What experts look for in a horse

Knowing what to look for in a horse is about understanding exactly what you expect the horse to do for you. It’s easy to look for horses that have large, open movements, but it’s also important to remember that the finesse and detail of dressage riding and other high levels of equestrian sport are best suited to very particular styles of horse.

We’re going to look at the top 3 pieces of advice when choosing a horse.

 

 

1. Don’t place too much important in big movers.

   

An excellent article by Stacey Nedrow-Widmore covers the common misconception that big movements are the most important things to look for in a horse.

She suggests that big movers (horses with long gaits, floating trots) make excellent dressage horses for the lower levels. However, when it comes to elite levels of competition, these kinds of horses often fail when it comes to their collection.

These horses panic and become frantic when you try to teach them to collect, as they are uncomfortable with the limitations of their natural abilities.

She suggests instead, looking for horses that control their power through the hind quarters. The horse should be happy to canter, and should have a good rhythm to their movement.

 

 

2. Find a horse that is careful.

The famous show jumper John Whitaker has a lot to say about what you need to look for in a horse. One of his most successful, Ryan’s Son, didn’t seem like a champion horse by any of the traditional standards.

“Look at the way they jump, and the way they react to the fence.”

He also lays out the following characteristics as crucial to a good horse: mentality, ridability, temperament and character.

He also points out that one characteristic is more important than all others:

“It is nearly impossible to find the perfect horse, but the most important thing is for a horse to be careful. If a horse is careful, even if it is difficult to ride and difficult in the mouth, you can improve it. But if they are not careful, then you can’t improve that.”

 

 

3. Find natural energy.

Speaking of her own horse, Charlotte makes the point that horses need to have a certain amount of energy and willingness to become top-level horses.

“Velgro was very, very hot,” she said of her Olympian horse also known as Blueberry. “He was never naughty, just hot. He had all this power and didn’t know what to do with it.”

What does this teach us?

If we look at all of this advice, we can see that it’s important to find a horse that is enthusiastic and wants to perform, but which is also careful and attentive. If we can find a horse that balances these two things, it’s possible to find a horse that will go with you to the top levels of competition.

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