Tell me about lovely bombproof happy hackers please?

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Arizahn

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As in weight carriers, that don't bat an eyelid at much, but can still step out nicely if asked. Not a complete plod, but safe and reliable. And which may be of the hairy/feathery persuasion...

Just curious really. I think my next horse should be this sort of animal. Obviously this is a long way off, but I thought I would pick your brains:)

Pictures welcome, btw
 
My 4 yr old has had a plastic bag fly into his face practically nd shook it off, great in traffic. Stuck my niece on him n she plods off lead rein. But then I turn him on a stubble an he flat out gallops n I can drop the fronds nd leave him to it normally go bareback on him :)
 
I have a 15.2 traditional cob who was hairy but is now fully clipped and hogged. And he is an absolute star. I can not ride him for days and he's still chilled. But he can jump and go up a gear in company. He isn't scared of anything except men with birds of prey on there arm ;) Which we don't see very often thank goodness :)
 
Lol, I think random falconers count as something suitably bizarre! I don't know that I would hog...I always enjoy working with long manes, etc. But they do look very smart all clipped out:)

Rileyboy, reminds me of my old pony that I shared with my mother:)
 
Rarely have one that isn't tbh!

I need to remember what it feels like to be on anything else.

Temperament is the ultimate key, in my view. Not the age or riding. You can buy training, you can't buy their natural temperament. :)

We never keep any of them as sell them when we do, but some previous ones of the hairy variety:

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^ The 3 year old on his 4th ride ever. Casually watching the tractor and fork unload a lorry.


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^ Same 3 y/o.


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Don't have to be heavy hairy things though! Know plenty who are bombproof and non cobby.

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^ All 3 in there are utterly bombproof. Two being my own, the TB and Welsh :)

And the Welsh again, just coz I love her :D

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I think that's enough photos!!! :p
 
I have a 15h chunky coloured mare who is great :-) She is the best nanny horse ever, hacks out with any other horse, anywhere, past anything without batting an eyelid.....now.....I've had her 11 years, and she took a little persuading.....

She jumps, hunts, travels like a dream, my kids can ride her....she's worth her weight in gold....and being a 'chunky' irish cob, thats a sizeable amount!! :-)
 
My lad is pretty bombproof and is perfectly sensible for nervous people to plod on. But, he knows when he can let loose and go, and will put in an excited buck. But never does when more nervous people are on him. He just knows when he has to be ploddy somehow.

He did decide that my friend's pony and trap were out to eat him on Saturday so we will be doing some despooking practice on that! But usually he will go past anything and there is very little that worries him.

Here is the requested pic:)
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He is 15.1 cob.
 
Lovely mare, accidental purchase but far from a slug. Sensible and sane , strong but more wants to get on and do job. Honest till day is long. Brill with trailers flying past, combines, lorries, pigs, horse . Just anything. Pleasure to own. My highland is quite a ride compared to my trad. Yes it's hairy, long mane and huge tail. Oh and it's red and white. Shows, dies a mean dressage test and travels like a trooper!
 
Don't rule out the tb's I know a few ex racers that are totally bombproof. Was riding a friends and a pigeon flew out the hedge about 3ft from his ears and he just kept walking as if nothing had happened.

YP despite being a big wimp is a bombproof hack unless he is in a mood :rolleyes: at which point he does lots of snorting at random stuff but carries on walking any way.
 
I have a gorgeous 14.1hh hairy beasty Who is my bombproof cob. He is so safe and chilled nothing fazes him. Everything is done in his own time and nice and steady, I hack him across the busy A16 to get to my house and he'll just walk across between the traffic as though we have all the time in the world! He gets some speed on if you ask and you can go for a good canter or gallop and he's the sort of type that you can drop the reins and he'll go no faster. In short he's my babe <3 I've had him since August and when I got him I had no confidence and was practically shaking and crying just walking, now I go out on my own for hours having fun. So yeah, get one of those! :-p
 
My lad isn't a cob, but is a chunky weight carrier.
In 3.5yrs I've had him he's spooked twice, once at waves, first time at beach, five mins later is in up to his knees splashing.
2nd time was when a flock of sheep came charging up behind him, a novice 10yr old was riding him and he took off, he came straight back to my verbal commands to stand and his rider didn't come off, so proud of the pair of them.
Not a lot phases my lad, but I'll never say never
 
I've had a few and as someone else said, temperament is more important than breed. But IME if you are looking for bombproof, you can't do better than a ride and drive horse, partly because it will most likely have inherited its temp from sensble parents and also because it will have been trained by very experienced people who expect their horses to have good manners.
R&D horses come in all shapes and sizes.
 
Mine isnt a weight carrier, he is a new forest but is pretty much bomb proof - until we saw a shetland dressed as a reindeer on sunday afternoon....we had one spin, lots of snorting and big arched neck, then decided it was too much effort and walked straight past, strange!
 
Has hacked on own since backed, jumps, hunts, does fun rides on own or with others, does the beach or new places no worry, brave and bold but safe. Lovely forward going ride, occasionally bit strong,... He is in my profile, 16h few spot appy, tons of bone but not wide to ride and jumps huge.
 
Rileyboy said:
My 4 yr old has had a plastic bag fly into his face practically nd shook it off, great in traffic. Stuck my niece on him n she plods off lead rein. But then I turn him on a stubble an he flat out gallops n I can drop the fronds nd leave him to it normally go bareback on him :)
Click to expand...

I liked the fronds. Imagined you both hippy happy hacking
 
I'm seeing a theme here :D

My Arnie is foot perfect in the heaviest of traffic. He does a wee bit of everything, sj, xc, pleasure rides, beach outings, you name it (although dressage doesnt appear to be our forte ;) )

This was taken on sunday after he hadnt been ridden for a fortnight because of the ice
IMG_9424.jpg

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He was so stressy he nearly didnt calm down enough to eat his chips ;) (did I mention boats when I mentioned heavy traffic?)
troon2.jpg


This summer, we did this
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and this
IMG_5401.jpg

he is dragon proof
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with some friends he did this (I am a big fearty for jumping :( )
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and this
IMG_5476.jpg


For the last year we have done all the above (apart from the dragon photo which was the year before) with no shoes so we have saved lots of money.

He is a weight carrier (sadly I am well over 14stone and 5'10" - he is exactly 15hh). He is most certainly not a plod but he is definately safe and sensible. He is now 9 years old - he did have a bit of a Kevins time of it as a 5 year old mind you but he is perfect now. I've had him since he was weaned and he was worth every penny of the £300 (including a rug) that I spent (although, technically, he's not mine cos I bought him for my husbands birthday - it was the only thing I could think of to do to get his little hooves under the table ;) ).
 
Completely traffic proof, scared of white flowers, rotting wood and rogue daffodils. Generally lazy but has a terrific gallop when she wants. Pretty much the same regardless of weather conditions or who she's with/on her own. 15h half hairy cob (she doesn't grow that much feather)
 
JennyNZ said:
I have an Arabian, who isn't big or hairy, but is a fun hacker. He dosn't do bombs (as far as I know), but is safe around most things.:)
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Agree.

Arabs were bred as a war horse. They are designed to carry you from one end of the desert to the other without baulking - or you both die.

I trust my Arab 100% to get himself and myself home safe every time :).

I trust him more than my 'ploddy' Draft X :rolleyes:
 
Coltus Maximus, By a random black QH, out of an unregistered Fjord mare I purchased at a meat auction, with foal already on board.

This boy was born broke, people loving and as calm as you like. Here is his forst ride

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While he was here he was always my go to guy to try out strange things, and his party trick when I was selling him? Shooting him with a cap gun, while he just stood there without moving a muscle.
 
Wow, some really amazing horses there, thank you:)

I don't want another arab, partly due to my weight/nerves, partly due to how much it would remind me of my old mare. Who sadly would happily dump her rider in a desert if she felt like it:( Very sharp mare. And thoroughbreds again there is the weight issue. Really not keen on wrecking an animal's back. Although I knew a lovely one years ago that I will always think of very fondly.

Am a teensy bit in love with those hairy cobs...
 
All the TB's I have bought from Ascot (including a lovely up to weight 16.2HH) have been 110% in traffic. The lovely thing about ex racehorses is that they have been there seen it.....Now are they bomb proof in other ways? I am not a novice rider, but I am a rider who does not want to fall off - and again they have all been suitable for me to hack out on, even when race fit, kept in 24/7 and pumped full of protein. They might jig and jog, and sidle a bit, from time to time - but rarely do anything to want to nastily get rid of their rider. I have hunted some (not the big horse, I freely admit) of them.
Am I getting boring about how lovely ex racehorses are.......??
 
I am fortunate enough to have just such a horse on loan. She is perfect in every way and has taught me so much about riding. Everyone should be lucky enough to have such a horse

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She's an ISH type I think, she has done hunting and xc and sj and taught many people to ride as a lesson horse in her past but is ready to step down a gear and look after me! Now we hack the hills and admire the scenery, sometimes if we're in fast company she can be a little strong but honestly even with no direction from me (I'm a rank novice) this horse is as safe as houses (well, as safe as they used to be before the whole sub prime mortgage thing) even if she has a little "start" at something, it's nothing, and her idea of napping is to stand still and sigh a lot. Seriously, she is bliss.

No you're not having her! :D

We've both lost weight since we first got together in September, hopefully we will continue on in the same vein as it really helps with her arthritis and breathing
 
Lol, the tb I remember was an ex eventer:) Had some of the best riding ever on him, but I was far lighter then. Plus I will be adding in the weight of a western saddle, as I find them to be really secure and comfortable on long hacks. So that's another 2 1/2 stone on top...hmm, that's at least 14 1/2 stone. Obviously I am dieting and exercising, but will probably be stuck around 11 stone, if I know me. Frustrating! Although I don't jump. Nothing short of zombie horde would induce me to try jumping again!
 
Skippys Mum said:
I'm seeing a theme here :D

My Arnie is foot perfect in the heaviest of traffic. He does a wee bit of everything, sj, xc, pleasure rides, beach outings, you name it (although dressage doesnt appear to be our forte ;) )

This was taken on sunday after he hadnt been ridden for a fortnight because of the ice
IMG_9424.jpg

IMG_9389.jpg


He was so stressy he nearly didnt calm down enough to eat his chips ;) (did I mention boats when I mentioned heavy traffic?)
troon2.jpg


This summer, we did this
IMG_8887800x600.jpg



and this
IMG_5401.jpg

he is dragon proof
IMG_8214800x600.jpg


with some friends he did this (I am a big fearty for jumping :( )
IMG_6555800x600.jpg


and this
IMG_5476.jpg


For the last year we have done all the above (apart from the dragon photo which was the year before) with no shoes so we have saved lots of money.

He is a weight carrier (sadly I am well over 14stone and 5'10" - he is exactly 15hh). He is most certainly not a plod but he is definately safe and sensible. He is now 9 years old - he did have a bit of a Kevins time of it as a 5 year old mind you but he is perfect now. I've had him since he was weaned and he was worth every penny of the £300 (including a rug) that I spent (although, technically, he's not mine cos I bought him for my husbands birthday - it was the only thing I could think of to do to get his little hooves under the table ;) ).
Click to expand...

Wow, not only am i jealous of your beautiful boy, but i'm also well envious of your lovely location! where is it? those rides look amazing! :)
 
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