Have you ever ridden a horse of high value that isn't actually that good?

Question

At the stables I use to voluntarily work at I would ride this 16.1hh (I was told he was about this height but I think he was bigger) Thoroughbred gelding. He had been there done that- high level dressage, eventing, show jumping etc.. He had been competed all over New Zealand (I got told he's been competing around the world but I THINK they were joking on the 'world') He was so good in fact that the lady had once been offered $80,000 for him!!!
Now, this horse is 19 now so isn't a Spring chicken but even so you'd expect more of a horse once worth $80,000.
1. He spooks every two minutes when trekking.
2. He has the WORST TROT I have ever ridden.
3. He isn't all that easy to get on the bit.
4. His canter is highly uncomfortable and weird until you get used to it.
5. I took him up to a tiny tyre jump and he refused it twice before going over it.
6. I saw this girl riding him at cross country practice day and she took him up to an 85cm (pre-training) cross country jump. He refused this.

I find my mare much better to ride than him and she is only worth about $3000 at the most.

Answer 1

I have, many times, in the sense that you're talking anyway.. Its more common than a lot of people might think.



I think you might have a few misconceptions though.. 1-- That high-dollar horses are "point and shoot" or even that they always perform well or that they're an easy ride, 2-- That they should be a mostly comfortable ride and have comfortable gaits and 3-- That they'll behave outside the arena like they would inside.



1-- All horses have "off days," no matter how expensive. You might just be catching him on those days.. He's older now, so that also probably plays into it. A lot of horses also just don't do well for different riders. Maybe he really clicked with his former riders or they had a way of communicating with him that you're not yet savvy to. A lot of times, skilled horses require skilled riders. Even though there are certain cues that all horses should universally know, a lot don't because it was given to them a different way.



2-- A lot of horses have uncomfortable gaits. A lot of expensive horses have uncomfortable gaits as well. The trick is to make them look like an easy ride. When I started working with my grandpa's gelding, he was "rough as a cob," and anyone who watched me ride, well, bounce all over on him could instantly tell. After a while though, my trainer said one day, "if I didn't know better I'd think that horse was a smooth ride from the way you're sitting him." That was a huge compliment.. His age might play into how uncomfortable he is (and his refusals). Maybe you just don't sit him well yet.



3-- Many performance horses rarely see the outside of an arena. I've been astride many horses who knew their jobs very well in the arena, but when you got them out of that setting, they just didn't know what to do-- It was all too different. Especially since the horse you were working with is older, you should expect that if he was behaving that way, he'd probably spent most of those 19 years inside a show ring.

Answer 2

I really like Britt's answer.



A lot of the really high dollar horses I've seen are the ones who were bred, trained, and shown by the same person. They really clicked with that person because they had figured each other out so well.

The same even goes for other high dollar horses. Usually, when you have an expensive horse, you keep them for a while so you can win a lot. Then you really click with them over the years and do great together. A lot goes into the bond....but bloodlines and conformation is definitely important too!!!

So what I'm saying is a lot like what Britt's saying. Just because It's a high dollar horse doesn't mean it should be perfect every time you ride it and that's it definitely going to be a push button horse. Most expensive horses take experienced, advanced, patient riders who know what they're doing and can make a big blow up in the ring look like nothing or know what to do to prevent a break in the ring when they feel it coming.





Okay, as to the question, yes, tons of times.

Once we were looking at this horse that was 250k that wasn't even really that nice. He was sometimes crippled at the jog and went just a tad bit too slow on the lope. His topline was awesome and he was a sweet horse, but he wasn't worth the money.

I also rode one that was 100k that seemed like he needed to be lunged for an hour. It was a pleasure horse, but it would look around every five seconds and never seemed at ease. He was really bouncy, but had awesome legs. His personality was jumpy and his speed was a bit too fast.

Answer 3

Not every rider finds the same horses comfortable. Sometimes there are only a few riders/people who can get the very best out of them.



You read it time and time again about Olympic riders who took a horse on, who no one else could manage and went to the Olympics or other high level events. But they had been destined for the dog meat truck.



I have ridden very expensive horses, but they were mostly racehorses, who had won lots and lots of prize money. A couple were over $500,000. But that did not necessarily make them good to ride, just expensive breeding animals.



I do get what your saying though, you would expect an expensive horse to be a push button ride. Perhaps he has had enough and does not wish to be ridden any more and would prefer retirement. Or perhaps he just requires a certain type of rider to get the best out of him. Older horse does not necessarily mean quieter or schoolmaster.



Some top level horses I have seen at world cup showjumping events seem to be the most difficult animals to deal with. Perhaps that is what it takes to perform at top level, because they always seem to be a bit high strung, especially show jumpers.





*** EDIT - I was thinking about you additional details.

- Dressage judges don't care how rough a horses trot is, they solely mark on the horses ability to execute the movements.

- Showjumping all that matters is the technique and that the rails don't fall.

- Cross-country is again jumping and requires a horse that is bold and fearless.



So in this horse prime, all hyped up on feed and fit as a fiddle, he probably fitted the bill. lol

Answer 4

Ive ridden two "high priced" animals.

One was a retired 3 day eventer named Dominick. He was about 19 or so and coming off of a leg injury (he was sound but needed work) so at that point I was the lightest person in the barn with the best ability to control larger horses for my size (if that makes sense) He was so tall I had to stand on a step stool to saddle him and people had to lift me up onto him (yeah they threw me OVER his back the first time, anyway)

He supposedly was worth a TON of money (over 50k) and had won a ton of money. He was SO hard on the bit and had the most UNCOMFORTABLE canter I had ever ridden. Once he was cleared for low jumping again we took him around and had to change to a kimberwicke to keep him under control (but then he would duck his head and try to yank the reins out of my hands)



The other I have ridden was my bosses stallion. He was worth it though! Easy to get into collection, smooth as silk and you barely need to touch the reins to do ANYTHING with him!



But honestly some of the best horses I have ridden have been the cheapo $500 mutts!

Answer 5

No.



At my barn there was this dutch warmblood retired grand prix jumper and when he was in his prime he was worth well over half a million dollars. He was the best schooled horse I have ever ridden to this day and I doubt that I'll ever get an opportunity to ride a horse that was so polished ever again. He knew his job so well that if you didn't ask him just right he wouldn't move. And if you asked him a way he thought was less than appropriate he would have you on the ground within seconds but would be more than happy to let you try again. He sure did have an athletic buck in him! Jewel was a total rebel in his youth but once he got up in his teens he was the best teacher.



I've gotten to catch ride some very nice horses at shows and stuff and they were nice and probably priced pretty well but they couldn't touch Jewel.



Ahh...I miss him.

Answer 6

I suppose it's how you work with the horse.

I was in a yard years ago where there was an old Grand Prix horse, he was a brilliant horse but he wasn't everyones cup of tea and not everyone could make the most of him, for example he'd often slop around the arena on lessons.



You also have to take into account that often these horses are old and out of practise and were probably never easy to ride in the first place.

Answer 7

My friend paid 10000 for her horse, but I wouldn't pay more then 2000 for her. She's a good horse and all, just incredibly absent minded and anxious, 2 things that do not mix. She sometimes forgets what she is doing or where she is, then just shuts down, then has panic attacks.



She wasn't even pricey considering the rate some of the hot shot horses are going for. 80000 dollars isn't a lot to some people, but you could buy a same rate horse for less then half of that. When I look at ads for expensive horses you are paying for previous training with big names, bloodlines, show titles, and flashiness.

Answer 8

First off, he is older and may have some problems that come with old age that would cause him to spook and startle. He also is probably tired and wanting to be retired. If you were his age, would you still want to work or have a bit in your mouth? And thirdly, most great horses have HUGE movement. Especially when you are talking about a horse with high level dressage training. If YOU don't have the experience to move with and handle the type of movement that you called "WORST TROT/highly uncomfortable and weird canter" then you aren't of the level to be on his back. Learn how to ride and THEN come back and tell us he doesn't have it going on.

Answer 9

yup, there's a fairly new horse on loan to the school I work for - he's supposed to have done lots of 3 day eventing so a good alrounder.

Got on him expecting a really nice ride ... he was nothing like that - ok he had nice smooth gaits and was supple but he constantly leant on the bit, wouldn't go forward was fairly dead to the leg and ignored the whip - jumping he did wake up, but so much that he'd gallop at the jumps and completely over jump them. It was quite obvious he'd been trained with the over use of draw reins and spurs, and taught that charging at a jump was the way to get over it ok if it was just one jump on it's own he'd clear what ever height, but face him with a course or grid work and he didn't know where he stood.

He has improved with a lot of work, but at 16 a lot of it's fairly imprinted in his head - this is why I so much prefer working with young horses, a nice blank canvas that hasn't been taught wrongly and I know where I stand with them, it's often so much more rewarding.

Answer 10

The money isn't so much about how the horse behaves, but how well they preform in the show ring. Sometimes a horse will only do good for a particular rider, or they need a certain type of rider to preform well. I was watching a jumping competition that each rider had to switch horses for each round. One of the riders brought a very green and very difficult horse to the show. It was a good move on his part because he was the only one who was able to get the horse to preform well. The other riders all had troubles with this horse even though they were highly skilled riders and this horse, according to papers, was an amazing jumper.

Answer 11

Haha this question is great! I know exactly what your talking about! My uncle raises and trains purebred arabians in kentucky and every summer i fly out there to stay with him and help ride, train, and show his horses. Out of the several horses I have ridden that were worth anywhere from 10k-100k I thought most of them weren't anything great....they looked beautiful but they were crazy as hell and so naughty!!! I dont enjoy having to fight a horse the entire time I ride when they are suppose to be professional horses in the first place! The best horse I ever owned was my Appendix QH mare who was a grade mare from somewher out west...and i bought her green broke and dirt cheap!!!

Answer 12

I have, I know soo many.... A horse with a sway back and the most horrible conformation ever that was well schooled. But they said they were asking 25000! No thanks



But with the horse you're describing, I'm going to say that those issues are related to age. If his gaits are bouncy, he's refusing jumps, and won't collect, then he probably has back pain or some sort of soundness issue that hasn't yet presented itself. Nobody's claiming he's still worth 80000.

Answer 13

Yes!!

Omg I was riding this horse that I thought was pretty good you know, he could jump and his canter was alright, trott was smooth. I thought he had cost around 4k or 5k. Well I was looking to buy a horse and asked my instructer how much I would have to calculate to buy a horse like him and she just said: Well this one was $70,000. I never rode that horse again, just because I would expect way more from a horse that was THAT expensive.

Answer 14

A horse is only as good as the rider who is mounting him. If your riding skills are not up to the horses performance caliber, that animal has no reason to preform at top quality for you.

Answer 15

Oh yeah. Out west, I knew this guy. He would drive out east with his big trailer, buy young, cheap, barely broken horses, and haul them out west to sell them for waaaaaaay too much.

Usually, he wants 5000+ for the horses. I'm talking about TWHS, who don't exactly pull in the big bucks



A lot of them have really bad movement. Of course, they're barely trained, and half the time they don't know up from down they're so aced up. Riding them was a pain, but sometimes that's the only option if your own horses were too tired to work. There was one once that wanted for my little brother, because it was small, pretty cute. Slow, and careful. And I was 90% sure it wasn't aced a bit, but he wanted 6000 for it. No way, it wasn't worth that.





I see a lot of horses for sale, though that are priced way too high.

Answer 16

Haha yes, I have. I rode this one horse worth 50k and he spooks at having the saddle on him if you havent ridden him for a couple days, you can't hold anything while on his back, can't ride him bareback, and he likes to buck.



I didn't really enjoy riding him much.

Answer 17

Howdy! So when was the lady offered this amount of $? Cause no one in their right mind would pay 80000 for a 19 year old gelding, I'd retire the poor guy from jumping (just my opinion-I've seen horses being used to jump til the day they die). Cost comes with experience, age, breeding and earnings. Who knows, maybe in his prime he was tops?

He could be loosing sight or hearing - cause of spooking and refusal

Strides could be uncomfortable because of age or you not being used to riding him - kinda like diving your car for awhile, but getting into someone elses rides different



Who knows? And this is actually your opinion on this horse and in comparing to yours...



Most expensive horse I've worked with 250k, and now that is one heck of a horse



Good luck

Answer 18

YES!

I rode a horse that was 20,000 not as high as the one you are talking about but still way high!

he was such a little jerk LOL

my appaloosa I got for free rocks!

LOL