The meaning of 'sharp'?

[Pigeon]

Following on from the 'have horses got sharper' thread.

I'm interested in the definition of sharp, as I've seen it used to describe so many different horses!

I always thought sharp was a good thing, as in 'sharp off the aids'. I can understand that this could mean it's really a pro's ride, and wouldn't be suitable for the average rider (like me) that would give unintentional aids. But again, don't really see this as a negative thing? And probably essential for the higher levels of most disciplines.

Pip is the most complicated to ride of our little crew, he can be unforgiving, but tbh he's too lazy to ever be described as sharp Off the top of my head I can only think of one horse I personally know that I would describe as sharp!

So what is your definition? And do you own a sharp horse? What makes them so?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Following on from the 'have horses got sharper' thread.

I'm interested in the definition of sharp, as I've seen it used to describe so many different horses!

I always thought sharp was a good thing, as in 'sharp off the aids'. I can understand that this could mean it's really a pro's ride, and wouldn't be suitable for the average rider (like me) that would give unintentional aids. But again, don't really see this as a negative thing? And probably essential for the higher levels of most disciplines.

Pip is the most complicated to ride of our little crew, he can be unforgiving, but tbh he's too lazy to ever be described as sharp Off the top of my head I can only think of one horse I personally know that I would describe as sharp!

So what is your definition? And do you own a sharp horse? What makes them so?

I call that well schooled.

Sharp in my book is spin and clear off at the sight of a dandelion waving in the breeze.

 

[Mrs C]

I think there are lots of differing opinions on this. I say mine can be sharp and the reason I say that is due to her being unpredictable so will spin and tank off
She's not always sharp off leg aids - can be a lazy beggar!

 

[be positive]

I call that well schooled.

Sharp in my book is spin and clear off at the sight of a dandelion waving in the breeze.

That is also my view, a sharp horse reacts instinctively and is often not on the aids as the brain is too busy to be paying attention to the rider.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Agree with AA and Mrs C - sharp to me means that they will go from 0 - spin without giving you time to think about what you can do to stop it! I describe my TB as sharp - she will be cool as a cucumber one minute but if something spooks her, she will mini rear/spin without any warning whatsoever!

 

[Goldenstar]

To me sharp means reactive very reactive .
I own one ATM look over your shoulder and he will turn round his brain is busy he learns every thing the good and bad he finds it difficult to stand he so busy .
He's senestive he worrys he's very sweet he would not be for everyone .
My best horse ever was super sharp you thought something she was on it, I looked at some new calves once over a hedge next thing we where in the field I had to be very careful what I looked at .
I often think people say sharp when I would say the horse is unforgiving .
I love sharp trying to wean myself of it as I age is hard.

 

[TarrSteps]

Context is everything.

I don't think there is a single definition of the word, over, perhaps "reactive" but how it's used tells the story. If someone says a top GP horse is sharp they probably mean it might be a tricky ride but is expressive and sensitive, which are mostly positives. If someone says it about their happy hacker, then they probably aren't pleased.

 

[BBP]

I would describe mine as sharp. He is very quick off the aids, forward thinking and reactive, making him great to train, but it is a hairline trigger between that and madness. He can be tricky if he is feeling too bright as it's hard to get your leg on and really work him like today as every move you make evokes a reaction, I accidentally touched him with the schooling whip today which sent him launching forwards. A responsive horse may give a reaction to that sort of stimulus but a sharp horse may over react to it. He requires very tactful riding on his sharp days. When his adrenaline is close to the surface it doesn't matter how hard you work him, he always has an extra buzz.

I love that he is sharp, he is a wonderful pony who could go far with a better rider, and I am learning every year more about how to manage and ride him, but if I didn't have my wits about me I think i'd get into trouble with a horse like him.

 

[Ella19]

Well described be positive! I describe sharp as quick to react without or occasionally with logic. My mare will react violently to noise or movement only when stabled and will rear instantly. Ridden I describe her as sharp. If something spooks her she will drop to the ground, shoot right and ****** off or spin round quick as a flash. This could be at something logical or a log!

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I always thought sharp to mean a horse that over reacts to aids, often in a negative way to avoid the aid.

 

[webble]

I think there are lots of differing opinions on this. I say mine can be sharp and the reason I say that is due to her being unpredictable so will spin and tank off
She's not always sharp off leg aids - can be a lazy beggar!

This

 

[Cortez]

Sharp means over-reactive, and not in a good way. My sharpest horse is also the least forward. My most forward horse is the least spooky, because she is listening intently to me - not signals from outer space.

 

[Honey08]

Reactive is a good description. I would also say quick thinking.

I would describe my mare as sharp, but she is pretty well schooled and wouldn't spin at something, and has never bucked or reared but she very much anticipates an upward transition and would set off herself when she gets to a canter path if you weren't ready for her. She is quite cunning and will gradually lean on you as you get near a canter place to enable her to take advantage and go when you get there. She frightens more novice riders but is fun if you're a confident rider.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I agree with Goldenstar.
Our 1st Appaloosa mare could spin and nap for Britain but she wasn't sharp, she was never in danger of losing her rider, no matter what she did, in fact we always said it was a point of honour for her.
The 2nd Appaloosa mare is definitely sharp. She is not worried by any traffic but is likely to spook at a flower that wasn't there last time she was on that path. She is extremely forward going (which isn't what makes her sharp) and very reactive. She is certainly not a novice ride and not particularly forgiving if the rider isn't clear with the aids.

 

[AdorableAlice]

It also depends on how old you are ! For me, sharp = won't get on it anymore.

 

[Pigeon]

I call that well schooled.

Sharp in my book is spin and clear off at the sight of a dandelion waving in the breeze.

I knew one horse that would do that, but she wasn't particularly sensitive. I'd just call that a naughty sod

 

[Kallibear]

I'm with most. Sharp isn't usually a good thing. Being responsive and reactive to the aids is nice to ride. Being 'sharp' is a mentality and I'd class it as being over reactive. To everything and anything.

I ride both : the OP's definition of sharp (forward thinking and responsive to the aids) is just lovely to ride, esp as he doesn't have MY definition of sharp mentality and is sensible and laidback. I also ride a horse I'd call sharp. Royal pain in the ass who over reacts to everything and can't be trusted for a second not to have a meltdown at a leaf/ rock/person/imaginary dragon.

I'm afraid I can't be doing with sharp horses

 

[EffyCorsten]

Sensitive, overreactive and prone to panicking including panicking due to incorrect aids. This is what I see as sharp but not limited to these things. It's a bit of a blanket term really isn't it.

 

[Pigeon]

So what's the difference between sharp and spooky?

I like what earlier poster says about sharp being fine for a GP horse, but not so much for a happy hack, that sort of summed up what I was trying to say

 

[khalswitz]

For me, sharp and spooky are different - they can go together, but aren't the same. Spooky is the silly, looking at things, spinning on spot etc - and I only call them spooky past a certain point as I believe all horses have the capacity to spook without necessarily being spooky per se.

Sharp I always associate with my old RI's saying 'so sharp he'd cut himself' - over-sensitive, over-reactive, thinks too much and normally to detriment. If he is just pleasantly off the aids, then he is responsive, even to being sensitive, but sharp is a step beyond that. Often it is an evasion, the same way spooking can be, and hence I think why they go together.

Mine *can* be sharp, but when I get him warmed up and brain engaged he is lovely. He can also be spooky, but on a day when he is sharp and spooky he is a nightmare...

ETA I may get fired for this but I always associated being spooky with thinking too little and being sharp with thinking too much... so opposite ends of the spectrum but with ofttimes a similar effect...

 

[EffyCorsten]

I guess a sharp horse can be sharp in many ways but not overly spooky and a spooky horse can be spooky without being overly sharp.

My Horse can be spooky, not huge spooks just a quick sideways hop or sudden plant but he is very laid back a quiet forgiving ride not sensitive in any way although saying that we hacked out this morning on an old route we haven't used in a while and some old shed blew in the wind and he had a melt down for about a mile... I guess you could say his behaviour then was pretty sharp.

 

[Kallibear]

So what's the difference between sharp and spooky?

I'd class spooky as being reactive to mainly visual objects and throwing themselves out the way. Not always an over-reaction and range from a snort and side step to legging it.

I'd class sharp as being over reactive to EVERYTHING. Things they see and do everyday. Over reacting to leg aids/reins/seat. Thr rider coughing. Moving leg forwards to tighten girth. Someone moving at the side of thr arena. Etc etc etc. The usual over reaction is to spook spectacularly and/or zoom off.

I'd class a very spooky horse who's first instinct is to bolt as sharp.

If your horse feels like it's about to explode if you so much as breath loudly, I'd class it as sharp. And I don't really want to ride it either!

 

[Honey08]

It seems as though a lot of people's definition of sharp is naughty/spooky, which I don't see at all. A sharp naughty horse is a totally different thing to a sharp but obedient horse. I don't see sharpness as a vice, so am happy to ride a sharp horse. If that sharp horse also naps or bucks it would be a different story. My laid back gelding is way more likely to throw a buck in than my sharp horse.

For me a sharp horse is just quick to react. Its HOW it reacts that is what makes it difficult or not. If it just want to go forward it doesn't bother me.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Context is everything.

If someone says it about their happy hacker, then they probably aren't pleased.

I've used it in the past 2 or 3 weeks - and have been v pleased (at finding there IS something there after all) :biggrin3:

For those who dont know my ride, FLF is a lovely fuzzy to hack out, tho is often very stuffy to start with (think kick-along).However, she has recently been quite sharp as said - light on toes, with a good boggle, but still containable, but deffo not suitable for novice.

TFF, oddly pleased

 

[MagicMelon]

I always thought sharp was a good thing, as in 'sharp off the aids'. I can understand that this could mean it's really a pro's ride, and wouldn't be suitable for the average rider (like me) that would give unintentional aids. But again, don't really see this as a negative thing? And probably essential for the higher levels of most disciplines.

This is what I think of as sharp. My grey I very much would call sharp, he was very off the aids to the point I only had to think a change of pace or turn and he'd do it instantly (handy for jump offs!) but I think sharp also means sensitive so he's a slightly anxious type who was desperate to please to the point he'd often try too hard and get himself a bit stressed out. I love how he rode though, he read my mind. Whereas my WB is totally different, you have to make aids clearly even though he is perfectly off the leg, and you have to plan a little in advance as he's far less agile than my grey was.

 

[Pigeon]

ETA I may get fired for this but I always associated being spooky with thinking too little and being sharp with thinking too much... so opposite ends of the spectrum but with ofttimes a similar effect...

This is really interesting!

I wonder if there is some sort of IQ test for horses? Would be fascinating. In my experience native ponies tend to be clever and calculating, and also less spooky than most breeds.

My first horse was spooky. He was a little dense - didn't really think much, and because of this he didn't have much self preservation. Looking back I realise what a fruitloop he was, it's funny that at the time I just thought he was regular! We were once standing looking at the view on a hack, and he did the hugest buck (all four legs off the ground, humped back, from a standstill) and I just remember flying through the air and seeing him disappearing into the distance. To this day I have no idea what triggered that one. There were numerous incidents like that, including frequently spooking to the extent of falling down, and once climbing out of his stable whilst still being tied up on the inside... I completely forgot about those, this thread reminded me!

 

[Goldenstar]

Sharp and spooky don't always go together my sharp one ATM is not spooky he's sees every thing but he's very on the aids he does not spook .

 

[TarrSteps]

For me, sharp and spooky are different - they can go together, but aren't the same. Spooky is the silly, looking at things, spinning on spot etc - and I only call them spooky past a certain point as I believe all horses have the capacity to spook without necessarily being spooky per se.

Sharp I always associate with my old RI's saying 'so sharp he'd cut himself' - over-sensitive, over-reactive, thinks too much and normally to detriment. If he is just pleasantly off the aids, then he is responsive, even to being sensitive, but sharp is a step beyond that. Often it is an evasion, the same way spooking can be, and hence I think why they go together.

Mine *can* be sharp, but when I get him warmed up and brain engaged he is lovely. He can also be spooky, but on a day when he is sharp and spooky he is a nightmare...

ETA I may get fired for this but I always associated being spooky with thinking too little and being sharp with thinking too much... so opposite ends of the spectrum but with ofttimes a similar effect...

I would agree over all.

I would also say that fast movers can be slow thinkers and vice versa. I know horses that are very reactive BECAUSE they don't think things through. They may be taking a lot in but they are often moving before they process the information properly. Others are sensitive and notice everything but they are quick to figure out what they are seeing/hearing and so don't go over the red line very often. Equally, I meet some very placid horses that never miss a trick - you can see and feel them thinking all the time - and are placid because they are confident and knowledgeable. Other placid horses are that way because, it seems, very little information is actually getting in, let alone being processed! Sometimes these ones end up in real trouble because people buy them thinking they are "bomb proof" but, when something really surprises or scares them, they go off like bombs!

 

[Pigeon]

Tarrsteps, I know one EXACTLY like the last you described, to a T!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Not sure what you'd call mine:

Very spooky, doesn't do anything nasty but will be walking along at the end of a lesson suddenly he will spook at nothing and spin round/ leap sideways. Also jumping if the jump changes at all either a pole is added/ filler added/ another jump he will notice and is prone to stopping, can also stop if striding isn't exactly right
Is also the sort to notice a piece of odd coloured sand/ mud on the road and stop and snort at it!
He almost over thinks everything, can be lazy but that was mainly before he started his cushings tablets. Very intelligent though almost have to be one step ahead of him but I've heard that's typical of D's.