What does 'over-horsed' actually mean?

[Jzee]

I was just wondering! I asked someone today and they came up with a lot of sentences ... so let me know what you think please! Or maybe it can mean a lot of things in a lot of different situations...

 

[Alibear]

A horse that requires a higher level of riding skill than the person currently has.

 

[flyingfeet]

Two references

1. Where a small rider placed on very big horse

2. Where rider has a horse beyond capabilities - i.e beginner on a sharp TB
It's like put a learner driver in a Ferrari when they'd be better in a small hatchback!

 

[Super_Kat]

If they can't cope with handling/riding an equine they they're over horsed in my opinion.

 

[Super_Kat]

1. Where a small rider placed on very big horse

!

But what if they're perfectly capable of riding/handling that horse?
I used to work for Geoff Luckett, his partner Claire (who is TINY!!!!! About 5'1"/5'2", must weigh 4 stone dripping wet) has a stonking great 17.3hh Holstein (Compliment II), she looks like a pea on a mountain but she rides him beautifully and he was lovely to handle. I wouldn't have said she was over horsed by any means!

 

[Rainbow01]

I once had someone say to me that I had 'over horsed' myself and at the time she was completely right.

I bought a horse that was still quite green and had a lot of schooling to be done. I bought her after I had spent 9 years of my life riding an older school mistress that you simply sat there and looked pretty on, I had never ridden 'from my seat' before and I struggled with the transition when I bought my new horse. I physically didnt have the strength in my seat to hold such a big horse together, hence why my instructor said I had maybe over horsed myself.

I think it just means biting of more than you can chew sometimes, however after lots of lessons and patience though I got there in the end, and ended up with a beautifully schooled horse at the end of it.

 

[amandap]

But what if they're perfectly capable of riding/handling that horse?
I used to work for Geoff Luckett, his partner Claire (who is TINY!!!!! About 5'1"/5'2", must weigh 4 stone dripping wet) has a stonking great 17.3hh Holstein (Compliment II), she looks like a pea on a mountain but she rides him beautifully and he was lovely to handle. I wouldn't have said she was over horsed by any means!

Just goes to prove that horsemanship is not about size and strength.

My understanding of over horsed is the same as Jen-Cots. I do also feel there is a derogatory implication to the term as well sometimes.

 

[JFTDWS]

But what if they're perfectly capable of riding/handling that horse?
I used to work for Geoff Luckett, his partner Claire (who is TINY!!!!! About 5'1"/5'2", must weigh 4 stone dripping wet) has a stonking great 17.3hh Holstein (Compliment II), she looks like a pea on a mountain but she rides him beautifully and he was lovely to handle. I wouldn't have said she was over horsed by any means!

She may have looked over horsed by the first definition, despite not being by the latter Complicated business.

 

[Jzee]

Interesting!

I have a horse with a lot of potential talent to jump big jumps and to do lovely dressage, but he seems happy to pootle along at my level. I've taken a year to teach him to hack in company and now we are going out on our own. And I have lots of jumping and dressage lessons. Potential talent is different from being over-horsed? I assume he doesn't care whether he's great or not! (he's still great in my eyes!).

And my other one is an ex-racehorse and we do loads of fun hacking - in between breaking himself and trips to the osteo... but there are days when I choose not to take him in the fields... does that mean I've over-horsed or just very sensible?

And on really windy days they can be monsters to lead in from the field... but that's just normal in those conditions or is that over-horsed.

Someone said this morning it can mean if your horse is fitter than you - then you are over-horsed... but my horses are both much fitter than me!

 

[Mrs B]

If you can't routinely (whether handling or riding) correct or cope with the animal you're dealing with on the days it's being naughty/badly behaved.

 

[flyingfeet]

But what if they're perfectly capable of riding/handling that horse?

Never said they couldn't handle the horse, but I think from a showing point of view would look over horsed. Think is more aesthetics than anything else

Potential talent is different from being over-horsed? I assume he doesn't care whether he's great or not! (he's still great in my eyes!).

Never seen a horse stress about not going to HOYS... Not something you'd use the phrase over horsed for

And my other one is an ex-racehorse and we do loads of fun hacking - in between breaking himself and trips to the osteo... but there are days when I choose not to take him in the fields... does that mean I've over-horsed or just very sensible?

Over horsed would be if you had to take him in fields and horse repeatedly tried to shorten your mortal coil

And on really windy days they can be monsters to lead in from the field... but that's just normal in those conditions or is that over-horsed.

Over horsed if you cannot get them to and from field
You just own a nutter if you can handle them irrespective

Someone said this morning it can mean if your horse is fitter than you - then you are over-horsed... but my horses are both much fitter than me!

Only over horsed if horse trying to kill you and makes you not do things you would normally do

 

[Jzee]

Thanks Jen-Cots - I'm not over-horsed! Hoorah! I started to worry! Always good to get some clarity! I think its cause Kanni grew and looks like a proper horse - instead of the telly tubby I bought over a year ago.