What does 'sharp' mean to you?

MotherOfChickens

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I think we had a similar thread before but its always interesting to see what the term 'sharp' means to different people. I always took it to mean something very sensitive and that could be reactive for no great reason. so my old horse as a youngster who was bombproof in traffic (if I thought he might be an arse I would take him out on the roads) but who was capable of some speedy moves-ie sideways and then backwards at the same high speed lol. Who wouldn't bat an eyelid at an articulated timber lorry but who would spook and spin at a large rock. He was mega responsive and way more athletic than me-moved and jumped for fun as it were. He was one of the boldest horses I've ever met -he simply wasn't scared of anything (except rocks) he could see but was noise reactive when he was younger.

I wouldn't describe my Fell as sharp-although he is forwards and responsive. The Exmoor can be sharp however.

But then I was once given a horse to ride that was described as sharp-but I found her anything but! So my definition is a bit woolly and possibly incorrect-what does it mean to you?
 
Sharp, as most people use it (i.e. as a negative), means hyper-reactive, on high alert and attentive to everything except the rider, liable to throw itself around.
 
Or switched on and potentially reactive - which is almost but not quite the same. Stallions are often rightly described as 'sharp'. When combined with bold and sensitive, it's a trait I like. Of course that means you have to be switched on and potentially reactive yourself too, but I feel comfortable with that.
 
Sharp, as most people use it (i.e. as a negative), means hyper-reactive, on high alert and attentive to everything except the rider, liable to throw itself around.
Interesting that 'sharp' has a different meaning for people. I would describe the set of traits you mentioned as 'scatty' - or even 'loopy' if it was all the time. I'd certainly consider that as a negative.
 
I'd tend to say "demanding" and prone (whether through a sense of fun, evasion, fear or a desire to dominate) to challenge the rider - the sort of horse where you need be ready for action!

Spooky is different and reactive different again.
 
Sharp, as most people use it (i.e. as a negative), means hyper-reactive, on high alert and attentive to everything except the rider, liable to throw itself around.

interesting-I kind of see what you described as just out and out dangerous lol. My horse had a great sense of preservation and I relied on that to keep me sane when he was younger :D in fact the only time he lost that, was when someone fed him alfalfa and I knew something weird was up with him (he was a lusitano fwiw). My next luso was a different character altogether-much more nervous, not bold and a very panicky sort but I'd not describe him as sharp like the other one.
 
We talk about "good sharp" and "bad sharp" - good sharp being responsive, reactive, switched on type rides, and bad sharp being "trying to kill you". I'd definitely steer clear of something advertised or described as "sharp" without qualification!

However, I do also sometimes say Fergus can be sharp to hack - he's not dangerous, rude or out to get you, but he's spooky and reacts to certain types of things excessively and very quickly. He'd certainly ditch a novice or unbalanced rider with one of his moves, but he wouldn't be problematic for anyone with a decent seat, some balls and a sense of humour. The rest of the time, he's fine - you can put a novice or a child up in the school and he goes into safe mode. Daemon can be reactive but is never sharp.

My mare, I'd like to become sharp (good sharp!) with training - sharp off the aids, reactive and mannerly. But I certainly don't want her becoming the other kind of sharp!
 
Sharp, as most people use it (i.e. as a negative), means hyper-reactive, on high alert and attentive to everything except the rider, liable to throw itself around.

^ is what I'd expect. It also makes me think of a horse that likes to drop a shoulder when it spins for no particular reason - basically something guaranteed to dump you at least once a ride.
 
For me, sharp is my welsh a in a nutshell-quick to react, quick to over-react, extremely alert to his surroundings. This means that you as the rider and handler have to be constantly on the ball. This doesn't mean deliberately naughty-there's no malice in him-and when he's on side, he's proven to be very quick to learn, and rewarding to train. But not for everyone, and there is a reason that I don't let children handle him or ride him.
 
I often think about this as my horse is generally really good, safe I would say. But he is sharp. By that I mean he is always alert, on his toes, very intelligent and very responsive. Most of the time he is fine and you just need to ride quietly it sometimes something little can push him too much the other way. He has never ever in his life plodded anywhere ( wish he would!) even in his paddock he is never just chilling out he is either eating or marching about and snorting. But he is amazing in traffic, open spaces, other horses etc. Very confident. But he just has that extra zing to him if that makes sense!
 
Sharp = It's done it before you know what it's going to do!

Sharp does not mean belligerent, sharp means they have probably done it before even THEY even know what they are going to do :D:D
 
To me, it just means 'quick to react' - whether that's in response to the rider's aids, or in response to something perceived as scary. It can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how much courage comes with it.

That said, I'd pass on anything described as sharp in an advert. In sales terms, it tends to mean, "It'll dump you without meaning to."
 
I describe my little thoroughbred as sharp, to me it means a horse that is quick to react and takes no prisoners! She's a lovely mare but you can't switch off when you're riding her!
 
A high sense of self-preservation - this can be a good thing. I wouldn't describe anything that tried to get you off by dropping a shoulder as sharp though.
 
I've always taken it to mean quick to react. The kind of horse that has thrown itself half way across the school before you are even aware something is happening.
 
I would rather have sharp over numb any day. I think often sharp horses go wrong, often I the terms of exracehorses, is the fact that the rider needs to be sharp too. Or at least switched in and thinking. They are easier to ride in the the terms you probably need 'less' aids... not kicking and pulling but I lot of people to too haphanded.
The worse horse I have in at the moment was bought as he is "quiet" however he is more numb.... he doesn't react when he needs to and is very delayed off the aids. He is harder to rode than the sharper horses.
 
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