Selling a horse because he is too good?

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star12

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Anyone else done this?? I am so confused over what to do with the new horse i brought.... only had him 8 months and love him to pieces but hes just too good! I tend to like a horse that is a little sharp and bouncy, so went out to find a younger version of my older boy. But instead i found the sweetest good natured ex racer that is just simply a dude... has been hunting, flatwork coming along lovely, started his jumping and proving to brave and careful, hacks out alone or in company and has been hacked out by novices. I have a fab bond with him, and really am fond of him.... so why do i wish he would overreact at the man eating dock leaf, fall on the floor at the sight of a plastic bag, think the world is ending when it suddenly starts raining.. :P

^^^ I feel guilty wishing he was quirky in some way as he really is the "dream horse" i just wish he was my dream horse. Sigh. Don't want to sell him and regret it though. What do you think??

So after all that rambling..... have any of you sold a horse because it is too good and not enough of a challenge? Share your stories with me please!
 
yes- I usually buy 3/4 year olds, break them and ride for a couple of years, then they can do everything- hack, jump, dresg to prelim, perfect manners- and Im bored so sell and get a new one to break...... always keep in touch with owners though
 
I haven't actually sold a horse for being 'too good' but I totally understand where you're coming from. The most fun I have with my boy is when he's on his toes and bouncing all over the show. Let's face it, when he's like that it's the only time I'm ever going to get piaffe, passage and a lovely collected canter. LOL
 
stormox said:
yes- I usually buy 3/4 year olds, break them and ride for a couple of years, then they can do everything- hack, jump, dresg to prelim, perfect manners- and Im bored so sell and get a new one to break...... always keep in touch with owners though
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Think thats what im thinking , hes just been exceptionally straightforward and not enough of a project to keep me busy for 2 years! Although i will start getting him ocompetitively in the next few months but i really doubt that will provide a challenge!
 
Deltaflyer said:
I haven't actually sold a horse for being 'too good' but I totally understand where you're coming from. The most fun I have with my boy is when he's on his toes and bouncing all over the show. Let's face it, when he's like that it's the only time I'm ever going to get piaffe, passage and a lovely collected canter. LOL
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Completely agree with you!
 
I did, it was the biggest mistake of my life, sold my 17 2hh ex racer because he was so well schooled and I am self taught, I didn't think I could do him justice, he went to a competition home, got weekly reports on how he was doing, all seemed fine, it was only after he had been gifted back to me after two years, that I found out from others on his yard that he had been stood in the field for most of it and done very little, found a rider for him and he came home, I now ride him and he doesn't put a foot wrong
 
I've never sold a horse for being too good but I can see where you're coming from! Both of my two are quirky so I'm never bored when riding them, but I've ridden some horses who have just been so perfect I was bored! I like riding something with a bit of sparkle. :D
 
I did and have never regretted it. My 1st horse was 6 but needed schooling and after 2 years he was doing everything I asked and I was bored. Riding him was no longer any fun for me. My current horse crossed my path about this time so I bought him and sold the 1st one to my best friend. My current horse is opinionated, domineering, difficult, bolshie, always challenging.
 
star12 said:
Completely agree with you!
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Deltaflyer said:
I haven't actually sold a horse for being 'too good' but I totally understand where you're coming from. The most fun I have with my boy is when he's on his toes and bouncing all over the show. Let's face it, when he's like that it's the only time I'm ever going to get piaffe, passage and a lovely collected canter. LOL
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Haha yes this. I have two both each ends of the scale. If I had to give up one it prob would be the 'good' one, I like being tested, I like the spark. It keeps me active and engaged as a rider.
Saying that I got the good one as wanted some easy riding!
I'm so contradictory!
 
No. To get to that point is a pleasure and there is always something else to achieve. I don't like badly behaved horses and everything I've bought has learnt to behave impeccably. That's how I want them.
 
Deltaflyer said:
I haven't actually sold a horse for being 'too good' but I totally understand where you're coming from. The most fun I have with my boy is when he's on his toes and bouncing all over the show. Let's face it, when he's like that it's the only time I'm ever going to get piaffe, passage and a lovely collected canter. LOL
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blowsbubbles said:
Haha yes this. I have two both each ends of the scale. If I had to give up one it prob would be the 'good' one, I like being tested, I like the spark. It keeps me active and engaged as a rider.
Saying that I got the good one as wanted some easy riding!
I'm so contradictory!
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Haha this is how i am! I have my older loon and the good as gold 6 year old! my older boy is my horse of a life time, so the only way to take on a new project with the aim of being my next competition horse, would be to sell the good one! .... wish i could just add another one in to the gang but not enough hours in the day to keep 3 in full ridden work!
 
Deltaflyer said:
I haven't actually sold a horse for being 'too good' but I totally understand where you're coming from. The most fun I have with my boy is when he's on his toes and bouncing all over the show. Let's face it, when he's like that it's the only time I'm ever going to get piaffe, passage and a lovely collected canter. LOL
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Hahaha! Would totally have to agree with you! I have the most laid back chap ever... And oh what excellent fun when you end up with the most floaty extended trot and a canter that feels like you riding a coil!
 
I put my old mare out on loan and eventually sold her to her loaner because she was so easy... Honestly I was bored! When I'm being bounced around everywhere and dragged by her daughter I do sometimes thinks I was daft to part with her mum!

But I did the right thing. The mare went to a true family home where she does a bit of everything and can trusted with the tiniest tot.

And my mare keeps me smiling and entertained with her antics.
 
Deltaflyer said:
I haven't actually sold a horse for being 'too good' but I totally understand where you're coming from. The most fun I have with my boy is when he's on his toes and bouncing all over the show. Let's face it, when he's like that it's the only time I'm ever going to get piaffe, passage and a lovely collected canter. LOL
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FfionWinnie said:
No. To get to that point is a pleasure and there is always something else to achieve. I don't like badly behaved horses and everything I've bought has learnt to behave impeccably. That's how I want them.
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dollymix said:
I put my old mare out on loan and eventually sold her to her loaner because she was so easy... Honestly I was bored! When I'm being bounced around everywhere and dragged by her daughter I do sometimes thinks I was daft to part with her mum!

But I did the right thing. The mare went to a true family home where she does a bit of everything and can trusted with the tiniest tot.

And my mare keeps me smiling and entertained with her antics.
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Thank you for The replies!! Glad i aren't crazy after all :P
 
I think it depends what you like. My friend loves her tb cos its permanently on its toes and quite often bolts or bucks her off which she actually quite likes! My girl is 20, never puts a foot wrong and its just what I need. I am still experiencing new things with her but know how she will react and that suits me totally. Horses for courses as they say.....
 
star12 said:
Anyone else done this?? I am so confused over what to do with the new horse i brought.... only had him 8 months and love him to pieces but hes just too good! I tend to like a horse that is a little sharp and bouncy, so went out to find a younger version of my older boy. But instead i found the sweetest good natured ex racer that is just simply a dude... has been hunting, flatwork coming along lovely, started his jumping and proving to brave and careful, hacks out alone or in company and has been hacked out by novices. I have a fab bond with him, and really am fond of him.... so why do i wish he would overreact at the man eating dock leaf, fall on the floor at the sight of a plastic bag, think the world is ending when it suddenly starts raining.. :P

^^^ I feel guilty wishing he was quirky in some way as he really is the "dream horse" i just wish he was my dream horse. Sigh. Don't want to sell him and regret it though. What do you think??

So after all that rambling..... have any of you sold a horse because it is too good and not enough of a challenge? Share your stories with me please!
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He sounds lovely, personally I think your mad but then thats because he sounds like the kind of horse I want. Swap for a slightly quirky chesnut mare :p
 
star12 said:
Haha this is how i am! I have my older loon and the good as gold 6 year old! my older boy is my horse of a life time, so the only way to take on a new project with the aim of being my next competition horse, would be to sell the good one! .... wish i could just add another one in to the gang but not enough hours in the day to keep 3 in full ridden work!
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This is exactly what I am going through at the minute, even down to the older loon horse of a lifetime! Its so hard as have brought the good one on from a baby and he is just unfazed by anything and very laid back and easy!.

Feel a bit guilty/silly as I'm sure someone out there would really appreciate how calm he is instead of me keep trying to "spark" him up, and then all we get is a few steps of jog and a head shake!.

Saying that I have been glad to have him to ride recently as have been a bit poorly, sometimes its nice to know you wont get pulled/bounced around!
 
No, and if I did I would be setting myself bigger and better goals, see how far we could push ourselves. I understand the challenge of green youngsters as I've done a lot of that, but I'm now at a point where I want to improve myself to see what I'm capable of, which is much easier done on a straightforward horse
 
taraj said:
This is exactly what I am going through at the minute, even down to the older loon horse of a lifetime! Its so hard as have brought the good one on from a baby and he is just unfazed by anything and very laid back and easy!.

Feel a bit guilty/silly as I'm sure someone out there would really appreciate how calm he is instead of me keep trying to "spark" him up, and then all we get is a few steps of jog and a head shake!.

Saying that I have been glad to have him to ride recently as have been a bit poorly, sometimes its nice to know you wont get pulled/bounced around!
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Think we are in an identical situation!! Taraj have you decided what you are going to do with your youngster then? I can't help feel guilty just for posting this thread!
 
ridefast said:
No, and if I did I would be setting myself bigger and better goals, see how far we could push ourselves. I understand the challenge of green youngsters as I've done a lot of that, but I'm now at a point where I want to improve myself to see what I'm capable of, which is much easier done on a straightforward horse
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I do agree, hence why i am going to keep having fun with him and learning new things from him until i decide what i am going to do with him. :)
 
star12 said:
Think we are in an identical situation!! Taraj have you decided what you are going to do with your youngster then? I can't help feel guilty just for posting this thread!
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I think I am going to see what happens in the spring, he may have an energy spurt! In a way it is nice to have a sensible horse. I can take him out anywhere (competing or just hacking) and know he isn't going to be silly. My 2 boys can wonder around the school on him or bring him in from the field. I trust him more than their pony or the older one I have had for 9 years!

Then again some very lazy days it would be easier for me to tie him up run around the school myself, and I wish I had a more forward going horse!


I think that if a nice home was to come up I would part with him, but not sure I could, its very hard!
 
I think that is a good way to look at things! I was just looking at photos of my boy and he has physically matured so much these last 3 months and us gaining proper muscle coverage. Think i have been forgetting that he isnt even 6 yet and at 17hh he has a lot of growing left to do.
 
Same age as my lad, mine has grown from 15.1 last winter to nearly 16hh this year. Talking to an instructor the other day and she said the same thing, give him more time to mature and become more balanced and confident in his work. Especially yours being so big, they take longer!.
 
Wow! That is a lot of growing! I can feel he is already stronger in his ridden work now he has some actual muscle and is starting to become nice and expressive in his flatwork so fingers crossed i will see a difference as he matures :( thank you
 
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