What would you put up with for talent?

[HotToTrot]

It's about what you can cope with and what you're happy with. Also what are you going to get out of it? I was ready to "upgrade" to a better horse that I could event at a higher level, but I couldn't afford one. Then one came along, with the talent and at the right price, but with a problem - she reared. I was confident I could cope with that particular problem but it was a risk - if I hadn't coped I would have wasted a lot of money as I would have had an unrideable (albeit talented) horse! And I would have kicked myself for selling on my safe, reliable (but intro/pre-novice) horse.

Admittedly I had some pretty teary moments and some soul-searching conversations when she first arrived, rearing left right and centre, and I wondered if I would crack it... But I have (I think -touch wood!!) and she is fab.

I think you need to see progress. If you feel over a long period of time that you're not getting anywhere then maybe you need a rethink. Unfortunately though, horses are so rarely perfect! You will almost always need to compromise on something, just try and pick the best compromise that works for you.

 

[kerilli]

TS has it right.
i'll put up with 'difficult' but i won't put up with 'deliberately dangerous'. i'm injured at the mo because 4 yr old had a huge high jinks moment and managed to drop me, BUT i am positive that she didn't intend to, it was incidental to her moment of fun. if she'd done a rodeo act in response to something i'd asked, determined to dump me, that would be a different matter. i don't persevere with those - there are enough good horses out there, i can't be bothered to risk my neck or waste my time on the psychos who don't want to do the job... i check out all the usual stuff, but if it all comes up negative, and the horse won't happily do the little things i ask (hacking down the road, trotting a circle in the school) without an evil explosion (and i've had ones who took exception to both!) then what is the point... they'll be asked a LOT more questions to get them to any decent level.
i've put up with utterly impossible dressage in a total jumping machine before - i knew i was privileged to have such an amazing horse, who covered for and never resented my mistakes. i'd do the same again, happily.

 

[hati]

Along with what others have said - it depends on what you want to achieve, are you safe and the facilities/back up you have to help. Hati was quirky (not dangerous) but I put up the quirks because she was a cross country machine and was talented. We were able to manger her quirks and I feel that we got the best from her - it took time and patience and some soul seraching at times, but she had talent and that kept you going. She was super to hack out, easy to do in the stable etc but was grumpy, did not like dressage saddles and most importantly had to have shock wave treatment on her back every 6 weeks to keep her back right during the season.

I achieved so much with her - medium dressage, novice level eventing, top 153 whp in ireland and so much more (training with Conrad schumaker etc). I could have sold her, but didn't as she was part of the family and did not want her to be labelled too quirky, dangerous or unrideable (if her back was not treated).

So back to original post - yes I would accept quirks - as long as you feel that you can manage them and enjoy the horse. No point in having a super talented horse and not being able to hack it up the road if that is what you want to do some day.

 

[Befney3]

Before I had Chilli I put up with a mare who would rear & spin as one movement. She was lightnening quick & used rearing/spinning as an evasion to work & when she did it she was doing it to put you on the floor. She had plenty of jump for what I wanted & never really misbehaved when jumping but she hated flatwork & was very hit & miss when it came to hacking, one day she'd be 100% but the next she'd try & sit you on the tarmack. In winter I'd often lunge her before riding just to knock the edge off her so I had a little more chance of staying on. I put up with this because I actually really liked her & was convinced that if I could encourage her to work she'd be lovely. Also, she was great to handle, load, shoe, never lame, etc & when you took her showjumping she behaved like a star. I was also a little worried what would happen if I sold her on & didn't really want to be held responsible if she went on to injure someone. I eventually lost her to a broken leg (accident in the field)

In hingsight as much as I loved her she was a nutter & quite dangerous & I shouldn't have kept her for as long as I did (5yrs). There is no way I would want another horse that was intentionally dangerous or actually tried to throw me off. I don't mind quirky, sharp or a little grumpy but I'm too old for a dangerous one.

Chilli isn't particually talented

but hopefully in 2010 will jump low level BSJA & get to Novice/Elementary dressage. He's a good allrounder & I feel safe on him. He has a few 'issues' & because he's what I want riding-wise I put up with them. Chilli weaves a little but only at the back of his stable & not very often. He isn't a friendly or affectionate horse but he's not grumpy or nasty. He can also be sharp (but he is an ex-racer) & has a massive buck (his backend goes higher than my head) which he occasionally unleashes if he's feeling very lively. I cope with the bucks because he only ever does one then carries on as if nothing happened, it's not nastyness he's just feeling well & I have a nice deep saddle with massive knee blocks to keep me in place.

The weaving is his business, done in his own time so I have no issues with it.

I do think that what you put up with often depends on what you feel you can deal with. If something scares you it's probably not worth putting up with. I think often stable vices are easier to put up with/manage than ridden ones & also less likely to ruin your enjoyment of the horse.

 

[Baggybreeches]

Defintely what you said!
E.g (and only using one of my horses as an example or I will be here all day

) Sovereign, was in training as a 4 yr old, ran a few times had nosebleeds, was 'gifted' to me by the syndicate. I tried to event him, dressage was ok, xc was fab, but he couldn't handle SJ on grass, he jumps quite happily on all weather doesn't stop at fences but literally has a nervous breakdown half way round a course of SJs

In the stable he box walks, he bucks in his stable if I ride the other horses, he gets stressed about everything under the sun, but I have started P2P and he gets me home safely and that is worth its wait in gold.
I am no olympic hopeful, I want a horse that is capable of 'having a bash at anything' and he fits the bill.
He is bonkers but I love him

BTW agree with the TS not quite right thing, mum's old boss used to bred off some real drossy old mares and the foals were either barmy or crippled by 7!

 

[dieseldog]

Nothing, been there done that, have one on the yard at the moment who is talented but doesn't really care - probably better than my horse but I wouldn't want to swap.

I have been told that as my horse is easy to jump it makes me less of a rider, so what, I enjoy going to shows, having a nice time and getting placed.

TBF, my horse probably wouldn't suite everyone, she is very well mannered on the ground but can be a bit feisty to ride.