Should I be suspicious or am I 'wasting' my horse...

Cop-Pop

Cop-Pop

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As a little backgroud: I bought my horse from some dealers when she was two. She was in terrible condition (the vet gave her a condition score of 1.5), had lice, very bad feet and was terrified of humans. The vet said she would never be able to be ridden but she was so sad I spent all my money and then some bringing her back to health.
Four years later and I can ride her
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The thing is - I spent a lot of money on vets bills, farrier, back person etc. As I didn't think I would ever ride her I didn't think about training or anything and due to her health problems she had a very slow start.
The thing is now she is healthy and I've got some money again I'm starting to have lessons with other instructors (YO has been teaching us for the last 18 months). I've been to two of them so far and they have both said the same thing - she has lovely paces and would make a lovely dressage horse and that she's wasted being used by me in the school for schooling and light jumping (can't hack out due to car accident). They have both offered to take her on and compete her for me...
I am aiming to start competing her myself this summer (transport permitting) but they are both insistant that she will do better with them. Now either I'm a worse rider than I thought or they are taking the pee and want to ride her because she could be good... Is this normal? I haven't really had much to do with instructors before so am now worried I'm wasting her
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Sorry if I rambled - have eaten rather a lot of chocolate
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Lindt bunnies if you got this far!!
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So you rescued the horse when no-one wanted it, spent lots of time and money caring for her and have made her into a nice little horse and now someone else wants the fun part??!!

Keep her and enjoy her, you deserve it!! Horses don't know that they have potential; she will be none the wiser.
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A horse is never wasted if it is doing what you want to do with it.
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Take it as a complement that they want to compete her (they obviously see potential), but is your potential to tap into as you progress together. Good luck.
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Again i agree with April, YO etc want to benefit from your hard work. If you want you horse to go far but don't want to get her there yourself then take one of them up on there offer. However, i think you should stick to you original plan and aim to compete her yourself and find another trainer that won't try to steal your thunder at the first oppertunity!
 
Well Done Zalacca and your YO

If you have bought her on from nothing to get her to this stage then the credit is all yours. If you want to do dressage then get a dressage instructor and keep at it in the first stages it should be just for fun. You go for it and take the credit you deserve you should be really proud to have got her to the stage that other people want to have her to compete. You just do what you are both happy with and enjoy.
 
I totally agree with everyone. Good on you for saving the horse, what a commitment you have made so you deserve to enjoy all the benefits. I wish you loads of luck and I hope you have loads of fun competing xx
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The horse doesn't care and you are both happy. Tell them where to get off - literally. Why should they use your happy friend as their next competition vehicle? (I know that sounds strong, but trying to illustrate a completely opposite point of view).
 
I agree with everyone else. You took on what can only be described as 'a hopeless case' & through commitment, love & a load of your own money have turned things around & your horse has come good. The emphasis on this is YOUR HORSE. You have worked hard & have proved the vet wrong & she is now rideable & capable of doing well. Now is the time for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Keep having lessons so both you & your horse get better & you compete if you want to.,....don't get pressured. Competing isn't everything.

Your instructor & YO should understand your feelings that you want to ride her after all the trouble & hardship you've both been through. Good Luck & enjoy, it's what it's all about!
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Get yourself a dressage instructor and do it yourself!!! It'll be a great project and you'll have loads of fun.

If you want some suggestions PM me as I'm not too far from you and could suggest some names. But you live in the heart of 'dressage country' so you're not going to struggle to find someone to help you!
 
Tell them to bu**er off, and get yourself an instructor who will teach YOU how to get the best from your horse, and not bleat about how much better they are.
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How rude!

xxx
 
Well done for giving this horse health and happy life.

The horse will honestly not care if it never does a dressage test, and every horse has the potential to do this at lower levels.

Maybe you could ask one of these instructors to school your horse for you, and watch how they work, so that they can help you and the horse reach your potential together, if that is what you want to do.
 
I agree with the instructors.
Novices/amateurs shouldn't be allowed to continue owning any horse which a professional rider could compete.
I used to do a bit of teaching myself - and would go to shows and competitions with my clients - not to support them, you understand - but to knock them off the horse so I could ride.
Obviously I wouldn't do this if the horse were misbehaving - as clients are much better utilised as crash test dummies than my valuable self.
Hope this helps
S
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I also think your horse has come right because you have taken things slowly. If you hand it over to someone else things could be rushed and problems could arise. If something were to go wrong in someone elses hands, all of your work, money, time etc would have been for nothing. If I was in that situation I know I would be devastated. I know i wouldnt want to risk it with the history you have described. (Not really advice- more my own opinion!)

Just enjoy yourself with your horse and dont worry about her not reaching her potential. She has clearly gone a lot further already than anyone though she would due to your patience.
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Shilasdair - LOL!

Seriously, no, you should keep her for yourself. I would also suspect that with the background she has, maybe your horse wouldn't be prepared to cooperate for anyone else. It sounds like the two of you have a great bond. Well done for taking on a "hopeless case" and making her into what she is today. Go for it, and do whatever you and she feel happy doing, not what other people tell you you should be doing...
 
Thanks everyone - I called both instructors this morning and said I would be staying with YO for the time being. YO's best friend is currently riding at medium level so she is going to come over once a month and give us a lesson and we'll see how it goes! I wish we could hack out but that doesn't look like it's going to happen
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After all you have done for her I am sure she trusts you and if she's got the potential why shouldn't you compete and enjoy her yourself. After her problems I would presume you will work your way up from Prelim whereas they may start at a higher level and put pressure on her. Keep having you lessons and do what you want - she's oblivious to her potential
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