Too fit

[Irishcobs]

Can a horse be too fit for its job? I'm not talking about a racehorse off the track, going hacking once a week, thats just mad.
We were talking about Badders today and about one person who's horses were did brilliant SJ and XC rounds but were very lively, jumping out of their skins in the dressage. My boss said they were too fit, hence the dressage. I know the rider and talked to them about Badders after it finished, so before the 'too fit' comment, and they said they didn't give enough time to warm them up/tire them out thats why they were jumping about. They said there is no such thing as too fit.
So is there? Can a horse be too fit for its job?

 

[Bossanova]

Yes!
I've seen several horses at 1/2* level that are just bursting out of their skins. This leads to bad dressage performances and actually can be detrimental to the jumping phases

 

[Irishcobs]

I suppose thats the test in eventing, having something calm enough for the dressage but fit enough to do the xc.

 

[siennamum]

I think many horses are too fit. Especially for PN/Intro, the problem to my mind is that the horse has to be worked so hard to get to that point. Lots of galloping and jumping and hours of flatwork. I do believe it shortens their competitive career.
Of course the opposite is equally damaging (and I've never had a horse TOO fit!!)

 

[little_pink_piggies]

i had that trouble doing an fei pony trial!! really bumming, prevented me from doing sansaw- only just starting to get him right now and hes been in field for ages haha!