Waste of a horse

I take the opposite view and happen to think that a "happy hacker" sort that gets to play out in the field with their mates and go exploring new places with no pressure is a very nice life indeed. If I were a horse I'd prefer that to 24/7 stabling / small amounts of individual turnout and endless schooling and competing (not saying anyone actually DOES that just playing devils advocate!)
 
I had exactly the same said to me years ago by my old instructors OH. It threw me at the time as I did and still don't find competing fun. When it was said it made me stop and think but after spoking to some friends I realised there was nothing wrong with hacking and having fun with my horse without getting the rosettes.
Don't let this person put you of we all have horses for different reason as long as you have fun and your horse is cared for that is all that matters.
 
I recently bought a new horse as my slightly older welsh cob did not enjoy competing anymore and I really wanted to compete. The new one does not enjoy hacking and loves to compete. I have kept my older mare and she enjoys going out 3-4 times a week to have a bit of fun out and about. She is so much happier now she is not dragged to shows and competitions all the time and so am I.
There is a "job" for every horse and if that is competing, hacking, being a field ornament or a bit of everything most of the times your horse will tell you what they like!
 
I don't enjoy competing and bought a retired competition horse (aged 16), we have an absolute blast doing fast, challenging hacking and the occasional pleasure ride. We have a interesting and exhilarating life together - lots of fun and not stress; perfect for us.

Frankly I find it offensive when people suggest you are a lesser rider and wasting a horse if you do not compete. A sizable proportion of those people don't have the balls or skill to ride a horse fast in wide open spaces like I do.
 
SO1 said:
There is a good quote in an old book I have called "Keeping a pony" by Lucy Rees. It says "ponies do not care about winning cups and rosettes, about being clean or impressing the neighbours; they do care about friendliness, amusement and food and feeling safe from attack"
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A wonderful book! Written for children, but full of wisdom and every bit as relevant for adult horse owners.
 
Whilst I personally wouldn't enjoy happy hacking doesn't mean others can't! Pretty sure my comp horse wouldn't mind hours of hacking a few times a week! Don't see the issue! I would only say the horse is wasted If you bought something with top potential. Though it's not wasting the horse as such, just the ride for someone if that makes sense!
 
Our (former) instructor has told my share horse's owner and me several times that our gorgeous boy has been wasted with us and in the right hands (i.e. his) he would have gone at least intermediate. I just reply that he doesn't lay awake in bed at night thinking "I could have gone to Badminton" and no horse that is doing a great job is wasted. He's restored my confidence(after a bad time with my horse due to his foot problems) to the point I am out competing at least once a month (and I spent my first jumping lesson 5 years ago on him crying for the whole hour saying "I can't do it.") and his owner can not ride for about 4 months and jump straight on him and do a round of 90cm show jumps straight off. OK, so a BE90 is the most he'll do now but he's adored, well cared for, brilliant at the job he does and defintely a happy horse.

I do a bit of dressage on him too but don't go in the school more than twice a week, and usually only once a week, as he gets very bored and switches off if I do too much. He never gets bored of hacking!

Go for it, and have yourself a load of fun, that's what it's about after all!
 
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SpringArising said:
When people say that horses 'love' going to 'parties' and that their horses 'show off in public', I can never tell if they're being serious or not.

They're not 'showing off', they're high on adrenaline. They have no idea where they are or what is going to happen to them, which is why so many horses become bargy and appear to have no awareness of personal space at shows. They're not calm or thinking straight.
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I'm strongly inclined to agree!
 
One of my horses loves going out, whether it be to shows or hacking. She see the trailer and gets really excited and loads herself. To her life is just one huge adventure. The other horse is completely different. She doesn't like going anywhere different. In fact she is happiest being ridden in an enclosed space; an indoor school or a school with high fences. You take each horse as you find it.
As people have said, it takes a huge amount of bravery and trust (both horse and rider) to gallop across a field; good horsemanship as well.
 
pansymouse said:
Frankly I find it offensive when people suggest you are a lesser rider and wasting a horse if you do not compete. A sizable proportion of those people don't have the balls or skill to ride a horse fast in wide open spaces like I do.
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Oh ain't that the truth!? You want a challenging ride? Take a high-spirited horse out on its own up and down mountain trails at varying speeds. Past army bases and apache helicopters. Past fields of Llamas.
 
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