Yet another question ...

[Rosiefan]

.... prompted by Diesel Dog's about whether your horse would go further with a better rider.
Do you think you've reached your limit or do you intend to compete at higher levels than you do currently? And if you do intend to but think your horse has reached it's limits, would you sell it and get something with more ability?

 

[Stoxx]

I would like to compete at a higher level than I do presently, but that depends on how my hip holds out. My horse isn't far off reaching his limit, but no I wouldn't sell him, so it will be a case of waiting until I either have enough money and time to have another or until he dies and I'm ready for another.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

I think it is very negative to decide you have reached your limit. You can choose not to progress if that suits you and your lifestyle (that is not a critism just a choice for some) but with hard work and plenty of practice you can always improve

.

I have in the past sold horses when I feel they have reached their limits and hopefully they were always well schooled enough that they had a job in pony club or teaching someone at lower levels.

 

[kerilli]

i hope i haven't reached my limit. i don't know if my mare will go as far as i want to, or whether either of my 4 yr olds will either, but i hope so. i tend to be really rubbish about moving horses on if they're not good enough, i fall in love with them and hate selling them, which i am sure contributes to the fact that i'm not where i want to be...
That elusive one-in-million horse which will go to 4* has eluded me so far.

 

[milliepops]

TBH I think I've reached my limit with eventing... at the moment. I'm happy at Novice, would love to do an Int but I easily lose confidence at the moment. I'm hoping that some good, regular instruction will give me some self belief (horse is certainly capable).

Different story with dressage though, I have discovered that I am enjoying it more and more, and hopefully will be able to continue to progress for as long as I have the time/inclination/commitment!

My horse will stay put no matter what though, she's a keeper, and it's me limiting her, not the other way round!

 

[Gamebird]

I don't think I'm being negative, just realistic. I have no prospect at the moment of buying another horse. The horse I currently ride could, I think, be quite good at Intermediate and possibly 2** level, and I'd feel happy with doing that. I don't think it's realistic to consider competing at Advanced because I simply don't think I'm good enough or have the experience. If I won the lottery I'd give up my job, buy a schoolmaster and a couple of really, really nice youngsters, have weekly lesson and who knows?? As it is with only one horse, limited ability and limited lessons etc. I feel that another step is unrealistic.

Ask me again in 18 months!

 

[spookypony]

[ QUOTE ]
.... prompted by Diesel Dog's about whether your horse would go further with a better rider.
Do you think you've reached your limit or do you intend to compete at higher levels than you do currently? And if you do intend to but think your horse has reached it's limits, would you sell it and get something with more ability?

[/ QUOTE ]

Good one! No, I don't think I've reached my limit, and I fully intend to progress. I've only had this pony a few months, so he certainly hasn't reached his limits either. I suspect that my ambitions may outgrow his limits eventually, but I also suspect that if that day comes, I'll become a two-horse person...anyway, it's a long ways off.

 

[Baydale]

I think I may have peaked a long time ago.

I hope to compete at a higher level than currently, but if any of my boys tell me they're not up for it I would sell them (or let OH have them as hunters

) to someone who'd be less demanding of them. Square pegs in round holes and all that, I'd hate it if someone tried to make me love playing the piano (subtle dig at my mother there

) when I had two left hands, or do ballet with two left feet.

 

[Rosiefan]

I think this is where Rosie is coming from Baydale (ref selling/passing on the 'reached their limits' horses, not the peaked a long time ago bit as she's only just 18). Don't believe you've peaked yet anyway

. She has parted with several horses with very good records earned when she was riding them - including her spotty horse she had as an unbroken 3 yr old who won his section at PC champs - because they weren't going to take her to her limit. She adores Bertie and doesn't think he's reached his limit yet but I'm sure she'll want to replace him if he stops playing.
SJ - would you sell Sarnie if she let you know she'd had enough at, say, 3*?
Kerilli - what you said is so interesting - I wonder how ruthless some of these top eventers are, the answer is probably very. (I know the parents of the junior team candidates are

)

I hope some of the younger people tell us how they feel too.

 

[dieseldog]

My current horse should last me a few years - if her legs hold out. The only problem I can see with her is that she is nearly grade A and around here we don't have amateur classes and I struggle to find classes to jump on her. She does make me feel super confident and when I last jumped her I went from 75cm to 1.10 happily in a few weeks, but that was 2 years ago now. She used to win 1.30s not sure if she coud now, even if I got really good.

Poor Dolly had a pro(ish) riding her and she has ended up a complete crock, jumping 1.20s at 4 I don't think helped. If I had owned her from the start she wouldn't be a cripple now as I wouldn't have hammered her.

I think if you have the right horse your limit will keep going up - you start living the dream.

My 'Another Question' thread was prompted by all the posts where people say that their horse is really good, but they..... I don't think it matters as long as it is fed.

 

[Rosiefan]

I agree - in my limited experience horses love their tummies first, anything else is secondary (bit like babies and my OH

).
Yes, a good horse gives you confidence and that's half the battle

 

[ann-jen]

Show-jumping wise I hope to progress further with Jenny assuming I can keep her free of injury. I hope to be back at the same level as I was previously this year - ie BN and disco and if that is going ok then maybe Newcomers next year. I think my bottle might run out after that but you never know. The more I do the more confidant I am so if it was all going ok who knows?
Dressage wise I am currently doing Novice and intend moving up to elementary in the near future. I would keep going up the levels as far as I could but think it would be unlikely we would get beyond medium.
I wouldn't sell Jenny - either to someone who could progress her further SJ or because I couldn't get her to progress further BD. We're a team and she has a home for life.

 

[Baydale]

[ QUOTE ]
I think this is where Rosie is coming from Baydale (ref selling/passing on the 'reached their limits' horses, not the peaked a long time ago bit as she's only just 18). Don't believe you've peaked yet anyway

. She has parted with several horses with very good records earned when she was riding them - including her spotty horse she had as an unbroken 3 yr old who won his section at PC champs - because they weren't going to take her to her limit. She adores Bertie and doesn't think he's reached his limit yet but I'm sure she'll want to replace him if he stops playing.
SJ - would you sell Sarnie if she let you know she'd had enough at, say, 3*?
Kerilli - what you said is so interesting - I wonder how ruthless some of these top eventers are, the answer is probably very. (I know the parents of the junior team candidates are

)

I hope some of the younger people tell us how they feel too.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's great that Rosie hasn't kept hold of those horses until they've very obviously and very publicly told her they'd reached their limit. That shows maturity and also confidence, in that she doesn't view herself as a one-horse wonder and will happily go out and do it all over again with a more talented horse. Many would stick with the one they knew for fear of not being able to get a tune out of a different horse. I'm not jealous at all btw (much

), of her talent, youth, and the fact that I hadn't even started eventing at her age (I had to wait until I was 26, poor me eh?)

 

[Rambo]

I certainly don't believe i've reached my limit...I haven't even got back to the levels I used to compete as a teenager ! In fact, I still believe that one day i'll have a horse that can take me to the highest levels of competition. I'm not suggesting that I will make a team, or compete at a major championships...that's something for the full time riders not an amateur like me...but I do dream of getting a horse qualified for the main ring classes at somewhere like Hickstead...the Speed Derby or similar. It's not actally that big...1.40m I believe...so perfectly achievable on a half decent horse...and open to all to try

As for Bo, well, I guess deep down I know he's the most talented horse i've ever ridden and almost certainly has enough jump to do the 1.40m+'s...he's also a perfect gentleman and part of the family and for that reason he is staying with me for life. I could buy something younger and uber-talented...but the horse isn't the problem at the moment...it's the rider

As for selling a horse that doesn't have the ability to go as far as you...well, there are a lot of showjumping horses that can't jump the biggest tracks...but they can still be very useful as second strings and backup horses to jump the speed or other support classes at shows. You can't rely on one horse and a good diesel horse is worth it's weight in gold

 

[Baggybreeches]

Gosh I didn't think there was a higher level 'Happy Hacking' than I already do!

Seriously I am a sentimental idiot and tend to be happy with horses that are nice people rather than world beaters, I am a lot less driven than I used to be because I don't have the time or the money to devote to 'training for competition' now I tend to 'train for pleasure/basic improvement' and if we fit in a show (which I was discussing with OH, I haven't been out since June!

) then thats fine.
However if somebody was to offer me a super horse in any discipline I would definitely have a bash.