Talented or Genuine? Which would you choose?

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Shrek-Eventing-SW

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Would you prefer a slightly less talented horse who would get you out of trouble and try to help you despite their lack of talent, or a horse that is as talented as any, but has a less workmanlike attitude and plays up on occasions?

Just a musing... Discuss, am very interested for opinions. :)
 
Depends on your level of riding I suppose. I would also say on the horses age and what your looking to do as well.

I prefer a genuine horse BUT I dont mind talent with issues either :)
 
Genuine, always.

I do this for fun, not for a career - I want to compete at a reasonable level but I don't need a world beater to do that. I'd rather have a nice horse that helps you out and wants to do the job any day of the week rather than a super talented horse that doesn't really want to play ball.
 
At this stage I'd probably choose genuine as I know there are still times when I don't ride perfectly to a fence so would always want a horse that will step in and help.
A horse that has the most scope in the world but has completely the wrong attitude is unlikely to be as successful as a more average horse that tries its heart out. Having said that the most scopey horses tend to work out their quirks by the time they are older, so maybe its a case of finding the right rider and a lot of patience!
Most horses tend to be able to jump 1.10m fairly easily (when the rider isn't hindering them that is! :rolleyes::D) so scope wouldn't be too much of an issue for me as I'm unlikely to ever event at Advanced (:eek:) I imagine scope might be a bit more of an issue for pure sj, or dressage, as eventers tend to be more allrounders so its really more about their attitude.
 
Genuine. My last few horses have been projects and it got to the stage with each of them that despite the massive amount of talent they had in their own ways that I wasn't having any fun. On the day I woke up in the tackroom having been unconscious for an hour I decided that genuine was the way to go.
 
Depends how much your willing to take from the horse,and what you want out of it. A horse will raw talent will go as far as you want it to as long as it stays in the right hands. A genuine horse will always be there and forgive your mistakes at a lower level,probably the best first step before getting something more raw and specific.
 
Genuine every time. I need as much help as possible from my saint of a horse, their talent would be wasted with me, his genuine nature is never forgotten/goes unoticed!!
 
Genuine every time, no matter how talented a horse is it doesn't want to do the job it's about as likely to jump around Badminton as a beach donkey.

I think there are a fair few hugely genuine horses out there competing at top level only because of their heart rather than their ability.
 
Genuine, always. I've had one that was talented but far too quirky/difficult..and it didn't end well really - I have learnt from my mistake!! I do what I do for fun, not a job...so I need to enjoy it so definitely genuine, everytime!

If I was competing to the highest levels then I'd probably change my mind...but for now, and at the level I am at/aim for...I don't need a ridiculously talented horse :)
 
genuine every single time!! Ive learnt this to my cost!!

I had a BEAUTIFUL tb previously who moved fab, had a fantastic jump but (depite every veterinary investigation and lessons with very good people) she simply didnt want to do the job.

I now have my lovely autumn who i bought at 4yo. A fairly well built coloured ISH (sooooo not my previous type at all and very much not what my mental 'image' of what an event horse should be. At 5yo she flew round the byeh classes at bramham, is currently flying round be100 and will go novice next year - all because she is so genuine and loves her job. I absolutely love her to pieces and we both have so much fun.

so yeah.....genuine EVERY time!!
 
Genuine, although I wouldnt have described the YP as genuine when I first got him although he is getting closer now but he has taught me a hell of a lot along the way. I'm no 4* rider and never will be so I dont need all that scope and would rather have some thing that I can have fun on and enjoy the day out with.
 
Gamebird said:
I've got one of each and I change my mind depending on which one I'm sitting on at the time!
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That's exactly how I feel. I have 1 of each. I love it when I'm sat on the talented one and he gives me a great feeling around a course, then I get on the more genuine one who knocks a pole or two down.

But then the other way around, when the genuine one gets me out of trouble when I put her in a tricky spot whereas the talented one goes "umm no, I'd rather not thanks," and throws in a dirty stop or nap.
 
Fantastic quote in last weeks Horse and Hound mag, WFP to Sinead Halpin when she was looking for a 4* horse; ' buy a horse you enjoy riding not one you've got to learn to ride'

Sums it up for me I think
 
Genuine every day of the week, you can have a horse with all the 'talent' in the world, but it's worth jack all if it doesn't want/can't/won't play the game, every pro will tell you that, good horses want to do it, regardless of the level, you can drag a talented but less genuine horse so far, but even a pro wants to be sat on something that wants to try & give you something

I've had some really useless but very genuine horses, and some dross.... Perfectly talented but dross none the less, and the best ones I've had (& nothing even vaguely wow worthy) were those that had the ability and were genuine enough to share it, because their heart was in the right place, they tried & gave everything they had, regardless of talent.... That's worth so much more

I've a mare ATM, who seems to have ability in bags (she's only 14.2) but it took her a while to realise work was fun, I suspect that at some point someone over cooked her, because She is very sweet, and really tries, but I got her because she was very challenging, so I think circumstance can cause a change in attitude that can mask true genuine behaviour, I also think a horse who trusts it's rider, will give a lot more than one that doesn't
 
The thing is as well is with yards say like WFP etc I think you would be suprised with the amount of horses that pass through those yards who are deemed not good enough - even the ones with bags of talent. If they are ungenuine and don't want to do it they won't bother with them. Too much time, money, heartache and risk to do so!
 
rising_promise said:
Fantastic quote in last weeks Horse and Hound mag, WFP to Sinead Halpin when she was looking for a 4* horse; ' buy a horse you enjoy riding not one you've got to learn to ride'

Sums it up for me I think
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I thought exactly the same when I saw that last week...for me this is about having fun. I don't want to get laughed off the park but as long as "we" do as well as I think we can do then I don't really care about the placing...I have an absolutely awful picture of my old boy at Hickstead where he wasn't sure whether to try and step in the water tray or jump it and did the most awkward jump ever over it.. I am so behind the movement it's embarassing but I also have the most enormous smile on my face because he makes me smile even when we get things wrong...
 
rising_promise said:
Fantastic quote in last weeks Horse and Hound mag, WFP to Sinead Halpin when she was looking for a 4* horse; ' buy a horse you enjoy riding not one you've got to learn to ride'

Sums it up for me I think
Click to expand...

This for me! Have had one that was talented but didn't want to do it, and 3 that were talented but very genuine (2 of which were very green ex-racehorses, but willing). The first I used to dread getting on as had no idea what she would throw at me, and she would throw everything she had at me! The others were, and are, fun to be around. I'm an amateur and do this for fun. Also I have a full time job with a very non-understanding boss, so if I appear with any broken bones it's not good!!
 
I'm greedy I want both!

I've had horses that are great lovely horses but being an also ran time after time because the horse can't do what you want isn't fair on the horse or you and gets depressing. Genuine horse don't have to be untalented and rubbish. And talented doesn't mean nutty worldbeater.
 
Genuine without a doubt. Have had two talented but un genuine horses, so frustrating. When they were good they were good but more often than not said no. They cost too much to frustrate you that much. I'm much happier with my genuine un complicated guy who I have done much more on, although hes not got the most scope he never says no.
 
dieseldog said:
I'm greedy I want both!

I've had horses that are great lovely horses but being an also ran time after time because the horse can't do what you want isn't fair on the horse or you and gets depressing. Genuine horse don't have to be untalented and rubbish. And talented doesn't mean nutty worldbeater.
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Exactly - they need to be talented but want to work with you. So sick of people telling me their horses are nutters but they put up with it because they are talented, therefore quirky (yawn!!) IME that just means they are just making themselves out to be better riders, but if you look at the professionals they soon weed out the ones that are maybe talented but aren't going to cut it.
 
Genuine without a doubt.

I totally agree with the poster who said that a situation can cause a genuine horse to maskerade as an un-genuine one though. I ride a horse who several people thought should be shot. We have dealt with a pain issue, I ride very differently to his previous rider, and he is a different horse. He was an event horse, but I am a dressage rider at heart, but if I pop him round a small SJing course he takes me round and holds my hand all the way....Even if I get it wrong. That to me is genuine, he just had problems that caused it to get hidden.
 
Bit of both - nowadays probably slightly more biased towards genuine. Back in the day - I didn't care how much of a swine the horse was, as long as it was really fabulous. Now I'm older and wiser, I like a horse that I can establish a true partnership with.
Current horse is not a big mover, or particularly athletic - but he has good placings at PSG on his record. He is as honest as the day is long, and tries his little heart out - worth his weight in gold.

Love this pic of him back in his heyday - his expression just sums him up.
557517_506352876045179_1924645017_n.jpg
 
genuine.
As much as I dream, I am not going to go beyond the point where you need a talented horse. Any genuine horse should manage it.
Shame my current isn't..
How do find out if a horse is genuine pre purchase?
 
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