What to you is a 'sharp' horse?

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equestriansports

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Just been thinking - that's dangerous! ;) - what, in your opinion, is a sharp horse? I know if someone said it to me it'd be the kind that needs constant questions when being worked or you lose their attention. That or a horse that isn't forgiving of rider error and will react straight off of the leg and maybe objects to a strong contact? I've never really thought about it before. To me it's different to a horse that needs an experienced rider. I'm sure if I asked my mother her opinion she'd say a lunatic horse haha.
 
My interpretation of a sharp horse is one that is quick off the leg, that responds to a small nudge, rather than a kick. I'd envisage a quick thinker (although not necessarily rational in that quick thinking) and quite on their toes when ridden out hacking and perhaps one that gets a bit stroppy/fizzy when being asked to do something new that it doesn't understand.
 
I associate a sharp horse with spooking at their own shadow.

Anything else - bucking, rearing, being forward going etc. is just an active ride for an experienced rider IMO.
 
Sharp horse for me is think canter and you are off, has a very self aware attitude and doesn't do plods around the block as is wanting/needing to do something.
 
Sharp to me is spooky and the type that can drop you pretty quick. It would put me off on an advert whereas forward, whizzy, responsive, sensitive wouldnt.
 
A horse that requires you to be on the ball and that you can't take your focus off for a second. Ones that prey on weakness or inexperience and aren't necessarily very forgiving. Usually intelligent and likes to keep asking questions to constantly check if they can take charge. Quirky, opinionated and prone to tantrums.
 
Michen said:
Sharp to me is spooky and the type that can drop you pretty quick. It would put me off on an advert whereas forward, whizzy, responsive, sensitive wouldnt.
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Illusion100 said:
A horse that requires you to be on the ball and that you can't take your focus off for a second. Ones that prey on weakness or inexperience and aren't necessarily very forgiving. Usually intelligent and likes to keep asking questions to constantly check if they can take charge. Quirky, opinionated and prone to tantrums.
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A mixture of the above. Interesting how many people interpret it as being sharp off your aids, that wouldn't occur to me as an explanation (not meant as a criticism, just interesting how we all think differently!).
 
I would take 'sharp' to mean reactive rather than 'just' responsive; and that reaction could be good or bad. Highly strung might be another way I'd describe it.
 
Mrs G said:
I would take 'sharp' to mean reactive rather than 'just' responsive; and that reaction could be good or bad. Highly strung might be another way I'd describe it.
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This is what I read into the word as well. I like a responsive and forward going, positive horse but I want it to be calm and collected and to think before it (re)acts. "Sharp", to me, is a negative that implies a horse with strong opinions that can be silly to ride and hard to get through to.
 
Mrs G said:
I would take 'sharp' to mean reactive rather than 'just' responsive; and that reaction could be good or bad. Highly strung might be another way I'd describe it.
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Same :) I like responsive horses, and you can train this into them.
I think sharpness is part of the horse's basic make up, and as you say, that can be either helpful or unhelpful. i like responsive horses. I'm happy with busy horses, horses that are quirky, horses that ping and boing with excitement, but I find sharp horses a bit tedious.
 
Funny the difference in the responses :) I see the word sharp meaning like it would in business terms- quick and on the ball, rather than unpleasant. I describe one of mine as sharp but he's not at all spooky so maybe I shouldn't!
 
rara007 said:
Funny the difference in the responses :) I see the word sharp meaning like it would in business terms- quick and on the ball, rather than unpleasant. I describe one of mine as sharp but he's not at all spooky so maybe I shouldn't!
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I don't think sharp and spooky are the same thing; a sharp horse can be spooky too (because of its quick reactions/overreactions) but you can get horses that are spooky as in fearful or lacking in confidence etc without being even slightly sharp!
 
A horse that reacts first (at supersonic speed) and thinks second. This can result in you heading off, rather quickly in the wrong direction because a leaf looked at them suspiciously. The 'sideways teleportation' is another skill often possessed by the sharp horse. However if you can channel them in the right way, they are great responsive rides, but never, ever get complacent or they'll whip round and drop you before you can blink.
 
Faracat said:
A horse that reacts first (at supersonic speed) and thinks second. This can result in you heading off, rather quickly in the wrong direction because a leaf looked at them suspiciously. The 'sideways teleportation' is another skill often possessed by the sharp horse. However if you can channel them in the right way, they are great responsive rides, but never, ever get complacent or they'll whip round and drop you before you can blink.
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This
 
i am another in the sharp = reactive, spooky camp. It describes to me the horse whose head comes up, ears prick forward, neck telescopes and body goes sideways preparatory to a lot of unseating antics. And the ones who are underneath you one second and the next second are 10 feet away facing in the other direction while you are on the ground picking earth out of your teeth. Should you survive the first episode, the 'sharp' horse will continue to attempt to finish the job the rest of the way round the hack.

When I had a sharp horse I always had to plan our hacks with great care, making sure someone knew where i was going and what time i should be back… and that the kids would not be waiting at the school gates while i was merrily guzzling gas and air in the back of the ambulance!
 
i would never ever buy a sharp horse again...sharp = dangerous...sorry that is the honest truth..if you want to be bucked , napped with spooked with galloping across an arena that to me is sharp....not for anyone over 21 sorry!
 
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