Weird question.... how much do you like riding your horse?

[RachelFerd]

Bit of Friday afternoon ramblings really. I've had lots of horses over the years, and probably sat on a thousand or more whilst working in various parts of the industry, but it struck me this week that my 6yo is probably the horse I have enjoyed riding the most of all the horses - he's safe, he's light and responsive, he wakes up to jump a big XC fence with plenty of buzz but he'll also wander around open fields on the buckle end. He's just also a pleasure to deal with in all respects. He had a few moments at the start of his 5yo year where there were some not-so-great patches, but the horse that I have now is just *so* delightful.

I've got a vague sense of guilt in that I definitely prefer riding him to my other 12yo - even though I've had the 12yo much longer and competed to a higher level. Don't get me wrong - he's also a total delight to deal with, and I've never enjoyed showjumping as much as I have with this horse - but give me a choice, and I'd be on the 6yo every single time for anything bar a big SJ track. He's just not quite as sensible out on the roads, and not quite so athletic and light when schooling on the flat and he's just a bit heavy in the hand when you're cantering in open spaces. None of these are big issues at all, but they just make me think about how much I enjoy riding the other one

How much do you like riding your own horse(s)?
Do you find yourself wishing you were sat on something else?
How often do you find you feel nervous or intimidated by your horse's behaviour under saddle?
Do you ever feel like your horse isn't athletic/sporty enough for you?

 

[Bionic Boy]

I absolutely love riding my horse. Having had that taken away for a bit through injury it made me realise just how much I love riding him and really miss it when I can't. I did ride another horse in the meantime and whilst she was nice it made me miss riding mine even more.
He never makes me feel nervous or intimidated by him, he just makes me laugh when he has a little tantrum. He is a PRE so goes into full Spanish show off mode.
Do you ever feel like your horse isn't athletic/sporty enough for you? Nope we are as laid back as each other

 

[Barton Bounty]

I absolutely love my horse, love riding, love all the mucking out etc too. It never even dawns on me about riding others. I do regularly but never compare. Cause as much as my boy is temperamental shall we say, its the bond that makes it special

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I haven't ridden my horse!

He's too young and I'm not competent enough to bring on a youngster. I'm borrowing a friends horse who is lovely and a friend is starting mine. I hope I'll enjoy riding him when he's ready. No rush though, could be a while yet

 

[Roxylola]

Oh that's an interesting worm hole! I enjoy riding both my boys. I'd like Bon just a touch bolder to a fence and both a little hotter, but they are both similarly level headed but forward, good willing hacks, good in traffic, they both cope ok with a miss.

Sometimes at bigger shows or even clinics I get a real - I'd like a sit on that feeling but there's not much I'd change for either of mine.

 

[Abacus]

I love riding mine - he's talented, learns quickly and is kind. However I surprised myself recently when I took a little cob as a project by how much fun she is - she tries even harder to please and the rate of improvement is incredible, as well as feeling amazing to ride, she has surprisingly good movement. Sometimes I find myself looking forward to her more, which makes me feel a little guilty.

By contrast my son's horse, which I ride a few times per week, I am sometimes a touch bored by. He is well schooled and jumps sweetly but I don't find him that interesting even though he actually has a lovely jump and a beautiful canter.

I can only decide that I am so lucky to have three different and really good horses (plus my old boy who is the one I ride if I just want to have a gorgeous hack and a chat with him). We get such different things from all of them and they each teach us something.

 

[GinaGeo]

Like you, I’ve ridden plenty over the years. Some mine. Plenty for others. Some horses I really don’t enjoy riding. Some are too wide and just plan uncomfortable. Some too backward thinking.

My Connemara is fun. He’s brave and he’s up for jumping anything. To ride cross country or to hunt I don’t think you could put me on anything I’d enjoy more. He makes you feel utterly fearless and you can’t help but grin. He’s not really careful enough for show jumping. And the dressage has always been very much under negotiation, albeit much improved these days. He finds it difficult physically and mentally as dull as dishwater.

My enjoyment of the young Anglo Arab varies. The Dec / Jan / Feb version of him is less fun. A little too reactive and sharp for my liking these days. But in Summer when he’s fit and his mind is being kept busy enough he is the best Show Jumper. I always thought I didn’t enjoy show jumping, but I do enjoy it on him. He‘s not the most straightforward on the flat, easily bored and makes his own fun. But boy is he making a much better rider. He is far too athletic sometimes. And whilst he’s greatly improved from the 5 yr old year, he can still throw some shapes. These days he’s generally gracious enough to do it in a straight line. I’ve nearly reached the laugh at him stage

My Welsh D x TB is my fav. He tries so hard at everything and has a real can do attitude. He took me further in Dressage and Eventing than I ever dreamed of and when physical issues caught up with him he took to Side Saddle like a fish to water. I can rely on him in all situations, he’s great fun to hack and is the best in the school. When he was injured and I was working on a pro event yard, I was fortunate to ride all sorts of lovely eventers and dressage horses. All better bred and flashier than Solo. They just weren’t the same, none were as game or as genuine or filled with quite as much character. He’s impossible to ride without smiling and if I could only ride one horse again, even now that he doesn’t jump. It would still be him.

Very lucky to have three very different horses, who all make me smile for very different reasons.

 

[Auslander]

Love riding him - he's everything I ever wanted in a horse, and getting on him feels like putting on an old pair of slippers. Absolutely hate that he is old and stiff, and can only really go for walk hacks now. I really miss the days of being able to do a line of one changes just by breathing in and out - we really did understand each other that well!
He still makes me smile when he does the sl*t drop and spin manoeuvre, and swings me off the side. No matter how old and stiff he gets, he will always remind me how easily he could decant me if he really wanted to!

 

[Zoeypxo]

I love riding mine but shes v accident prone so i always end up riding other peoples

 

[RachelFerd]

So my initial assessment of this thread is either that we're a weirdly lucky bunch, or we're saying what we want to think rather than what we do think. Because when I'm at the livery yard, I think there's definitely at least 50% of people, maybe more, who don't seem to love riding their own horse that much, for various reasons. Which isn't to say that they don't love their horse, because I think 99% do - just that they don't seem to be having as much enjoyment riding as most of us are expressing.

And to be clear - I adore both my boys, but on the miniscule amount of occasions that the older one is titting around on a hack spooking at something unnecessary, in that moment I am *not* having fun and enjoyment. Like I don't enjoy the messing around like I might have used to when I was younger and bouncier myself.

I also look at some smart jumping horses out SJ and eventing do often think i'd love to have a sit on that - but at the end of the day, I've no idea if I'd enjoy doing *everything* with them like I can the 6yo.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Ahh but its everyone else’s interpretation. My boy can have a week of being an absolute bell end and then be perfect! Still prefer riding him to anyone elses ‘perfect’ horses lol. Its always a mixed bag. Auslander hit the nail on the head, sl*t drop lol

 

[The Xmas Furry]

How much do you like riding your own horse(s)?
Do you find yourself wishing you were sat on something else?
How often do you find you feel nervous or intimidated by your horse's behaviour under saddle?
Do you ever feel like your horse isn't athletic/sporty enough for you?

Very much.
Nope
Never, despite the occasional star jumps or capriole (which are fewer and further between, these days), she makes me grin
Nope, happy to ping round jumps, do a good pace on fun rides but still acts sensibly as escort when required.

I went down to 14hh a few yrs ago and since I got B I've been having a whale of a time. The odd new coach at RC has rather looked down at us but usually revises opinion once we get going

 

[RachelFerd]

Ahh but its everyone else’s interpretation. My boy can have a week of being an absolute bell end and then be perfect! Still prefer riding him to anyone elses ‘perfect’ horses lol. Its always a mixed bag. Auslander hit the nail on the head, sl*t drop lol

I don't think you can claim you find bell end behaviour enjoyable? Do you actually enjoy that part of riding your horse? (maybe you do - but I'm not sure I get it any more, although maybe that's just me getting older and creakier.....)

 

[Ali27]

I absolutely love my ginger x cob! She is so quirky, whizzy and fun! I’ve swapped with a few friends on camp/ on hacks but honestly nothing compares to my crazy little ginger mare She is nearly 21 and I’ve had her since she was 6 and she truly is my pony of a lifetime

 

[oldie48]

I've only had one horse that I didn't enjoy riding and I stuck with him for five years until a trainer told me bluntly to get rid as he just didn't want to do the job for me. I am so grateful to her as I sold him as a safe hack and a competent low level Riding club horse. His new owner adored him and he became her horse of a lifetime!
All my other horses I've grown to love riding as I've become more confident and competent. The TB that put me in hospital was the one I had for 17 years and riding him became like putting on a pair of old slippers. Mr B delighted me from the start but I had to learn to manage his and my own anxiousness. Rose tested me at the beginning and I had my fair share of wobbles but we were really getting things together when she was injured. The first time I rode Mr D, who I ride now, I couldn't trot a 20m circle and tbh found his enormous trot completely energy sapping. I absolutely adore him now (still wish he had a smaller trot though!) and find him hugely confidence giving. I've learned never to judge a horse until I've ridden it for 6-12 months, it's usually my fault if things aren't going as well as i want.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I don't think you can claim you find bell end behaviour enjoyable? Do you actually enjoy that part of riding your horse? (maybe you do - but I'm not sure I get it any more, although maybe that's just me getting older and creakier.....)

But it is part of his personality, and I take it. Even though I had to de camp last week, I still find it hilarious and got on at the next tree stump away from the very scary whatever it was

 

[Abacus]

It’s an interesting point about saying what we think rather than what we actually do. I know quite a few people who find any excuse not to ride their horse and for whom the slightest misted means two weeks of diagnostics, I think because they want an excuse not to. Those are the ones with the wrong horses for them. I’ve been there too, and had to decide to part company with a few horses in the interests of finding that feeling where I actively can’t wait to get back on.

 

[Upthecreek]

Quite a few owners at my yard hardly ever ride so I assume that enjoyment of riding is secondary to enjoyment of looking after horses for quite a lot of people?

I really enjoy riding my horse and it never feels like a chore. He is forward going but level headed and I’ve owned him since a 4 year old so I guess I’ve made him into the horse I wanted. He’s fun to hack, school, jump, compete and easy to do in all respects and I’d never part with him by choice.

I have to keep my daughter’s horse ticking over when she’s away at uni and I openly admit I don’t enjoy riding him very much. Now I’m older he’s a bit too spicy and unpredictable and I can’t honestly say riding him gives me enjoyment or makes me happy in the way riding my own horse does. He’s also quite highly strung and sensitive generally and I’ve outgrown that. 20 years ago I’d have loved him and found my own horse a bit boring.

 

[scats]

I love riding Millie, she’s like a pair of comfy slippers that I know inside out… but she still throws the odd daft thing in to keep things entertaining!

I love riding Polly too, just not when I’m being catapulted into the ground

 

[Lexi 123]

personally I love a challenge my horse is the type of horse that she is a very forgiving mare you can ride terrible and she won’t do anything, you can put anyone on her and she just plod along. she isn’t completely novice proof as she would spook at her own shadow she Will look at scary items step backwards and snort then trot past it .

 

[kathantoinette]

How much do you like riding your own horse(s)?
Do you find yourself wishing you were sat on something else?
How often do you find you feel nervous or intimidated by your horse's behaviour under saddle?
Do you ever feel like your horse isn't athletic/sporty enough for you?

Excellent thread…answers below…
I love riding my horse, I’m constantly planning my next goal, next competition etc.
Sometimes I’d like to ride something else as well as we’ve become a bit of a ‘marriage’ and neither of us know anything different than each other I’m sure he’d like someone else to ride him now and again as well!
I very rarely feel nervous or intimidated by him, but I know when he’s feeling fruity and might pop in a buck or two so just sit back and send him on.
I never feel he isn’t athletic or sporty enough for me but wish he’d be a bit braver at times.

Thinking about my previous horse, I would have entirely different answers hence the reason he was sold.

 

[southerncomfort]

I absolutely love riding my little firecracker!

He is the pony I dreamed of owning when I was a little girl.

His energy and enthusiasm out hacking is a delight, and he tries really hard in the school even though he'd much rather be out hacking.

I've enjoyed riding all of my ponies but wouldn't have been overly upset if I couldn't ride them. I'd be heartbroken if Bo had to be retired, we just have so much fun together.

 

[fidleyspromise]

How much do you like riding your own horse(s)?
I love my pony and love riding her as shes safe but soooo much fun.

Do you find yourself wishing you were sat on something else?
nope. I only wish she was a little bigger and a little younger.

How often do you find you feel nervous or intimidated by your horse's behaviour under saddle?
Never.
oncein 16 years. She felt more than fresh so i got off and gor on her the next day.

Do you ever feel like your horse isn't athletic/sporty enough for you?
Nope, ahe does everything I am capable of.

 

[Hackback]

I used to love riding my own horse. As a child I dreamed of owning an Arab and when I finally got one 13 years ago it was everything I hoped and imagined. If we didn't have a PR or hunting at the weekend I'd often just take an OS map and my horse and set off in the horsebox for a day out.

Since leaving the livery yard and bringing him home I seem to have lost my mojo. I don't know why but I can't be bothered to take him out in the box and local hacks just seem boring. I'm actually really surprised at myself, I never in a million years thought this would happen to me!

 

[lme]

I enjoy riding the one of mine that is in work (she is lovely) but spending time with my horses and seeing them develop is more important to me than riding them.

 

[chaps89]

I count myself lucky, I’ve ridden a reasonable number of other peoples horses over the years.

Some I’ve enjoyed just because it’s riding and time in the saddle, sometimes I enjoy them because of the things I can then go and do with them that I maybe couldn’t on other horses and some I just enjoy riding because they put a smile on my face!
(And if I’m lucky then type 2 and type 3 might be the same horse! But not always.)

I’m riding one at the moment who I love riding, he’s a big grey WB gelding which is not at all my type, he’s fairly backwards but he just makes me smile! And I’m jumping again - and enjoying it!
Equally I have one who is much more my ‘type’, a native x tb, nice height, does a bit of everything but honestly my confidence isn’t great on him
It’s why I’d never buy unseen - I need ‘that’ feeling when I ride them if it’s one for me but how do you describe that?!

 

[ycbm]

How much do you like riding your own horse(s)?

He fits my body and my mind perfectly, like no other horse I've owned. I'm desperate to get him sound and keep him going.

Do you find yourself wishing you were sat on something else?

Never

How often do you find you feel nervous or intimidated by your horse's behaviour under saddle?

Never

Do you ever feel like your horse isn't athletic/sporty enough for you?

No, I'm very sad that he isn't going to be robust enough to do arena work in future, but I wouldn't change him for one that can.

You're missing a question, i think.

Do you like your horse's personality when not riding?

My answer is I adore him and so does everyone he interacts with. He is such a lovable character.
.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I loved my old boy who I lost last October both riding and just being around him, we really connected and I really miss him. I also love riding my big ginge but although he’s lovable he isn’t particularly connected to me like Sol was. However there have been occasions over the years when they’ve both really put the wind up me. It’s not often though to make it a big issue. If it were then I wouldn’t have kept them as I want to enjoy riding my horses. I suppose though that there are things I don’t do or limit what I do because I’m not sure I could deal with potential behaviour in certain situations. For example I’d like to do a bit of very low-level XC but I’m not confident that he wouldn’t behave like a pillock.

 

[McGrools]

Interesting question. I bring on and sell a few and the point at which i decide if they are a keeper or not is when i dont really enjoy riding them and it becomes a chore. I’ve had a few really good consistent horses at lower level eventing that people thought i was mad to sell but i just didnt enjoy riding them anymore, bit too boring/predictable. Needed shaking/ revving up. I much prefer a hot horse that takes me.
i currently have a ginger exracer mare and i absolutely adore riding her. Its taken me till nearly 50 to find my dream ride and she is it. I like forward. Think i’m too lazy to kick nowadays

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

It's an interesting question, I loved riding Jacob because he was so incredibly athletic and capable and he made me feel like we could achieve anything. I never will forget asking for and him doing 8 flying changes (me having never ridden a proper flying change before) cantering up the field edge on a gorgeous summer evening. His trot was huge and unseating in the beginning but felt like no other I have ridden, being 18.3hh when he opened up on hacks the power just felt incredible and there was so much horse around me - he was just brilliant fun and tried so hard. I could trust him 90% of the time and I felt like the luckiest person in the world.

However, I did have to carefully manage hacking with others as the athleticism did work against me, he never was super spooky but if someone so much as went into trot and he wasn't in front, he would deck you; now I don't mean throw a few bucks et al, he would do anything he needed to to get you off (and anyone that ever tried to ride him through it, 6+ people minimum, including a jockey which backed young TB's), then go back to normal with no adrenaline, no jogging or spookiness, just like nothing ever happened. It was so bizarre, he didn't even mind being overtaken once in canter/gallop and would come back with a change of seat, super mannerly. I never could get to the bottom of it. He also would rear/kick off if he thought he was finished working and you asked him to work again, eg: at a clinic, or between a warm up arena and the test. So there were some hairy moments, and it did at times make me nervous as while I don't mind a usual buck/rear/nap, his weren't sittable just because of how he was built, so in all honesty I think I could possibly love riding another horse more/equally but for different reasons, if they were super safe and I could relax and not ride every stride.

My first horse Whisper was utterly neurotic and my second horse Jacob (different one) was wonderful and felt generally pretty safe, but I didn't have him for super long before I lost him and nothing about riding him stands out to me so I can't have been that in love with it, although what I was in love with was his personality and how much fun he was just to be around and to work with - that's more than enough for me. I still miss him everyday 'as a person'