What does "requires a confident rider" mean to you?

Doesn't have to be a complete loon, necessarily, I'd say that both of mine require a confident rider as Kira is a nappy spookpot and Salty is prone to silly rodeos. Neither of them would go well for someone that clammed up or was nervous.

But if I saw it mentioned in an advert I would expect the horse to have some kind of ridden issues, rather than just normal-ish quirky horse stuff.
 
Not necessarily a nutter. My horse takes all his confidence from me - if I'm not feeling confident, neither is he and boy does he show it. He becomes so tense it is like sitting on a jack hammer and he rushes or takes off for no reason. I've had to work hard to "fake it" when I am not feeling too hot about riding as the minute I wobble a bit, everything goes to pot. I know at least one of his former owners sold him on because he was "too forward".

So if I was ever advertising him truthfully (not that I will be), I might put that in the ad.
 
It means to me that either the horse is a nut job, or the advertiser is an idiot! Because most reading the advert will assume it is a nutjob.

In reality I’ve had or known a number of horses I would apply the label ‘needs confident rider’. None of those horses have been nutjobs, just a little on the sensitive side and pick up bad vibes off a worried rider. I would never advertise them as such. But would discuss over the phone with callers.
 
That it might be within my budget for once!

Normally something that either takes confidence from the rider and can be nappy / hesitant unless you ride forward at all times or something which is forward, excitable, prone to a buck and a squeal if you're cantering in a group or something.

I did once see a 'needs confident rider in traffic' which I stayed well away from. Assumed it would literally throw you under a bus...
 
To me - Horse is a nut job or rider is overhorse. Most of the ones I've met that have been labelled as that have eithr been very reactive, spooky, buck, rear or are quite alot of a live wire
 
I think most horses like a confident rider don't they? Ones that show it tend to be the more sensitive ones though. But in an advert I'd assume the horse had ridden issues that I wouldn't want to deal with and would skip the ad.

Both my mares are pretty bold but they still both prefer it when I'm in a positive, confident mood and get less cooperative when I'm not.
 
ihatework said:
It means to me that either the horse is a nut job, or the advertiser is an idiot! Because most reading the advert will assume it is a nutjob.

In reality I’ve had or known a number of horses I would apply the label ‘needs confident rider’. None of those horses have been nutjobs, just a little on the sensitive side and pick up bad vibes off a worried rider. I would never advertise them as such. But would discuss over the phone with callers.
Click to expand...

I agree with your 2nd comment. Both my bigger 2 girls are v sensitive, a rider who is likely to snatch up reins, react or tense up would worry (and has done with 1) both of them.
Most will see me hacking on loose rein or contact on bridle and think what a nice steady fuzzy, and I'm often asked to escort others. They feed off the rider, on one you only have to think of something (like canter when in trot) and she reacts, so it keeps my brain active :)
 
ihatework said:
It means to me that either the horse is a nut job, or the advertiser is an idiot! Because most reading the advert will assume it is a nutjob.

In reality I’ve had or known a number of horses I would apply the label ‘needs confident rider’. None of those horses have been nutjobs, just a little on the sensitive side and pick up bad vibes off a worried rider. I would never advertise them as such. But would discuss over the phone with callers.
Click to expand...

Exactly! I think there are better or clearer ways to describe it, or it’s something that’s better explained. In an ad it’s liable to put off a load of people who might actually be fine with it. I suppose it cuts down the number of replies you might get through?!
 
I would think that either the horse had an issue under saddle or the seller has been over horsed. It wouldn't really put me off of it was the latter, my own horse is a cob who looks ploddy but is very forward going and sporty under saddle. She is green and can spook so I would say she needs a confident rider, though if I was advertising her I would choose my words better as not to put capable people off
 
It would put me off, even though I’m a confident rider. I’d assume it had a few party tricks up its sleeve and I’m far to old to be bothered with that.
However, ‘needs a competent rider’ probably wouldn’t put me off. Arguably they could mean the same thing. Wording is a funny thing.
 
Usually it actually means that the horse needs a brave rider ... there is a difference between a brave rider and a confident rider and a good rider... the brave rider is the guy who gets thrown on the nut job , hunts it over big country and doesn’t even notice that he’s landed in the hedge 3 times - this attribute can accompany the other 2 but more often involves a young man who rides for the thrill with no skill or finesse and a lot of flapping arms and legs.

The confident rider knows what they are doing - looks at the nut job and if they are paid to ride it or it is theirs will get on and try and train the issue out or decide that it’s such a bad risk that the only thing for it is a bullet..

The good rider can be either of the above but their are lots of riders that are skilful on their own horses but are neither brave or confident with something new.

On an advert for a horse? I no longer look for bargains - so it’s not something I would consider - i no longer have that need that the young have to prove that they can ‘handle’ a difficult horse - I know I can but I’m not over keen on doing it so I dont
 
I'd say Jenny needs a confident rider because she does everything at 100mph even though she is the safest, kindest pony ever. When standing she tries to walk, when walking she jogs, when trotting she breaks into canter and when cantering she canters faster! But she never actually tanks off or gets strong - she just keeps asking 'can we go faster, can we go faster' but accepts being told no. If a rider does lose balance on her she stops immediately and stands still.

If I was selling her I'd say she is the perfect pony for a confident novice! You don't need to be competent as she will forgive your mistakes, get you out of trouble repeatedly and look after you. But you do need to be un-phased by her enthusiasm. Except I wouldn't sell her to a novice anyway for her sake. She's too nice to be bounced around on even if she would tolerate it well!
 
moleskinsmum said:
Not necessarily a nutter. My horse takes all his confidence from me - if I'm not feeling confident, neither is he and boy does he show it. He becomes so tense it is like sitting on a jack hammer and he rushes or takes off for no reason. I've had to work hard to "fake it" when I am not feeling too hot about riding as the minute I wobble a bit, everything goes to pot. I know at least one of his former owners sold him on because he was "too forward".

So if I was ever advertising him truthfully (not that I will be), I might put that in the ad.
Click to expand...
Agree. My lad is exactly the same.
 
I know lots of people who say their horses need a confident rider, when in fact I think they just want people to think their horse is difficult... either that or they are very novice and genuinely think their horse is.

To me a horse needing a confident rider is completely different to one who needs a competent rider.

'Needs a confident rider' could mean anything as it means different things to each of us. If a horse needs a confident rider, I would personally envisage a 100mph type who can throw some shapes every now and again. Or a horse who needs actually riding round a course rather than sitting and hoping for the best.
 
As a breeder, I have sold very few horses that I would consider suitable for a terrified rider (a few have been - one at only 4 - but he WAS a Dummy foal.) Some had to be 10 to get there. And you wouldn't believe how many ditherers I have seen who CLAIMED to be a confident rider and were rigid with fear before they mounted. Those riders would struggle with a 'dope on a rope' type horse. And I would HOPE that anyone who wants a horse to buy has at least basic confidence on a well-mannered horse. Because ANY horse can behave unpredictably if it meets something it has never seen (or heard) before.
 
JanetGeorge said:
As a breeder, I have sold very few horses that I would consider suitable for a terrified rider (a few have been - one at only 4 - but he WAS a Dummy foal.) Some had to be 10 to get there. And you wouldn't believe how many ditherers I have seen who CLAIMED to be a confident rider and were rigid with fear before they mounted. Those riders would struggle with a 'dope on a rope' type horse. And I would HOPE that anyone who wants a horse to buy has at least basic confidence on a well-mannered horse. Because ANY horse can behave unpredictably if it meets something it has never seen (or heard) before.
Click to expand...
Do you think being a dummy foal led to him being less reactive?
 
When I see that in an advert I think of me at 20-something who could sit some great acrobatics and if I came off I'd bounce and get back on again.

I definitely don't think of me in my 40s, where acrobatics require a physio appointment and hitting the floor is more thump than bounce.
 
PapaverFollis said:
I have noticed over the years that lots of people have no awareness that they are terrified of their horse and horses in general. I think I have a fairly normal level of fear/lack of confidence but end up sounding like I'm really wimpy because I actually own up to it.
Click to expand...
I think you're right actually.
It's a funny one isn't it. I watched one of the ladies at the yard riding the other day and her horse just plopped her off out of the saddle so easily for no apparent reason yet she just got straight back on, I thought she must be one of the bravest people on the yard to get back on the bloody thing as though nothing had happened... I wouldn't have!

i know other people who are clearly quite frightened by their horses but don't acknowledge it and just seem to be grinding on having a horrible time :( it shouldn't be like that IMO :( I am wary of Salty's rodeos because I'm not in control when she does it, but she doesn't frighten me, I just know that sometimes I have to manage her quite carefully still, so we don't launch off into one!
 
PapaverFollis said:
I have noticed over the years that lots of people have no awareness that they are terrified of their horse and horses in general. I think I have a fairly normal level of fear/lack of confidence but end up sounding like I'm really wimpy because I actually own up to it.
Click to expand...

I think that is very accurate!
I would not be the bravest rider these days (in fact never have been), but provided the horse isn’t a loon I’m pretty confident riding within the parameters I know I’m competent in, if that makes sense. And I have no shame in saying I won’t do stuff I don’t want to do - it’s not fair on the horse as much as anything else.

It’s amazing how an unconfident / scared rider can turn a normal horse into a problem one!
 
My late cob preferred a confident rider. He was a lovely horse, but inherently timid. Not in a needlessly spooking at crisp packets and cars way, but in a "please can someone else be in charge so I can just do what I'm told" way. Big gentle fellow, I miss him.

The roan fears nothing.
 
Could mean anything. Could mean the owner is very novice and overhorsed (usually this); could be the horse needs better training; could mean it's a nutjob (rarely this); could mean the horse needs a different job. It wouldn't put me off looking at it, but you'd want to really know what you're doing when evaluating.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top