14/01/2024
Spot on
What if we bought horses based off what we could offer them?
Both online and in person, I regularly see folks putting the word out that they're looking for a horse. There's a laundry list of things they want their prospective horse to do for them. However, I see a trend; the longer the list of requirements, the less the human has to offer.
Take the nervous novice who doesn't want to drive further than 15 miles outside of the city. They will advertise that they're looking for such a horse:
Be ridden in walk and trot 3 times a week, mostly without an instructor. No spooking, bucking, rearing etc. Easy to load, clip, catch and stand for the farrier. Be willing to spend at least a portion of their life stabled. "Look after me".
Let's flip this around and advertise what the rider can offer the horse:
Riding in poor posture lacking energy 3 times a week (Horse needs to stay sound despite this). Rider can't yet sit a controlled canter, so nothing can ever happen that wasn't planned or is faster than a trot. Horse needs to stay locked up 3pm - 8am because there's too many horses on the only livery yard close to the rider and the land gets churned up. No knowledge of how to teach new ground skills or improve existing ones. Lack of willingness or lack of ability to take control and be confident when s**t hits the fan.
Basically, this person is asking for a horse that will remain sane and sound despite being shut inside and having no outlet for the inevitable excess energy. They also want a babysitter who doesn't require any emotional help or support ever, but will give it by the bucketload on a tap. That, my friend, is what you call a rocking horse.
Be honest about what you are able to provide an animal befire getting one. It takes more than a perfectly level fluffy bed, expensive tack and regular osteopath treatments to be a good horse person. This may all sound harsh, but it's less harsh than buying a perfectly good horse and being unable to provide what it needs in order to be the best version of itself, then claiming you were miss sold the animal and it gets a reputation as a problem horse; it never had a problem until you took hold of the lead rope 🤷♀️
Picture: by LeaLovesPhotography, Bruno and I on a dressage clinic with Alex Zell
