There are so many horse that are too difficult for the average rider. Sigh....

kippen64

kippen64

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Australia
thinkingabouthorses.blogspot.com.au
When I finally do go out and buy a horse, I run the risk of having horses thrown at me. I find that interesting because I am just a happy hacker with a taste for good looking reactive horses who have an engine. The only real thing in my favour is that my ground handling skills are better than my riding skills. I am also patient and not easily unnerved.

So how did the horse industry end up with so many horses not suited to the average rider? Am keen to read what people think. Cheers.
 
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I was always told that horse which are for sale often are for sale for a reason... ie. there's something wrong with them.

Not always obviously, sometimes they are sold for genuine reasons, cash, time etc, but sometimes, horses are sold for a reason.
I was always told to buy a youngster, then you are not 'buying anyone else's mistakes / problems'. maybe that's what is happening with you?

I would try and find an unspoilt genuine youngster, work with it with your good ground skills, then progress together, then eventually you will have a cracking horse that is just what you want.
 
More horses being broken by non-professionals? More flashy horses on the market? More horses who've been tainted by novice owners letting them away with murder? More emphasis on getting horses competitive than well adjusted?

Hard to say, I guess the market in Oz might be different from the market over here!
 
sorry, I don't quite understand your post.

I'd also query what an "average" rider is? What most people do? Or experience level?

I think there's more of a problem with people going to flashier horses than they can cope with personally.
 
dressagelove said:
I was always told that horse which are for sale often are for sale for a reason... ie. there's something wrong with them.

Not always obviously, sometimes they are sold for genuine reasons, cash, time etc, but sometimes, horses are sold for a reason.
I was always told to buy a youngster, then you are not 'buying anyone else's mistakes / problems'. maybe that's what is happening with you?

I would try and find an unspoilt genuine youngster, work with it with your good ground skills, then progress together, then eventually you will have a cracking horse that is just what you want.
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I have done both. Bought youngsters off the stud and bought problem horses. Mind you my last youngster is now 19 years old. My last problem horse is now 17 years old. (Don't worry, I have kept my hand in with an advanced horse course last year.)

It just saddens me to know that when I do buy a horse, I'll be able to choose from a large selection and at low prices simply because I can ride and handle horses that are beyond the average rider. I wonder how we the horse industry got to this situation.
 
An interesting question. I am no expert but willing to join in a discussion. I think there are a growing number of people who at a certain age can finally afford to realize their dream of owning a horse. people who have never really been around horses but always wanted to. Not so long ago people who rode horses were considered "well to do" and as such only "rich" people had anything to do with them. As I said, just a thought.
 
I would consider myself a very average rider and have what could be described as 'flashy' horses. They're fine. I'm not sure I think there is that much of a problem really :confused:
 
galaxy said:
sorry, I don't quite understand your post.

I'd also query what an "average" rider is? What most people do? Or experience level?

I think there's more of a problem with people going to flashier horses than they can cope with personally.
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That is a hard question. My experience of an average rider is someone who can walk, trot and canter competently, do very simple dressage, has lessons and maintain their horse in good condition.
 
jesstickle said:
I would consider myself a very average rider and have what could be described as 'flashy' horses. They're fine. I'm not sure I think there is that much of a problem really :confused:
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I don't think you'd be considered "average" in the grand scheme of things, tbf.

And you have one flashy horse.

BH is a flashy boat... :D
 
Maybe the level of an 'average' rider has dropped? ;)

I've met quite a few happy hackers that were actually bleddy good riders, but they had decided to stop competing for personal reasons.

I agree with the above posters who have seen mismatched horses and riders because the rider has bought a horse that is beyond their capabilities.

The other thing that I have seen many times - is someone with a shattered confidence. They have the right horse, but they still struggle as they are just too nervous. Confidence is such a fragile thing.
 
padderpaws said:
An interesting question. I am no expert but willing to join in a discussion. I think there are a growing number of people who at a certain age can finally afford to realize their dream of owning a horse. people who have never really been around horses but always wanted to. Not so long ago people who rode horses were considered "well to do" and as such only "rich" people had anything to do with them. As I said, just a thought.
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That makes sense. These people are going to want a horse that can fit into their lifestyle and not the type of horse that people shape their lifestyles around. Did I get the gist please?
 
jesstickle said:
I would consider myself a very average rider and have what could be described as 'flashy' horses. They're fine. I'm not sure I think there is that much of a problem really :confused:
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Then I think you are a very good average rider, there are many horses out there who have quirks what is no problem to me or you can be a disaster to a mum with a job and children and a horse on DIY.
All of my four horses could have been said to have problems all except one are fine here because I have plenty of labour and they get plenty of work the one that has a problem which is he won't stand in the lorry while I work another horse and I am sure I will get round this in time.
Many people lack the time to work horses six days a week and some persitantly over face themselves result lots of spoiled horses looking for new homes.
 
dressagelove said:
I was always told that horse which are for sale often are for sale for a reason... ie. there's something wrong with them.

Not always obviously, sometimes they are sold for genuine reasons, cash, time etc, but sometimes, horses are sold for a reason.
I was always told to buy a youngster, then you are not 'buying anyone else's mistakes / problems'. maybe that's what is happening with you?

I would try and find an unspoilt genuine youngster, work with it with your good ground skills, then progress together, then eventually you will have a cracking horse that is just what you want.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find this plays are part in why there are so many problem horses out there. Too many people follow the advice of buying an unspoilt youngster but are not competent enough to bring a young horse on so "problem horse" then gets passed on from pillar to post.
 
There are more horses than there ever were, and I suppose they are cheaper to keep than they used to be? So numpties like me can afford to have one as I earn enough to pay for it myself? I am an average rider and my horse suits me fine, although he has brought me on from 'decent riding school numpty' to average rider in the 4 years I have had him, through his general naughtiness. As a result I won't sell him, he is a good schoolmaster and does suit the average rider so he would be very difficult to replace, and he is very quirky, but he suits me so that's ok. Other people, however, can find him too difficult for them.

What I think I mean by that is, it's hard to define 'average rider', and because all horses and people are different, any given 'average' horse-rider combination will not necessarily work straight away. So what suits one average rider is too difficult for another...
 
Could it be that more people are buying horses as a "project' and hoping to make a quick buck by doing a wee bit of basic schooling then getting rid of them?
 
There are too many people owning horses that are not "Horsey People" which means people get bored, horses arent handled properly or ridden properly which leads to an array of problems.

Too many people breeding as well, some of the s***e horses that are on horsemart right now and in Ashford Market, poor conformation, horrible temperments.

I just think there are too many horses in the UK right now.
 
I think it is partly because more people are coming to horses later in life and have missed the pony years when you get to learn a lot about staying on and knowing instinctively what your mount is going to throw at you. And just having general silly fun like jumping bareback and playing with your pony.
 
kippen64 said:
When I finally do go out and buy a horse, I run the risk of having horses thrown at me. I find that interesting because I am just a happy hacker with a taste for good looking reactive horses who have an engine. :eek:A few years ago I would never have believed that I'd be saying this, but if you can find one have a look at Quarter Horses. They don't all come looking like beef cattle ;) They come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes too. I breed them, mine are dopes on ropes, even my stallion, they go to pre-school to meet the children and at the weekend are coming out of the shutes at the rodeos like rockets. Placid until you press the button! Brilliant horses. Perhaps not with the scope for dressage beyond a certain level but as all rounders - excellent. Suited to any age to. The only real thing in my favour is that my ground handling skills are better than my riding skills. I am also patient and not easily unnerved.

So how did the horse industry end up with so many horses not suited to the average rider? Am keen to read what people think. Cheers.
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So am I.
 
Toffee44 said:
There are too many people owning horses that are not "Horsey People" which means people get bored, horses arent handled properly or ridden properly which leads to an array of problems.

Too many people breeding as well, some of the s***e horses that are on horsemart right now and in Ashford Market, poor conformation, horrible temperments.

I just think there are too many horses in the UK right now.
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Aggree totally they are very cheap to buy but dearer than ever to produce properly and too many people think they can school a horse before they are ready or can not afford enough help and training to help them though the process .
 
Honey Pony said:
I think it is partly because more people are coming to horses later in life and have missed the pony years when you get to learn a lot about staying on and knowing instinctively what your mount is going to throw at you. And just having general silly fun like jumping bareback and playing with your pony.
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And apparantly its all about bombpoof hacking a schooling. Some have forgotton to go and have fun, I have until recently getting so hung up about being a "pony Squisher" but I tell you what I don't think twice about getting on and having a cheeky canter in a headcollar these days or jumping onboard in my stable to groom her ears :) I love my nutty pony, will prob hate her next week(we have a love hate relationship but we have bonded well) but at least we do have fun.
 
Hi Enfys,

"A few years ago I would never have believed that I'd be saying this, but if you can find one have a look at Quarter Horses. They don't all come looking like beef cattle They come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes too. I breed them, mine are dopes on ropes, even my stallion, they go to pre-school to meet the children and at the weekend are coming out of the shutes at the rodeos like rockets. Placid until you press the button! Brilliant horses. Perhaps not with the scope for dressage beyond a certain level but as all rounders - excellent. Suited to any age to."

Quarter Horses are not my cup of tea. Your horses sound nice but are not what I like.
 
kippen64 said:
So how did the horse industry end up with so many horses not suited to the average rider? Am keen to read what people think. Cheers.
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Ambition. International Velvet wasn't riding a 15 hand native was she? Most people, even a lot of hacking enthusiasts, have some competitive aspirations that they have dreamt of since forever ago and have been desperate to get even a flicker closer to achieving for just as long. So when the time comes to get a horse, the one in the Horse and Hound that can jump the highest/move the biggest/is a supermodel is hard to dismiss is favor of Mr Average. You just want all the help you can get to achieve the dream. Plus on the advert these athletes are paragons of virtue who can do it all so why buy a lesser animal? ;)

Plus on the supply side, most breeders are trying to breed those epic superstars that will make them a fortune, they aren't aiming for Mr Average. Whether the breeders achieve those few great horses or not, the failed superstars aren't exactly designed with straightforwardness in mind either and these are the cast offs that are marketed at amateurs.
 
Flame_ said:
Plus on the supply side, most breeders are trying to breed those epic superstars that will make them a fortune, they aren't aiming for Mr Average. Whether the breeders achieve those few great horses or not, the failed superstars aren't exactly designed with straightforwardness in mind either and these are the cast offs that are marketed at amateurs.
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Thank you for your great answer. I really appreciate it.
 
I think there are plenty of horses that would suit an average rider however they are maybe not want the average rider wants which is where the problem lies!

If you want flashy horse with a bit of go in it then you are probably looking at a something with a bit of hot blood in it and in general they are bred and often trained as sports horses/competition horses not happy hackers does not mean that they could not be a happy hacker just that they were not destined for that market.

The horses aimed at the happy hacker market tend to be the cold blooded sorts with a lot of cob/draught or native blood in them.
 
So how did the horse industry end up with so many horses not suited to the average rider?

I think the answer to your question is people overface themselves, thinking that they are better prepared than they actually are, in short - education, the lack of, in both of horse and rider/handler.

ps. I wouldn't ride a QH by choice either, give me a spunky little arabian anyday, but then they are a bit much for some people so I never say "Oh why not consider on"
 
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