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

There are so many products, gadgets, feeds & 'superstar' trainers around ... naturally, there are more horses and more riders around these days. I think ^this^ multitude of extra products etc is a problem, a) because the more complicated it get, the more easy it is to go wrong, and it also encourages people to cut corners. People seek to do everything the quickest and easiest way, they want a ready made horse and are unwilling (rather than unable) to put the work in. And my my experience this goes for horsey families and 'experts' as much as new/latecomers to riding.
Perhaps people's values and ambitions have changed? Competitions are far more accessible to the everyda rider, and I actually think far more people are seeking higher standards of everything, from products to management and riding: 20 years ago, fewer people had lessons they did everything themselves and they were more than happy 'just' to school or hack and do pony club. Most horses had hay and chaff with course mix or nuts and were ridden in a snaffle and cavesson noseband. Their horses were simple and they were kept and ridden simply. However this wasn't always best, it's just the way it was. Now there are so many more ways of doing everything and it's easy to get confused or choose a track that doesn't work for your horse.
Perhaps these days people seek to solve their problems rather than just have the horse put to sleep or retired for being difficult to ride or manage. Then, naturally, through trying to solve problems life gets more complicated and difficult before it gets better.
There is a smaller divide between who do & don't 'do' horses which isn't neceesarily a bad thing as making horses - especially learning about horses - more accessible only reduces the clique associated with horses and also decreases ignorance.
People get so caught up with where they are aiming to go and with making sure they have the best rugs and feed for their horse that they lose perspective and forget about the horse's needs itself. Then when the owner's needs and the horses needs don't match up, you get problems. It should always be about the horse but it seems to be all about the rider...
I think it's a shame these days that people seem to be encouraged to seek a higher authority with everything: apparently noone's good enough to have a horse or to compete etc, you should have a trained saddler/physio/horse breaker/yard manager/instructor - apparently you should only ever be an 'expert' if you want to bring on a youngster or own a WB/ISH/TB/anything other than a cob or even to buy your first horse...sigh.
I have honestly rarely known truly novice riders to buy a horse that was truly too much for them. Quite the contrary - novice owners buy an imperfect horse with a niggle or two (as most horses do) and they have their confidence and 'deservedness' shattered by the so-called experts around them. Noone buys a horse lightly and most people have an instructor/horsey friends/fellow liveries and yard owner to help them, especially since information and help is more widely available now.
Or ... maybe 'the old times' always looks rosier in retrospect ;)
 
Last edited:
whilst I see what OP is getting at the two things of less 'these horses' available and the novice rider taking on too much are linked

ie the novice rider takes on too much and so horse becomes for sale again and even less suitable for a novice or even average rider

Those that are suitable for novice or average riders are sold by word of mouth so not advertised.

The trend atm to buy WB's and ex racers is also likely to cause problems and if there isn't already there will be an influx of unsuitable WB's for sale.

The same as the trend to breed these flashy looking horses will.

I will be totally honest here and say I wanted a nice looking sports horse, I didn't want a 'cob' type. BUT I am slightly disabled and only an average RC rider so had to be very picky. I was extremely lucky and found a very very special Czech WB (they are bred differently and for temperament NOT performance, but with the movement too)

But it could have gone so very wrong if I hadn't found him:p
 
i think some people treat horses as a field ornament and have them their for show. This then leads to horses being badly behaved, due to the lack of experience the owner had
 
Last edited:
I am now the owner of a very lovely, very highly bred horse which was purchased, for a great deal of money, by a completely novice owner. He is a beautiful, talented and very sensitive horse who has been terrified by being ridden by terrified riders, if you understand what I mean. He was gifted to me as a "rescue" as he had become completely unridable and had hurt people. It has taken me over a year to get him over the terror, and he will never be completely reliable, but he is in the right place now - wrong horse: wrong rider = disaster for all.
 
Hello all,

I'm back into riding after a break of 19 years. I learnt to ride at a RS (circa 1986) and rode the usual 'tap-a-longs' who knew their work so well they took no riding at all. I would call myself a rider - i'm not great, no dreams of competing (but would like to do dressage :D) but sensible and enjoy a good hack.

I went into buying my own pony after a period of part loans. The 'horse/pony for novices' market is a minefield - there's so many people trying to sell their horses/ponies and they all seem to be selling a prefect learners/new riders animal. IN most cases they are completely unsuitable and even dangerous - perhaps that's because an experienced rider rides in a completely different way to a 'sack of potatoes' learner/novice?

In my limited experience it seems that people will buy a horse or pony based on it's looks for the price of a second hand car and expect it to run like a car - fuel it, clean it, get on and off you go - they seem to forget that a Horse/pony is a living creature and needs it's rider to help give it confidence not the other way around. So an animal who worked brilliantly for his experienced owner will go to pieces under an inexperienced rider and be sold on only to get worse.

My pony is kept at an established full livery because I know he'll be cared for properly, I'm not a brilliant rider but i'm not letting my boy know that ;) and so far I don't feel over-ponied, we're working on his 'spooks' and schooling and looking forward to many years fun together. :D He's not 'perfect' but I'm willing to put the time in to help him.
 
I have met many people who are novice owners that have been sold totally unsuitable horses for their level of experience.
I have also met many people who have been sold supposedly young horses but because of their inexperience did not realise until too late, sometimes years down the line that the horse/pony was much older.
I agree that buying a suitable horse is a minefield, even for the experienced owner - let alone a novice.
I equally blame the sellers of these horses/ponies as much as the unsuspecting new owners, who don't really know any better, the sellers should know better.
 
Now, I'm going to weigh in on the other side, as someone who has sold horses that have been wonderful to break and train on, never putting a foot wrong and doing all that was ever asked. They have been sold on as young, honest 5 and 6 year olds with a bit done, a few shows under their belts and no problems, honestly marketed and described. I have had horses returned after 6 weeks rearing, napping, freaking out: what have these people been doing to change good, honest horses into frightened, confused wrecks?
 
Deseado said:
Now, I'm going to weigh in on the other side, as someone who has sold horses that have been wonderful to break and train on, never putting a foot wrong and doing all that was ever asked. They have been sold on as young, honest 5 and 6 year olds with a bit done, a few shows under their belts and no problems, honestly marketed and described. I have had horses returned after 6 weeks rearing, napping, freaking out: what have these people been doing to change good, honest horses into frightened, confused wrecks?
Click to expand...

I have seen this too. :(
 
I'd say there's not, just a lot of people who are way below average but consider themselves way above average, & then when they've lost their nerve &/or wrecked it come to the conclusion the horse is a nutter just because they can't ride it. Or act like its a psycho because it drags them to the field after its been in for a week eating hard feed.
 
Or they are too nervous to ever correct the horse, are too violent with their corrections or just have bad timing with the corrections and confuse the horse.

Then you have the weird and unhelpful punishments EG the 'withholding hay' one as per a different HHO thread.
 
Really interesting discussion. I have always considered myself as you have described. However, my confidence is a pain in the backside. Some days I can jump on bareback in a halter and gallop around laughing my backside off, other days, the thought of getting on fully tacked up and in an enclosed arena has me in tears.

My first riding instructor (long ago but still good friends) laughingly told me I was one of the more confusing students she ever had. The first year of me having lessons I would be perfectly fine then suddenly freeze up and tell everyone we had to just walk (despite being a good 10klms away from home!).

Then the next thing she knows I am galloping around everywhere on my cousins ex race horse who no one else will ride because it bolted on them!!!

My current horse was originally bought by a friend of mine for her teenage daughter to train for polocrosse. That was a complete disaster as she kept getting bucked off and refused to ride. I was called in to come 'sort him out'. There was nothing wrong with him, she couldn't ride for the love of money. My hubbie bought him for me and her parents bought a 7000 AUD horse which was 'perfect'... Until they sold the perfect horse and bought a 9000 AUD horse that was the best they'd ever owned...

My fragile confidence took a major blow when I had a bad fall off my horse (which of course was my own fault). It has been pieced back together but I will never be a completely confident rider.

I have always had 'problem' horses though generally they have been perfectly fine until I create a problem and end up on my backside!

I have discovered though that training in the early years is indeed a major influence given what I know now about my horses behaviour.

Next time round (which hopefully won't be for a long time!) I would like to get a youngster to start from scratch (with the help of a good trainer). I know my own limitations and know when to get professional help.
 
I think its not just down to the individual rider, regardless of their experience, a lot of it comes down to money, unprofessional folk making a quick buck on selling horses that haven't been bred for purpose or brought on correctly.

Livery yards/riding centres/tuition etc need to be of a good standard and there's plenty about that are not.

Its very easy for a horse to end up with the wrong rider or in the type of environment, so end up being passed around and labled as a difficult horse.

If buyers and sellers were more honest, responsible and realistic then everything would work out better for riders of all abilities and horses of all types.

.....if that makes any sense :)
 
My pony who spends most of his time out on loan teaching someone else the ropes came back from his 1st loan home a complete pest. The first time I tried to ride him, he thought about jumping out of the school, he wedged himself over the breast bar in the trailer on the way home, and he had become very naughty to clip. The woman (who had had horses before) had had him for 7 months. He went back out on loan to some people I knew after going to my version of boot camp, and the girl who had him bumped into the other lady at a show. She was told he was dangerous, laughed at her and said hardly, he's bombproof, my mother rides him!
Sadly horses can very quickly be ruined, and once they have been through a couple of not so perfect homes get labelled with a reputation. So many would be fine if they were reschooled, but no one has the time, finances or inclination.
 
Puzzles said:
There are so many products, gadgets, feeds & 'superstar' trainers around ... naturally, there are more horses and more riders around these days. I think ^this^ multitude of extra products etc is a problem, a) because the more complicated it get, the more easy it is to go wrong, and it also encourages people to cut corners. People seek to do everything the quickest and easiest way, they want a ready made horse and are unwilling (rather than unable) to put the work in. And my my experience this goes for horsey families and 'experts' as much as new/latecomers to riding.
Perhaps people's values and ambitions have changed? Competitions are far more accessible to the everyda rider, and I actually think far more people are seeking higher standards of everything, from products to management and riding: 20 years ago, fewer people had lessons they did everything themselves and they were more than happy 'just' to school or hack and do pony club. Most horses had hay and chaff with course mix or nuts and were ridden in a snaffle and cavesson noseband. Their horses were simple and they were kept and ridden simply. However this wasn't always best, it's just the way it was. Now there are so many more ways of doing everything and it's easy to get confused or choose a track that doesn't work for your horse.
Perhaps these days people seek to solve their problems rather than just have the horse put to sleep or retired for being difficult to ride or manage. Then, naturally, through trying to solve problems life gets more complicated and difficult before it gets better.
There is a smaller divide between who do & don't 'do' horses which isn't neceesarily a bad thing as making horses - especially learning about horses - more accessible only reduces the clique associated with horses and also decreases ignorance.
People get so caught up with where they are aiming to go and with making sure they have the best rugs and feed for their horse that they lose perspective and forget about the horse's needs itself. Then when the owner's needs and the horses needs don't match up, you get problems. It should always be about the horse but it seems to be all about the rider...
I think it's a shame these days that people seem to be encouraged to seek a higher authority with everything: apparently noone's good enough to have a horse or to compete etc, you should have a trained saddler/physio/horse breaker/yard manager/instructor - apparently you should only ever be an 'expert' if you want to bring on a youngster or own a WB/ISH/TB/anything other than a cob or even to buy your first horse...sigh.
I have honestly rarely known truly novice riders to buy a horse that was truly too much for them. Quite the contrary - novice owners buy an imperfect horse with a niggle or two (as most horses do) and they have their confidence and 'deservedness' shattered by the so-called experts around them. Noone buys a horse lightly and most people have an instructor/horsey friends/fellow liveries and yard owner to help them, especially since information and help is more widely available now.
Or ... maybe 'the old times' always looks rosier in retrospect ;)
Click to expand...

Love this
 
Deseado said:
Now, I'm going to weigh in on the other side, as someone who has sold horses that have been wonderful to break and train on, never putting a foot wrong and doing all that was ever asked. They have been sold on as young, honest 5 and 6 year olds with a bit done, a few shows under their belts and no problems, honestly marketed and described. I have had horses returned after 6 weeks rearing, napping, freaking out: what have these people been doing to change good, honest horses into frightened, confused wrecks?
Click to expand...

Because a lot of people who buy those honest 5 and 6 year olds do not either realise or do not take the time to teach those horses their necessary life skills.

At 5 and 6 (and depending on the breeding sometimes 7 or 8) horses are still young, green and need to learn and be exposed to life with an experienced confident hand to show them life is non scary and fun. Young horses will draw all of their confidence from their rider so add a Novice or rider lacking in confidence into the mix and all it causes are problems.

My horse is rising 7 and is still not fully mature, he is a big warmblood x who had a year off after backing due to an accident) he is being given a wonderful education, courtesy of my grounded experienced friend, he schools, he hacks out, he gets ponied about, he gets loaded up and taken to competitions sometimes to compete at a very low level sometimes just as a companion so he can get the atmosphere of larger parties, he is used as a school horse for stage III BHS students and recently was used by someone taking their BHSI teaching exams for their lungeing module and has been used by the pony club for conformation classes and the fancy dress competition at the Halloween Camp:-) he is handled by both experienced qualified people and also the kids that help out at the yard on the weekends, he deals happily with both.

He is lucky that I am happy to give him the time to mature and if he does have a blip then we take the 3 steps back approach, he is starting to turn into a good all round citizen (which is all I want for him).

The other thing I think is so important is if you do have a young horse trained then ensure your trainer knows what you want, it is pointless my friend turning my horse into a Dressage Diva or a show jumping superstar as ultimately all I want is to be able to enjoy lessons with him, do some very low level competitions and hack out in company and alone. Luckily she totally gets this and sees no point at all in training a horse to level 20 when the rider is only ever going to be on level 10, her whole attitude is to take the horse to 2 or 3 levels above the rider then they can move on together from there.

I have owned my lad since he was 3.5 and if all continues to go as well as it has been I will have the 8 year old I could never have afforded to buy outright, it has been a long road but I have come to realise (this has been my first experience of owning a youngster) to get a good solid in mind and body all round good citizen of a horse there are no short cuts.
 
I think our whole culture has changed to be much 'gentler'. Children are no longer to be smacked, dogs are treated like babies and novice riders not brought up round horses often seem to treat their animals with kid gloves, often encouraged by a misunderstanding of various NH practices. But they miss the point that a horse can only relax in the company of a strong leader, and a string leader in a horses eyes is the one who bites hardest, kicks first etc. So novice owners pat, soothe and pampered their horses, making them mote and more insecure and confused and wonder why problems escalate.

My nervy pony us a case in point. First time I rode him out, we got half way up the rode and he planted, spoiling at a gateway. I got the distinct impression this was a familiar trick to him. Without even really thinking, I gave him a sharp whack with my crop and growled. He went past without a murmer, and never planted again. I swear I could feel the tension drop away as he went "thank god for that, rider is in charge not me"!

But so many riders would be hesitating, wondering what was wrong, soothing horse, leading him by, and all this says to the horse is " yes mate, you were right to be scared, I am too". Too many horses around who think they have to be the leader these days.
 
The comment about "misplaced NH thinking" is too true. ALL the NH people I have met, and I have met a few, are pretty firm and provide that strong leadership, and there have even been a few indrawn breathes from the audience when they have done something.

One American said she got fed up with everyone patting and fussing their horses when what they needed was clear instruction. "Don't be nice, be CLEAR" she said. She also said that it is quite hard for a well intentioned lady owner to hurt their horse no matter what they did. (she had seen horses beaten to the ground in the USA by men) And she would be regarded as a NH person.
 
Its a very difficult question you have asked. I regard myself as average. But i suppose alot of people do and there lies the answer. One persons average is not the same as anothers.

QUOTE
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.

I am a mum (recently single after 10 years marriage). I work and i have 2 children my PBA has lots of quirks and can be very difficult at times but she is certainly not a disaster and its a silly assumption to say a working mother cant cope the same with a horse as anybody else. The problem today is that people have a variety of different requirements for their horse and they dont always think it through when buying them. It is as much the sellers responsibility to ensure that the buyer has at the very least a basic knowledge of nutrition and how the feed they use effects a horse and that time and patience goes a long way. Some people buy a horse and as someone else says 6 weeks later its back where it started. They are not machines and need time to adjust to new stables or surroundings field mates etc. I also dont agree with people saying that because a horse is warmblood or "flashy" that it somehow makes it automatically an advanced competition horse not suitable for an "average" rider. I have ridden several big warmbloods that are lovely natured pleasure horses suitable to basic level of all disciplines. On the same note i have seen many cob types that buck and gallop of on their owners. At the end of the day what you put in to your horse 90% of the time you will get back 10 fold. As long as people are aware what they and the prospective horse are capable of there should be no problem. If people are buying a horse unsuitable most of the time it is down to their own over ambition and buying a horse for the wrong reason and ultimately that is their own fault, unfortunately its the horse that suffers for it in the end.

One last thing i agree with SouthWestWhippet and OrangeStar the horse needs to know its job and you need to be clear and firm in what you want the horse to do if there is hesitation in you the horse will become unsure or naughty. Although in saying that i have an unhandled youngster who is very very nervous and gentleness and consistency is needed to build up her confidence, too firm and she will shy away. Sometimes an "average rider" doesnt always have the basic ground knowledge to handle or bring on a healthy happy or well balanced horse but can ride beautifully. What is the answer?? Basic 1/2 hour horse handling compulsory before a ridden lesson?? Another question for another day :).
 
Peachescream said:
Its a very difficult question you have asked. I regard myself as average. But i suppose alot of people do and there lies the answer. One persons average is not the same as anothers.

QUOTE
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.

I am a mum (recently single after 10 years marriage). I work and i have 2 children my PBA has lots of quirks and can be very difficult at times but she is certainly not a disaster and its a silly assumption to say a working mother cant cope the same with a horse as anybody else. The problem today is that people have a variety of different requirements for their horse and they dont always think it through when buying them. It is as much the sellers responsibility to ensure that the buyer has at the very least a basic knowledge of nutrition and how the feed they use effects a horse and that time and patience goes a long way. Some people buy a horse and as someone else says 6 weeks later its back where it started. They are not machines and need time to adjust to new stables or surroundings field mates etc. I also dont agree with people saying that because a horse is warmblood or "flashy" that it somehow makes it automatically an advanced competition horse not suitable for an "average" rider. I have ridden several big warmbloods that are lovely natured pleasure horses suitable to basic level of all disciplines. On the same note i have seen many cob types that buck and gallop of on their owners. At the end of the day what you put in to your horse 90% of the time you will get back 10 fold. As long as people are aware what they and the prospective horse are capable of there should be no problem. If people are buying a horse unsuitable most of the time it is down to their own over ambition and buying a horse for the wrong reason and ultimately that is their own fault, unfortunately its the horse that suffers for it in the end.

One last thing i agree with SouthWestWhippet and OrangeStar the horse needs to know its job and you need to be clear and firm in what you want the horse to do if there is hesitation in you the horse will become unsure or naughty. Although in saying that i have an unhandled youngster who is very very nervous and gentleness and consistency is needed to build up her confidence, too firm and she will shy away. Sometimes an "average rider" doesnt always have the basic ground knowledge to handle or bring on a healthy happy or well balanced horse but can ride beautifully. What is the answer?? Basic 1/2 hour horse handling compulsory before a ridden lesson?? Another question for another day :).
Click to expand...



I was using my example of the working mum as a illustration of hoe the horse must fit the job it bought for .
There is no way a working mum with children can give the time that say I can to a problem horse if I want to work with a horse three hours a day i can ,it means I can be more relaxed about what I buy ,work seven days a week twice a day any way a horse needs to work I can provide need two people every day no probelm here , if you have restrictions in what you can do you need to pick horses that will fit into your lifestyle.
It was intended as a critism it was just an example I picked.
 
Puzzles said:
apparently you should only ever be an 'expert' if you want to bring on a youngster or own a WB/ISH/TB/anything other than a cob or even to buy your first horse...sigh.
I have honestly rarely known truly novice riders to buy a horse that was truly too much for them. Quite the contrary - novice owners buy an imperfect horse with a niggle or two (as most horses do) and they have their confidence and 'deservedness' shattered by the so-called experts around them. Noone buys a horse lightly and most people have an instructor/horsey friends/fellow liveries and yard owner to help them, especially since information and help is more widely available now.
Or ... maybe 'the old times' always looks rosier in retrospect ;)
Click to expand...

This^^^^^^^!

You have just described me. Yes, Kali has "niggles" . . . no, he's not really a novice ride . . . but with the right help and perseverance we have come a really long way in the two years I've owned him. However, I had many, many so called experts telling me to sell him when we hit a rough patch 6 months in . . . I was overhorsed, he was too much for me, etc., and my already-dented confidence took yet another knock.

Thank God for kind, supportive friends and a patient trainer. Kal still has his "issues" but the real key to how we are together is that we trust each other . . . and that took time.

Personally, I think too many people buy a horse that may not be perfect for them (but with time and patience could make a good partnership) and then get sidetracked by all the well-meaning (or not so well-meaning) advice offered by so-called experts.

P
 
I also think the fact most people on a low wage can now afford the basic costs of a easy to keep horse on cheap diy, which is lovely for many. However the problem comes when someone who knows very little can't afford the outlay of a true confidence giver &/or hasn't budgeted for the on- going training, lessons instructors etc. they need to support them. Basic Diy on a farm with no experienced help is fine for those with experience who couldn't have considered the cost of a horse 20 years ago, but a disaster for those who have little experience & no funds for help.
Polar skye- agree with what you say but sounds like you had support but many don't which is what causes problems not novices as a whole.
 
I think it's partly due to the riding school's levels of classes - novice, intermediate and 'advanced' - when advanced means can walk, trot, canter and pop a small jump. It puts the wrong ideas into peoples heads when looking for a horse of their own away from the riding school.

I think the other thing is the "I want it now" society we live in. Rather than saving for the horse that is well schooled and mannerly - and therefore more expensive, they by a cheaper horse that is cheap because of it's quirks or naughty habits and then struggle to deal with them.
 
PolarSkye said:
So would you say £4K was cheap?

P
Click to expand...

No, but I think BBH has a point in some cases (clearly not yours!). I can think of a fair number of mediocre RS riders I've known who went out and bought cheap youngsters because that's all they can afford. Some ended up over-horsed, some are just plodding along never really getting anywhere and wasting a nice horse (but it's their horse to waste), and some rose to the challenge.
 
littlelegs said:
Basic Diy on a farm with no experienced help is fine for those with experience who couldn't have considered the cost of a horse 20 years ago, but a disaster for those who have little experience & no funds for help.
Polar skye- agree with what you say but sounds like you had support but many don't which is what causes problems not novices as a whole.
Click to expand...

I'll agree with this LL . . . novice-y people who don't seek help certainly don't do their horses (or them) any favours. And the help does need to be factored into the cost. It's the reason I chose a full/part livery yard as Kal's first home with us . . . I knew we needed the help/support. Now we're on a basic DIY yard but we have a good support network built up . . . I do think, though, that this doesn't just come down to money . . . it's also about recognizing that you don't know everything and you need help - and not being afraid to ask for that help.

As an example . . . an acquaintance of mine recently spent £8K on an event horse . . . she is extremely novice-y (has had lessons for less than a year), has NO knowledge of handling/horse management, was advised not to buy this horse and is now over-horsed. She bought him to have at the RS where she was having lessons on the understanding that YO's daughter (who trained with the Schockemohles for a year so knows what she's doing) would school him (he's on full livery b/c he's not suitable for the school). YO's daughter finds him to be a complete thug and can't manage him . . . friend doesn't have much control over his management which is winding her up, but conversely doesn't really have a clue/couldn't handle/manage him on her own. Now she's threatening to take her horse (and her daughter's pony) away from the RS and have them both at home . . . and what a disaster that would be.

Not only did she buy the wrong horse (and, yes, I know how much that contradicts what I said earlier about what people told me), but she won't/can't accept help - which I think is the bigger issue.

P
 
galaxy said:
I think there's more of a problem with people going to flashier horses than they can cope with personally.
Click to expand...

I agree with the above as I think too many people these days have a few lessons at a riding school in the reletive safety of a manege and think they can do it all. All the gear but no idea, types!

I have owned and ridden horses for many many years, and in my early days of owning and riding there were very few places with the luxury of an arena to ride in. My ponies lived out with the cows and we just used to hack every where and jump and school where ever we could find a suitable field. We learned how to ride ' out in the open'. The warmbloods were only seen ridden by professionals.

I think there have always been people who over horse themselves and riding is not such an elitist sport/hobby now and many more people have the opportunity to own and ride a horse. I know several people who have beautiful horses that they are too scared to ride or they buy as a status symbol.

I always say there are no bad horses just bad owners. Yes, some horses are easier than others just like people. There is nothing wrong with being a happy hacker just dont expect a racehorse straight off the track to have the same idea!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top