horses.

I also think it's because we have had no loyalty to traditional hunter types, either IDxTB or native/cob crosses. instead the market has been deluged with poor quality (often stupid) warmbloods who have had an iffy upbringing and are as often as not unsound.

A final nail in the coffin I think is the way horses spend all their time in an arena. It results in injury and boredon/stupidity.

It's bizarre, sensible horses used to be the norm. Now they are the exception.

Totally this ^^^^ to me people who ride out are alot better riders that the arena riders they have more horse sense.
 

jellyshark

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keep seeing these posts and yet I have for sale and am struggling to sell a really lovely horse will hack alone or in company and is very sane and safe she is also good at dressage, SJ and XCountry and - unfortunatly she has a scar on her hind cannon bone caused by a barbed wire fence some 4 years ago. The people that are looking seem to want perfection over performance!:confused:
 
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