A thread going on on COTH about riding a strong, ex-GP horse got me thinking about this. Why are people so enamored with the idea of riding/owning ex-GP horses?
Why do we consider it something to be proud of to ride an "ex-GP" horse? Why do people, even if they may never jump higher than 3', say they want a 1.20m horse? What is it that makes us want to sit on this very specific kind of horse and more importantly, make us think we can ride them successfully? Is it vanity? Pride? Bragging points?
I ask these questions to myself because I too fell into the trap when I bought Arwen. She was an ex 1.40-1.50m horse, doing those classes in Mexico with her old owner who (according to some COTH feedback) is an amateur but one of the biggest amateurs in Mexico, meaning he could essentially be a pro. She did the 1.20m with her old owner, but we were told just didn't "want" to jump that height anymore. The old owner was rich so essentially was having a firesale on her. So, when I discovered she was within my budget I never really questioned why at the time. But I should have. Because when I purchased her she could have easily been doing 1.20-1.25m still (was only 13, still in her prime) however I REALLY wanted to believe that she was tired of doing the big stuff and wanted to be a partner to a relatively experienced adult amateur. And admittedly, I really did love her when I first tried her. Outside of jumping, she is super sane, safe and sensible. I can trail ride her, bareback at dusk, around the property with just a halter. However, as soon as we started jumping it was kind of a mess. Also admittedly, however, I was liking the fact I could tell people I bought an "ex GP" horse for pennies and was now riding her.
Dumb, right? And vain.
Because it takes a certain type of animal to do those big jumps. I know this now, though I don't think I really knew it at the time. Jumping that big takes a lot of athleticism, bravery, confidence in your rider, and well, some funky personality quirks. Every horse I have seen/read about that jumps at that level has something about their personalities (horsenalities?) along with extreme athleticism too, that gets them to that point. And I just don't think that makes most of them suitable to be jumping around at 3', with a rider who makes a lot of mistakes. They just don't have the tolerance for it. Its kind of like how you see very few pro athletes come back and want to coach some puny middle school team after being in the big leagues (if at all?). I know horses don't understand the meaning of something being beneath them, but I do think they can be bored, especially ones purpose bred and then trained to do a very specific job that not all horses can do. They are elite athletes, with the brain to be elite athletes (otherwise they would have washed out long ago).
I would say 80% of the time Arwen was really bored with her job with me. Bored, and it made her act out, in addition to not getting what she needed from me as a rider. She was used to non conflicting aids, that precise distance to a jump, and basically having more of a give-take relationship that I was prepared for. I still don't think I'm prepared enough to ride a horse like her. I rely a lot on my partner to be able to help me out and have the confidence to do it, which is where a good, solid 3'6" horse is a much more appropriate match for me. They don't have to be a world beater, or be able to jump the moon.
Something that has stuck with me for a couple years when starting the talks about breeding was a trainer who was offering up a solid 1.20 stallion for me to breed to. She said "everyone wants a 1.40 horse, but barely anyone needs one". She felt that the typical backyard/small breeder needed to breed for brains and the typical 3'-3'6" ammy market because in all honesty, it is a handful of very talented riders who will make it to the top. Not to mention just a handful of horses too! It is a statement that I brushed off at the time, but lately has really been ringing true. Especially as I don't have a horse to ride and have gotten to take lessons on some really amazing, but limited, horses who have taught me so much and I realize I would be perfectly happy owning (and they were never ex GP horses! OMG).
So I guess, where does it stop? Because despite me knowing what I know now, I am still trying to breed Arwen for that 1.40m baby. Maybe its just human nature, to want the best? And I am admittedly falling into that trap again.
Really great post, very insightful.
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