What do you define as a 'competition' horse?

PapaFrita

PapaFrita

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As title.
Obviously most horses are able to go and take part in a local show, but does that count? Does it depend on the class/level? I don't think 'handsomest gelding' or 'prettiest mare' really count :p but what does? Is it a horse who is capable of being competitive (ie being in the places) most times he/she goes out or just a horse that can get a rider round safely every time. And again, what level is competitive for dressage, SJ, eventing or other?
Thanks :)
 
I don't define my horses as anything, they are all multipurpose, they all compete (well not squeak)/ have competed to a fair level, they all hack, some hunt/have hunted. But most of all they are my friends, perhaps I am too soft. The mares are also broodmares/potential brood mares. They are also good lawn mowers amd makers of good quality garden fertilizer.
 
TGM said:
I did a thread on this a few months ago - think it got a bit heated!:rolleyes:
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Yes, I think the outcome was the same as most other horsey things- everyone has a different opinion and no one is either 100% right or wrong and everyone definitely can't agree?! ;)

I'd say any horse who is kept with the sole intention of competing at a decent level (again, huge variation on what everyone deems "decent"!) would be a competition horse. Most of us have pets who are good allrounders and can turn a hoof to many things depending on what takes our fancy, but we wouldn't get rid just because they can't do a specific thing at a specific level, unlike a higher level/professional rider who needs a horse to do a job for them.

Of course... just my opinion! :)
 
It's a very hard question. Obviously as you know I got an inkling of some peoples opinions from FB, but when I sit and think about it - I think it's hard to define really.

FigJam has a point, in the fact that as soon as you buy a horse with the sole intention to compete it, does it become a competition horse. Then, with the title of competition horse, should you have tiers?? Because my idea of a competition horse is going to be vastly different to say, jus plucking a name out of thin air, Weezy's.

I think that too many people use titles for their horse as a badge of honour and as some kind of elitist club, to which they can exclude other members who flail about in the "Happy hacker" brigade.

But as Elaine (sorry I don't know your forum name) made a point on FB, should any decent horse be able to compete up to a certain level? And then does that make horses only of a level of above novice, true competition horses??

TBH I do wonder if it's something sellers have started, in efforts to get more money for their average horses?

It's all very complicated!
 
Oh no not this again lol!
I think a comp horse is any horse ridden against others for a prize - simples!!
My horse like Thistles is a comp horse (low level comp horse atm, I will admit that :p) but also a happy hacker, my friend, my everything lol! He's a true allrounder :p
I think any horse competing at whatever level is a comp horse as it doesn't matter if your doing a prelim, a BN or Badminton it takes a bloody lot of time, effort and training to do well.
 
Kitsune said:
But as Elaine (sorry I don't know your forum name) made a point on FB, should any decent horse be able to compete up to a certain level? And then does that make horses only of a level of above novice, true competition horses??
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Hello, tis me ;)
I think my beef is not about what level the horse competes at (although in my opinion a 'competition horse' is one whose sole purpose is to compete), but the fact that people assume that because their horse is more talented than the rider, it is the next best thing.
I have 2 moderately capable of most things horses (one is on a sort of sabbatical due to my time commitments), one has the primary function of having fun, the other has the primary function of eating and pooing, does the fact that they have both competed at Elementary or Discovery or PN mean they are competition horses, no. They are allrounders, they hunt, hack, jump, dressage (yawn) race and they are also part of the family.
I have no doubt that my horses could be far greater with other people riding them, but they are not about the competition results, which a competition horse's owners goal would be!
 
An interesting one and one which will happily keep me from doing any work :cool::D.

I bought a horse specifically to compete - has the breeding, the potential, and cost about right for what she was, etc., but now she'll only ever compete at the lower levels, if that. So, next year I'll be out looking for my competition horse, but will still have the Dizzy one, who is and always will be 'my horse'. In my mind already I think of them as 'my competition horse' and 'my horse', with drive and passion re. the former and soft and fuzzy re. the latter. Needless to say, if the new competition horse breaks, s/he will stay part of the Hairy Gang and another horse will be found and be the competition horse...

If I were to answer anyone else I'd say a competition horse is one that competes, no matter to what level, so long as its main reason for being kept is to take part in competitions. It's just for me that the definition of 'competition' is the higher level.
 
I think a true competition horse is one who's sole purpose on the yard is to compete at BE Novice level and beyond (or the SJ/ dressage equivalent- not huge but out of reach for the very average...). Therefore, there aren't huge numbers of competition horses but a lot of very smart allrounders.

It's a bit like the London marathon- technically, every participant is a marathon runner. Just some are 'proper' marathon runners, and others are hobby marathon runners who do lots else/ earn their keep another way...
 
for me a competition horse is one thats sole purpose is to compete. for example i compete joe but if for whatever reason he couldn't compete in the discipline i wanted i wouldn't sell him. however my 2nd horse would be sold if it wasn't fit for purpose (excluding injury)
 
I would define my horse as my competition horse because, as much as I love him, his purpose with me is to compete against others. That's why I keep him. I plan my work schedules, train him and feed him with competitions in mind. I think this is what separates the competition horse from the all-rounder. The all-rounder is kept to do a bit of everything and have some fun. The competition horse's life is tailored to training for their sport.

He's just a little connemara pony though, so unlikely to soar through BE, BD, BS rankings. So because of this maybe others wouldn't describe him as a competition horse.

Then again, I've been told once he's grown up a bit and fills into himself some more, he'll be very competative at county showing and above. Thus is he a competition horse?

I think it's far to subjective a term to ever have one definition that everyone agrees on, partially because everyone defines levels differently. Personally, as a nervous jumper, I consider any course above 2.6ft big. I know a lot of people on here would find that laughable.
 
A difficult one and one that is certainly subject to interpretation!

My opinion is that a competition horse was bought purely for the intention of competing, no matter what discipline.

I have 3 horses, all up and coming eventers. If one of them could not fulfill my expectations as an event horse, he or she would sadly have to be sold on. Not because I don't love them, but because my finances are limited and I cannot afford anymore horses, 3 is my limit, so if one cannot do the job it would be sold to a more suitable home and replaced with one that can do the job. In my opinion, my horses are competition horses, however, some might argue that they are not competition horses yet as they are young grassroots horses.
 
I breed what I term competition horses.
To me it means they will have the ability to be placed regularly in anything from R C dressage to BE /BD.
I expect them all to be forward going willing rides and the type who their rider feels is always capable of winning whatever class they enter.
An awful lot depends on rhe rider 's ability, so often a potentially good horse may never compete to it's full capabilities.
I have now sold two to a professional event home, so it should be interesting to see just how far they go, on paper their breeding should mean some could be capable of Badminton, but even if none get there, I feel any decent winning horse is entitled to be called a competition horse......
 
I'd class G as a competition horse despite the fact that we haven't so far made it to any competitions due to lameness! I bought him with a very specific aim in mind and have him for the sole aim of competing him at BE once he's mended.
 
Maybe you should change this to "what makes a good competition horse"? My previous boy was very well put together and a good mover. Could not understand why his owner wanted to sell him, till I saw her other 2. She showed at county level and when I looked at her others, I could see mine, for all he was perfect for me, did not have that spark or prescence her other 2 had. A lot of the seriously talented top level competition horses are often tricky and way out of the scope of most of us amateurs in terms of being able to get the best out of them but there are a lot who I would term to be good all rounders or "low" level competition horses. I (now) have one retired competition mare - she competed at intermediate BE, medium BD, was graded and bred a foal to DiMaggio - competition horse. The new boy is being aimed at BE - will he go as far as my mare? well not with me but heres hoping we can play at the lower levels and have fun together!
 
Why did the last one turn into a fight??? I think this is a very good topic and I am reading the replies with interest to see which one weighs out :)

I dont class any of mines as comp horses as I do very little competitng other than showing, looking to change that but we will see :)
 
I think that those on the previous thread that thought they had competition horses, that others thought were allrounders got offended last time round (shouldn't have). I admit I winced when I read this thread!

I think that at eventing, a competition horse is something that earns its keep for a pro rider, and has points - so competes at a decent level. Otherwise, at lower levels, however the horse is bred, its a good allrounder that you compete. I think there is a difference between a competition horse/rider and a hobby horse/rider that compete.

Things have changed nowadays, and things have dumbed down in the competion world to generate money - which is where the confusion starts. When I started eventing years ago, you came straight in at novice. There was no 80.90 or 100. I think that show jumping was the same. Prelim in dressage was for young horses being introduced to dressage, which were expected to move on. For most horses, being called a good allrounder was a great compliment, and meant that it would win most classes at local level and do rc teams - nowadays it would be called a competition horse, people think that a competition horse is more valuable. As someone else said, its a way of showing off for many people. I upset some people on the last thread by saying this, so will stress that this is just my feeling, but I feel silly calling my horse a competition horse - feel like a bit of a bighead. This is despite my horse being good, having had a pro rider ask to buy her, having had placings affiliated and having won most things at club level. She is a good allrounder. If the pro had bought her she would perhaps indeed have been a competition horse?

At the end of the day, it is just a term, and it doesn't really matter!
 
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I now class my horse as an event horse (he's done his 1st PN, so getting towards 'proper' eventing) so would be considered a competition horse, most of ours have defined roles, (broodmare/racehorse/childs pony) the 3yo will be produced to either event or possibly some NH, so is definitely a competition prospect, & hopefully in time a 'competition horse' of some sort.

saying that, come November, they become hunters!! I used to have a dedicated hunter/team chase horse, but now although the main focus of Anky is Eventing, he just does some hunting to keep him sweet!

Personally, I'd say that while any competing is obviously competition, a serious competition horse is one consistent at BE Novice (& BD/BS equiv.) really i think it comes down to whether they are treated as an athlete and trained accordingly.
 
Honey08 said:
I think that those on the previous thread that thought they had competition horses, that others thought were allrounders got offended last time round (shouldn't have). I admit I winced when I read this thread!

I think that at eventing, a competition horse is something that earns its keep for a pro rider, and has points - so competes at a decent level. Otherwise, at lower levels, however the horse is bred, its a good allrounder that you compete. I think there is a difference between a competition horse/rider and a hobby horse/rider that compete.

Things have changed nowadays, and things have dumbed down in the competion world to generate money - which is where the confusion starts. When I started eventing years ago, you came straight in at novice. There was no 80.90 or 100. I think that show jumping was the same. Prelim in dressage was for young horses being introduced to dressage, which were expected to move on. For most horses, being called a good allrounder was a great compliment, and meant that it would win most classes at local level and do rc teams - nowadays it would be called a competition horse, people think that a competition horse is more valuable. As someone else said, its a way of showing off for many people. I upset some people on the last thread by saying this, so will stress that this is just my feeling, but I feel silly calling my horse a competition horse - feel like a bit of a bighead. This is despite my horse being good, having had a pro rider ask to buy her, having had placings affiliated and having won most things at club level. She is a good allrounder. If the pro had bought her she would perhaps indeed have been a competition horse?

At the end of the day, it is just a term, and it doesn't really matter!
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What a great explanation thank you. I was another on who was confused about why the above thread turned nasty. i would rather have an alrounder than a one trade horse.
 
I think this is a bit of an odd question but I'm sure PapaFrita didn't start this thread just to be provocative. I think it's odd because I can't think of one occasion when I've had to identify one of my horses as a "competition horse" per se. If someone asked me what I did with my horses, I'd explain - briefly, if possible - that I evented; if they asked me what type of horses I had, I'd say fat, bay ones :p ...only kidding, I'd say eventers.

So when does the situation arise that you have to "label" your horse(s)? :confused: If it's true that it's snobbery, much like I hear it is to say that you compete BE, then frankly I am shocked, and out of touch (nothing new there then...:o). Actions speak louder than words, empty vessels make most noise etc etc. :rolleyes:
 
I agree with Honey08 to an extent, but at the same time I'd feel silly calling any horse of mine an allrounder, tbh. It would imply that I do, or plan to do, anything other than compete in my chosen sphere, which I don't.

It's all academic for me at the moment anyway - my horse isn't much of anything right now! :p
 
I have two horses, one 'pet' who was a great horse and won lots of 'competitions' but would never be described as a Competition Horse by anyone, and one youngster who is bred to be a competition horse, but is just my horse.
She is talented to me, but who knows what she would be to a 'pro', all I care about is that we have fun doing what we are doing, which could be hacking, hunting, eventing, show jumping etc etc.
To me a competition horse is something that is a horse that earns it's keep, whether it be a pro or amateur rider, a horse that is bought and kept with the sole intention of moving up the grades and winning at the top.


When I was at Uni (Hartpury) everyone labelled their horses, show jumpers, eventers, dressage horses; didn't matter if they only did 2ft clear round classes. The first question anyone asked was 'What do you do with your horse?' and they were bloody confused by my answer of 'a bit of everything, nothing of any great importance!' :D
 
Baydale said:
I think this is a bit of an odd question but I'm sure PapaFrita didn't start this thread just to be provocative. I think it's odd because I can't think of one occasion when I've had to identify one of my horses as a "competition horse" per se. If someone asked me what I did with my horses, I'd explain - briefly, if possible - that I evented; if they asked me what type of horses I had, I'd say fat, bay ones :p ...only kidding, I'd say eventers.

So when does the situation arise that you have to "label" your horse(s)? :confused: If it's true that it's snobbery, much like I hear it is to say that you compete BE, then frankly I am shocked, and out of touch (nothing new there then...:o). Actions speak louder than words, empty vessels make most noise etc etc. :rolleyes:
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i *think* this happens (certainly to me) when asking someone what sort of horse they have (meaning breed) & they say the discipline they do, which of course means that in reply i end up saying eventing, then end up waffling on that he won some races before i got him, blah blah, when actually all I wanted to know was how the thing was bred!!

out hunting there is often the 'so what do you do in the summer conversation' (& i love it when people are quite shocked that you ride during the summer months!!)
 
Honey08 said:
I think that at eventing, a competition horse is something that earns its keep for a pro rider, and has points - so competes at a decent level. Otherwise, at lower levels, however the horse is bred, its a good allrounder that you compete. I think there is a difference between a competition horse/rider and a hobby horse/rider that compete.

Things have changed nowadays, and things have dumbed down in the competion world to generate money - which is where the confusion starts. For most horses, being called a good allrounder was a great compliment, and meant that it would win most classes at local level and do rc teams - nowadays it would be called a competition horse, people think that a competition horse is more valuable. As someone else said, its a way of showing off for many people. I upset some people on the last thread by saying this, so will stress that this is just my feeling, but I feel silly calling my horse a competition horse - feel like a bit of a bighead. This is despite my horse being good, having had a pro rider ask to buy her, having had placings affiliated and having won most things at club level. She is a good allrounder. If the pro had bought her she would perhaps indeed have been a competition horse?

At the end of the day, it is just a term, and it doesn't really matter!
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^^^^ this is what I meant, but didn't put quite so eloquently^^^^
 
Exactly what kirstyhen said for me too! My older boy whilst still being the owner of many dozens if not tens of dozens of rosettes is not what I would really term a competition horse. He's only little and not enormously scopey and peaks at about 90cm so whilst would do an intro or BN that's about it. Younger one is definately capable o being a proper competition horse - he jumps 1.05/1.10 from a trot and we jumped several BE90 fences yesterday again from a trot, and he's got bags of scope and nice paces.... With the right rider he would be doing PN by now I have no doubt. Fairly well regarded local instructor said he's one of the best all round young horses he's seen in a fair while. However at the end of the day, like kirsty's mally, he's mine. I don't care if we never reach dizzying heights and if he ends up just being good at RC stuff with me, that's just fine :) I just love riding him and having him around. He certainly wouldn't be sold if he somehow didn't make the grade in any one discipline, we'd just try another!
 
Baydale said:
I think this is a bit of an odd question but I'm sure PapaFrita didn't start this thread just to be provocative.
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Not at all. I was curious because the word 'competition' embraces so many disciplines and so many levels. I consider PF and Antifaz to be competition horses because that was their main 'task'. 90% of my riding was geared to preparing them for next competition although strictly speaking they are showjumpers, even with PF getting fat and hairy in field at the mo, and when asked, that's what I say they are. Even LC who is only 2 ;)
 
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