Would you buy a Dressage Horse that won't hack?!

Agree about the mass bred, barn temperament in kwpns. A definite management style which doesn't help their highly strung nature.
From what you've described then i think if priced right he'd sell. But personally i'd only look at him if he was hacking out at the time of sale... Easier to keep it going than to start from the bottom again. But i would consider it if he was good in company and from what you've described if he was sound and reasonably priced the fact he's not done adv med recently possibly wouldn't bother some riders... Not everyone is competitive and it is fun to able to ride the movements at home. And others might be prepared to take him on.

To he honest if you do try and advertise him and you get no suitable takers at least you've tried.
Good luck
 
I know a lot of warmbloods that struggle after being imported as they just aren't used to hacking or sometimes even turnout. However a lot of dressage riders I know are not that bothered about hacking anyway. I would either delve into his previous record or maybe offer a good local rider the chance to compete BD and give your boy an English record. However if let's say your boy competed and was placed at the equivalent of adv med abroad then research how BD view that, can he be downgraded because he could also be a fab opp for someone to have a schoolmaster yet not ride hc.
 
I personaly wouldnt as i like to hack, school then hack, school, lunge just my routine. But alot of my stable friends dislike hacking and will only school or lunge.

I dont think you will have a prob might take a little longer but every horse has certain issues big or small. im sure your horse will find his special someone.
 
I would certainly buy a horse that didn't like hacking as long as it did the job it was purchased for - I know lots of people to whom hacking is a chore. Good luck, hope you find him a lovely home.
 
@Louby - your a brave woman - I just want to kill mine for not hacking, yours must be a demon!!! As you said they are funny animals.
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Thanks :) Im not brave at all, more mad I think :) I struggle so much at times and sometimes wish I had the heart to part with him but like you am worried where he could end up. Id love him to be the other way round.
 
He is exactly what my stepmother (and numerous others like her that I know - through her) would want! She is not interested in anything other than "playing" at dressage - likes going in the school 5 days a week, having lessons, doing clinics, not actually competing that much. Hates hacking and only occasionally goes to Windsor Park and squeals when told she has to canter in the open space. It would suit her down to the ground to have an "excuse" not to do anything but go in the school!!! She is on a yard full of these people - as a general rule they have quite a bit of money, little to no actual knowledge but keep the horses in places where everything is looked after and done for them, like to affiliate to BD without actually doing any competitions etc.

I am sure you can find someone, as long as you are honest about it and also firm with potential buyers (who will inevitably think that they can make the horse hack). It wouldn't be of any interest to me personally, but you will have a market.
 
anuvb said:
I love warmbloods but would always go german these days - safer all round! ;-)
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All the big WBFSH Continental books are "open", in that they accept horses from the other books. The studbook designation is more "nationality" than any guarantee of genetics. Now, the Dutch have bred a lot for dressage and a certain "look" (as the Holsteiners, say, have been bred for a different phenotype and primarily for jumping) which MAY go with an inclination towards particular temperament, but that's not the same thing at all. I've found breeding to be a much more significant indicator of what a horse is going to be like than breed.

Shutterfly - German, Rembrant - German . . . ;)

I know lots of horses that are not great to hack but absolutely fine at horse shows, I really don't think there's necessarily a correlation.

Re selling, I'd probably get him out at a higher level a few times with a bit of polishing. Ideally, get some good scores on him. I'd also try to track down his Dutch results.

I don't see why is would be a bad thing to emphasise the thing he excels at and direct him into a job doing it. Even if the hacking IS an issue to selling - and I don't think it is IF he's working at a higher level - what will be done about it? Surely it's better just to promote him as he is and make the best of it to get him into a home that wants him for what he's good at.
 
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Thanks again for lots of positive advice!! & interesting to read that there are so many nutty KWPNs out there!! Bless them!!!

I saw him at my mothers today and she has turned him into a yak - he hasn't been clipped or had his mane pulled at all! So I didn't ride but spent an hour tidying him up!!! He is such a good boy to handle but sadly isn't as settled as he was when he was in Devon with me :-( I think he misses the one to one relationship - all the love and attention!!!!

I will see how he goes but I think I have a plan if his refusals to hack in company get too much for my mum!!!! Thanks again!
 
Good luck with your horse, I hope you find him a good home. I've found this post fascinating! My mare doesn't like hacking, we have been doing a similar route, alone and in company for the past year and she's the same now as she was then! She is an ISH, but her sire was ..... KWPN. She's not dangerous, but spooks at nothing, fortunately she doesn't spin. Her sire was a SJ and I'm pretty sure she'd be fabulous at it, but I'm a bit too old for that, so would love to do some dressage with her, but she doesn't think she likes that really either! So its crack on with the lessons and keep doing what I'm doing. As I said found this post fascinating thank you x
 
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