Talented horse - too much so - do I keep?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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~Well after 2 and a half years I have finally found all the buttons with my ex racer - between his time out of racing being allowed to be a horse, a steady and consistant routine and loads of injuries - yes he is one of those tb's that cuts himself on a blade of grass ! we have finally found a place I have only ever imagined.

We have been taking his schooling very slow and it would appear that he has read every book about the way of going he could have. The contact is light and elastic, he collects and lengthens just from a breath from your seat and legs, we had two strides of almost passage (sp) or is it piaffe - i never dreamed of these moves so that why i dont know ! He rides bigger than my 17hh warmblood and yesterday the front came up and lightened and boy did that tb bum move us across the ground - we even got flicky toes -and he loves it - he gets this look at me feel and does he show off.

Yesterday, the leg yeilds were to die for and it is all at this rhtymic relaxed level. My instructor wants to buy him off me, and is pushing me to get out and show him off - but I am scared of a- pushing him to far to quickly and b- will I stop appreciating just how good he is as i know it sounds daft but I dont have to work for any of this - it just happens.

I do stop in our lesson sessions, long rein, pat, polo and do something easy just to make sure we are not frying his brain, but between me and the horse and the instructor - we have just all clicked - I do make sure that we cover all the basics at the start of each lesson - because he is such a quick learner it would be easy to miss some gaps as he tries so hard to please.

Advice please - where do I go to make sure i dont make mistakes with this horse of a lifetime.
 
Well I am very envious of you, and would advise that you keep him and get out there and start competing. Even if you don't want to compete, I would still keep him and just enjoy the training. You will regret it if you sell him as this type of horse is very very rare. Lucky you!
 
If you are enjoying him then hang on to him! It doesn't matter if you have no desire to go and compete Prix St George. The important thing is that you and he are having fun together.

PS. Flicking toes isn't technically correct as the horse is throwing his leg forward rather than reaching through but it does look flashy and pretty!
 
If your enjoying him then just carry on as you are! :)

Only people see potential, horses don't. They don't think that they are so amazing and should be out competing , its people who think that. All they seem to think is where the next feed is coming from! So as long as your happy and the horse is there isn't any damage in just enjoying him.
 
DONT SELL HIM!!! you will regret it -i did exactly this thinking my superstar was wasted with me and regret it every day! have you thought its because this horse loves you that he does all of this for you? you have shown him love and he is repaying you for it -enjoy how special your relationship is and ride him with a big smug grin on your face!!!:D:D:D:D
 
Keep him and enjoy him whatever that entails. If you are enjoying the training carry on there is no pressure to compete your enjoyment will be reflected onto him. He doesn't know that maybe he could do better with someone else or you should be doing this that or the other with him so enjoy the relationship you have.
 
Give yourself some credit. You did have to work at it - it didn't just happen. You made it happen over the years with time and patience maybe now it feels easy. If your instructor wants to make you an offer you couldn't refuse then consider it, if not keep him you deserve him. You have obviously done everything right with him till now so you could be right not to push him further for now but maybe someday you will feel he is ready.
 
From your post, everything shouts out that you are starting to enjoy him and really love him. You'll regret it if you sell in my opinion!!
If you get out there and compete, you do. If you don't you'll still enjoy the training. Very hard to find a horse that makes you feel the way you have described :)
Just carry on with how you are going, sounds brilliant
K x
 
Keep him, keep him, keep him

He's showing you how much he's enjoying his life with you - and that's what's important to him.

Just enjoy each other's company. Oh, and did I say 'keep him'..........
 
Keep him. I bought a youngster last year who has turned out to be amazingly talented. I have had moments where i thought he was too much for me but my trainer had him for a few weeks and he grew up a huge amount and it made him more rideable for me. She said he is going to be my horse of a lifetime and i will have an incredible partnership with him eventually.
All i want to do is event up to pre novice and i have people telling me he will easily do intermediate and would probably showjump to top level:eek::p:eek:
He is staying with me as he is such a lovely person and is a joy to have on the yard. I also know that if i sell him and someone i knew had him i would be gutted if i saw him out doing well.
Enjoy your horse for what you and he want to do. He doesnt know hes meant to be a superstar, he will just be glad of the love and partnership he has with you
 
I dont think I could part with him, we have been through so many times of thinking he will never be ridden again through one injury or another - and i have made some very cautious decisions over working him and it does seam to have paid off. I could not bear to see him with someone else as he would honestly work until he dropped and as I have said before it is so easy to push him too far because he is so willing.

He loves to be loved and will often rest his head over my shoulder whilst I am tying hay nets up, and will stand for hours with his head in my arms being "loved". He just seams to have grown up this last month - I have made mistakes with him in the past, so I suppose it has not always been plain sailing, but you forget that.

Thank you to eveyone whom has offered their support and advice. I just hope I can my little lad as proud of me as I am of him.

GW
x
 
Def keep him.
This is how I feel about my horse too and I nearly did sell him.
Good horses bring pressure but they needn't.
He is your special horse which you have put the effort in to. He is good as well because of your relationship.
Whatever you do or don't do why shouldn't you have something
nice?!
 
Keep him! Keep up the training, do a bit of competing and if you enjoy it start to do a bit more. He won't mind if he's not at a different competition every weekend so don't worry about wasting him as such.
 
As long as there is no other reason for you to sell (time/money) then keep him, he's obviously clicking with you.

If you would like him to compete then why not ask you instructor too. You could get all the pleasure of being the 'proud parent' without having to learn the test!:D

Either way well done
 
Why sell when everything is going well for you both, you've put the work in, your horse obviously enjoys the new career change and you as a rider/owner so enjoy him be it out competing or hacking about and schooling at home, he sounds lovely.
 
I gave my ex racer to a friend as he wanted to be an eventer. Although i evented i was never gonna be as good as him and felt i held him back. If you think you can do your horse justice and work hard keep him.
 
Keep him and enjoy him. I get fed up of the amount of people who say my horse is wasted with me as I don't want to compete and only ride when I want to. It usually means they want him for themselves lol. Go with your gut feeling, I did and I don't regret a minute of it.
 
If you're enjoying him and you feel like everythings clicked then hang onto him! I've had my ex-racer for over a year and we're doing great but he's hard work. After having weekly lessons I feel like I'm just starting on him. I'm green with envy that your's is doing so well, although you have had him longer.
You'd be mad to sell him on. It takes years to find a good partnership. Don't think you have to take him further because he has the potential. Even if you just want to continue with your lessons and hack out then do that. He'll not be bothered about competing. Enjoy your lovely horse and continue what you're doing, it sounds like a winning formula to me!
 
Your horse doesn't give a stuff about reaching his full potential, or whether or not he goes out and shows himself off. So do what you are comfortable with, at the pace you want to, and both of you be happy.
Oh, and definitely don't sell him!
 
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