Would you rather have...

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skewby

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...an easy horse that makes you look good and forgives your mistakes because it knows its job...or a difficult horse that makes you look a t|t but teaches you loads?

My first horse was the former and won me loads of ribbons, I frequently used to grab a hunk of mane, shut eyes and kick. My current horse is not technically built to carry a rider, but rather to pull a plough; he's also far too bloody clever and won't do a thing unless you ask him quite correctly.

With the help of a fab instructor we have got there, still with miles to go, but despite the humiliations and livery yard whisperings and put downs over the years, I would have him no other way. I know most could not ride one side of him and I'm proud of that.

Thoughts on my Monday evening rambling??
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i prefer a difficult horse who when you build its trust in you it tries everything to please you. its also rewardin to see all the changes youve made over the years together. you done very well to get were you are
 
I'm lucky enough to ride both types atm and I find thats a good balance
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Both of mine are 'difficult' - one is stonkingly marish and the other is very green. Just lately I've been riding my friends 'point and shoot' horse and Ive found that riding a horse that isn't a constant learning curve is very relaxing and has helped improve my riding
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My horsey has never been easy. She is pretty decent now and over her issues, Like you say, she has taught me loads along the way.
At the time, i thought i would have rather had a steady eddie, but now I am glad that I have her. We have been together for 6 years now.
I tell her all the time that she is my dream horse.
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I have a difficult pony. So many people have told me to give up on Lucy over the years. I payed meat money for her as she was unhandlable when i got her she had been mistreated in her first two homes. She would attack you if you went in the field with her. Everyone told me to have her shot but i refused as i could not afford another. I persivered and after 6 mounths i could catch her then in another 6 months i managed to get on her. For about a year i fell off her every day but the more people told me to give up the more determined i was to succeed. I got lucy ridable and we started hunting and show jumping. Now we do everything Hunting, sj, dsg, showing, xc, endurance etc.. We have even qualified for the regional finals of the veteran horse olympia finals! Lucy and i have been through so much together in the last 11 years i can't imagen life without her now. She is my best friend and she trusts me compleatly. People who knew her when i first got her that meet her now are convinced i have just bought another one that looks the same and people who meet her now don't believe how bad she was before. But i am so glad i never gave up on her as i now have my pony of a lifetime.
 
What a lovely story mines not so bad shes lovely to handle but if you read my post yesterday we are still work in progress.I never pick the easy option
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but she will and is making me a much better rider.
 
I'm lucky enough to have both types too.

One wrings every ounce of riding from me and won't give an inch without me earning it and yet the other horse irons out miss-timed fluffy aids, he even helps me out when I forget a test! When riding the second horse an instructor has said "its like watching Fred Astaire dancing with my mother"
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When riding the second horse an instructor has said "its like watching Fred Astaire dancing with my mother"
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LOL! Love that!

Interesting replies, thanks. I think my experience has given me a massive intolerance of people who give up on horses though, and set them on a downward spiral. I was totally overhorsed for years but had made my bed (and loved the bones of the horse) so got on with it.

I do think, if it's too much horse for you, then just get on with it, get good help, and bloody well get better until it's not!
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I own option B and am currently riding an option A type and I'm torn between the talent or A who you have to ride perfectly 100% of the time to get any results, but when you do and can get past the quirks he's amazing or B who tries really hard which more than makes up for the bad conformation and helps you out.
I can't decide which I prefer.
 
When I was in my early teens I had option A (and several A's before him) and he made me into a worse rider I feel, he taught me a lot but there was rarley a situation that occured when I had to think for myself and sort it out.

So it came as more of a shock then it should have been when my dad bought me one of my horses, who threw me off several times during the viewing. He was a great horse but very very wick and who wouldn't hesitate to have a chuck me off he wasn't the most difficult horse in the world but at times I hated him because he was not as straight forward as I was used to. He certainly taught me to ride and sit on a horse properly!

Then I bought myself option B he is very very green and he came with several problems and quirks. He can be very trying and tiring but he is worth it. He makes me look like a fool and totaly and utterly useless but he is the best teacher I have ever had.
 
i have both types as well although my type A will only do it if you press the right buttons!

having had some severe B types of horses i would go for A anyday- i don't mind naughty through panic/ confusion etc but as i want them to event they have to WANT to do the job.

my 5yro is a right mardy mare in the warm up and also in between the SJ fences, but as soon as she locks onto the fence she is an absolute professional and will do all she can to get to the other side... so i am a bit more lenient of her 'airs above the ground in the warm up!'
 
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