DanielleP
Well-Known Member
I am having a dilemma as to whether I should keep and persevere or sell my 6 yo Hanoverian Gelding. I have had him since December 2008. Previous to this he has been SJ his BSJA record shows he has jumped 7 classes been placed 6 times has 5 double clears BN and 1 double clear Disco this was from march until nov 08. He won £93.
However his owner knew I was looking for a dressage horse at the time and thought I might be interested in him. I saw this horse move and thought he would make a cracking dressage horse. Tried him out and he was a laid back and sane 5 yo with fantastic movement I thought he had great potential so I bought him.
I did some schooling with him, established a really good mouth and his basics were looking nice. Took him to a training day and was very good. Decided to enter a Dressage show at the same location a couple of weeks later and he was very spooky although still got a percentage in the high 50s despite doing half the test away from the white dressage borders and the judges car. The horse had shown no real spookiness prior to this.
The ridden work at home then appeared to consist of a bit of spooking here or there but was generally still progressing. Although as he is 17hh it did occasionally make me feel a bit scared.
I then had to move house which meant that I didnt get to ride him very much until Jan this year. To ensure his education progressed I put him on full livery. He came back into work well was again a bit spooky to start with but this seemed to stop after he had got used to the new yard and again the schooling was coming on well. We had just started to ask for a bit more collection in his ridden work when he then decided his new trick would be to sometimes go disunited behind on the left rein when asking for more collection in the canter. He would do working canter all day long. So I had someone come and give him a service re his back and muscles and he appeared to enjoy it. No problems noted. Had his saddle refitted and have placed a wool half pad under it to eliminate any possible saddle issues and gave him a week off in case he was feeling a bit sore from the work.
Now he only appears to really knuckle down and work if you put a jump up. He is happily popping 1.10 combos at home with a 17 yo lad on his back. However if you ask him to concentrate solely on his dressage he can start doing little bucks which scares me. It doesnt bother my friend at all and she works though it for 10 mins and then we start to get some nice work out of him again he lengthens well and works on but what scare me is the bucking you go through to get him to concentrate. It is not at all big he barely gets off the ground but I personally dont feel comfortable on him when he does it.
So do I persevere and hope he settles. I should probably say I think he will settle but im not sure if I have the capability or bravery to get him there. The 2 other people who have ridden him since we have moved are not bothered/worried/scared by his behaviour at all which I think means I am just a wimp. I also dont jump anymore I used to Aff SJ and BE but those days are well and truly gone for me. I want a horse I can compete once or twice a month and who is prepared to do schooling 3 times a week and not be bored. Worried I have a SJ horse on my hands (with exceptional movement!) The pros seem to think he is just being a typical 6 yo warmblood seeing what he can get away with. Or should I sell? And if so what do you think he is he worth? He is by Wind Dancer so has the fabulous Weltmeyer in his breeding which explains the movement. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/wind+dancer4
HELP!?
However his owner knew I was looking for a dressage horse at the time and thought I might be interested in him. I saw this horse move and thought he would make a cracking dressage horse. Tried him out and he was a laid back and sane 5 yo with fantastic movement I thought he had great potential so I bought him.
I did some schooling with him, established a really good mouth and his basics were looking nice. Took him to a training day and was very good. Decided to enter a Dressage show at the same location a couple of weeks later and he was very spooky although still got a percentage in the high 50s despite doing half the test away from the white dressage borders and the judges car. The horse had shown no real spookiness prior to this.
The ridden work at home then appeared to consist of a bit of spooking here or there but was generally still progressing. Although as he is 17hh it did occasionally make me feel a bit scared.
I then had to move house which meant that I didnt get to ride him very much until Jan this year. To ensure his education progressed I put him on full livery. He came back into work well was again a bit spooky to start with but this seemed to stop after he had got used to the new yard and again the schooling was coming on well. We had just started to ask for a bit more collection in his ridden work when he then decided his new trick would be to sometimes go disunited behind on the left rein when asking for more collection in the canter. He would do working canter all day long. So I had someone come and give him a service re his back and muscles and he appeared to enjoy it. No problems noted. Had his saddle refitted and have placed a wool half pad under it to eliminate any possible saddle issues and gave him a week off in case he was feeling a bit sore from the work.
Now he only appears to really knuckle down and work if you put a jump up. He is happily popping 1.10 combos at home with a 17 yo lad on his back. However if you ask him to concentrate solely on his dressage he can start doing little bucks which scares me. It doesnt bother my friend at all and she works though it for 10 mins and then we start to get some nice work out of him again he lengthens well and works on but what scare me is the bucking you go through to get him to concentrate. It is not at all big he barely gets off the ground but I personally dont feel comfortable on him when he does it.
So do I persevere and hope he settles. I should probably say I think he will settle but im not sure if I have the capability or bravery to get him there. The 2 other people who have ridden him since we have moved are not bothered/worried/scared by his behaviour at all which I think means I am just a wimp. I also dont jump anymore I used to Aff SJ and BE but those days are well and truly gone for me. I want a horse I can compete once or twice a month and who is prepared to do schooling 3 times a week and not be bored. Worried I have a SJ horse on my hands (with exceptional movement!) The pros seem to think he is just being a typical 6 yo warmblood seeing what he can get away with. Or should I sell? And if so what do you think he is he worth? He is by Wind Dancer so has the fabulous Weltmeyer in his breeding which explains the movement. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/wind+dancer4
HELP!?
