CHOOSING THE RIGHT HORSE
Hans provides some information on how to choose the right horse for you.
If you would like Hans to help you directly with the purchase of your horse or would like further information please contact him.
The Importance of Breeding…
Whatever discipline you are looking to buy either Dressage, Show Jumping, ‘Happy Hacker’ or a Child’s Pony – the importance of breeding is ‘key’ …. Please view below some examples:
Valegro (born 5 July 2002) is a gelding ridden by the British equestrian Charlotte Dujardin in the sport of dressage. He stands 16.2hh and has the stable name of Blueberry. He is a double World Champion in Dressage, he won Grand Prix Special and … Valegro is sired by the legendary KWPN stallion Negro, by Olympic Ferro.
Olympic Ferro is the Sire of Valegro’s sire – he has ‘All The Right Stuff!’ It runs in the family….
Hocks underneath him, balanced, powerful, good temperament, neck round – Dutch at their best!
Total Hope By Totilas out of Isabell Werth’s Weiheigold. Breeding, Temperament, Conformation – Perfect….
Dicarado Sire of Diacontinus
Two further examples of ‘excellent breeding’…
Temperament
Whether you are looking to buy a showjumper to compete at the highest level or you are starting out in FEI Showjumping – a good temperament is vital. A horse with a trainable brain and the right attitude towards his work will make life easier and more enjoyable for his rider at every level.
“First and foremost, look for something that enjoys its jumping — that’s half the battle”
“A genuine, willing temperament is extremely important. That’s one thing every special horse has in common. They are willing to try their hardest and give you everything they’ve got when it matters.”
While having a horse that wants to work with you is important, the importance of suiting the horse to the rider is also of paramount importance – please view Han’s Tips For Buying A Horse
Confirmation
When assessing a Dressage horse, you want to look at how they move.
You can do this in the paddock, lunge ring, or under saddle but it is important to see them at a time when they are relaxed. If the horse is being chased around a ring or is playing with other horses you may see movement which is very extravagant but false.
A stiff, raised tail is often a sign of this tension. The horse is unlikely to move like that under saddle because you want the back to be soft and relaxed. In all paces, you want to see a clear and correct rhythm and the tendency to travel uphill.
Childs Pony or ‘Happy Hacking Horse’
Buying a horse for a hobby makes life easier. However, all the essentials must be adhered to as mentioned above.
The worst thing you can do for yourself is to buy a horse for pleasure and sit with an unruly, lame, bad-tempered animal.
It is here that you have to be very discerning because your safety is at risk! You may not be an accomplished rider, but you do love the sport. You want a horse that you can enjoy, relax with, has good manners, is well trained and obedient. Horse’s like these often come from good yards where their owners have moved on to more competitive horses. They are usually well trained, have good discipline and good manners. These are your golden finds.
Pony For Your Child
First and foremost is SAFETY!!! The pony must be bombproof. This means no skittish actions, no kicking or biting. If your child falls off and is challenged forever afterwards you will rue the day when you did not follow this advice. A neurosurgeon once told me that patients who had head injuries where often young riders.
The reason was they thought their ponies were like big dogs that you could hug. They were often hit in the head by the pony flicking at a fly or similar.
SWEETIE – The Perfect Child’s Pony:
Hans with his family with an absolute ‘School Master’ … Sweetie… 🙂
For further information please contact Hans: info@hansequestriantraining.com.