Spinoff: What would you do with a four-star horse?

[deltawave]

Lots of comments on the Cayla thread about everyone "wishing they had a four-star horse", etc. I guess I'm one of them--I'd love to find out what that kind of schooling and wisdom feels like! But I have no, zero, NO aspirations of going Advanced and "going to Rolex" except as a spectator. Wouldn't want to even if you super-glued my butt to Winsome Adante and gave him a course map. :)

If you were suddenly bestowed a going, legitimate four-star horse, what would you do with him? Or her? ;)

I'd give the horse to my trainer and enjoy being an "owner". Get on and hack once in a while, and then in a few years toodle around Training level, maybe Prelim, with the world's biggest smile on my face. :D

[Hilary]

I wouldn't want a confirmed 4* horse. I don't have the time or $$ to do right by him.

If I had unlimited resources (time & money- we're dreaming here, right?) I'd want a confirmed Intermediate horse, who I would take Training a few times to get to know, spend a season at Prelim to remind myself what it's like (I last rode P in 2005) and then move up to I. When we mastered that, I'd want a confirmed Advanced horse and start at Int. and move to Advanced. Then we'll talk about the 4* horse.

And since we have unlimited time and $$ I'd be riding the silly 4 year olds at the same time, having daily lessons so I don't screw up the fancy made horses, and create a couple of correctly trained young horses that I could THEN bring up through the ranks as my own.

Right now I don't want to go to Rolex. But when you click with the right horse what seemed impossible 2 months ago seems like the easiest thing in the world today.

[mjrtango93]

I would feed him lots of peppermints and carrots and spend hours trying to catch him in pasture......errrrrr wait thats what I do now :winkgrin:. I had my **** guy, he had to retire early do to health issues. Although I didn't make him from the ground up, I did more then enough to earn the right to say I did the work. He had done 3 novices in England and had zero flatwork, and was a little quirky (still is). Once we mastered that whole being able to mount without 2 people thing it got easier. I currently half lease him out and he is a very valuable teacher but in no means a packer. Just because somebody bought a made **** horse doesn't mean you can ride it around an advanced track.

[imapepper]

Well...that depends on the horse. If the horse is my kind of ride, I might take advantage and make the poor thing bring me up the levels and pack me around Preliminary ;) Or if the horse is careful enough....A/O jumpers here I come :winkgrin: I guess I really don't need a **** horse because I wouldn't ride that level. If I wanted to ride at the top level, I would prefer it to be in showjumping. I love cross country but I prefer it at Prelim or lower :)

The other thing I might do with such a horse, is find a deserving, talented, under-funded rider and be a generous owner if money was not an object :) I would really enjoy that.

[CanTango1]

Does that happen???

Well I would..

-Learn, keep my mind open and take in all that he/she has to teach

- Feel what real dressage is supposed to feel like :)

- Work on *my* riding....instead of *our* riding or mostly on *him*


But I guess there is no better pleasure than seeing all your time and effort when the horse you made has a great moment..or even those lightbulb moments are amazing !!

[Jealoushe]

Jump for joy first of all.... then probably start with some Prelims and see how it goes from there.

[tangledweb]

Sell it. Buy a nice ridable * horse and spend the difference on a nice house.

No point casting pearls before swine.

[deltawave]

Buy a nice ridable * horse and spend the difference on a nice house.


:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Fence2Fence]

I'm in the group that would pat him and hand him off to my trainer to ride. God knows, she's earned the ride.

Perhaps if I was going prelim or intermediate, I'd have a different answer. Oh hey, can I have two???

[Saskatoonian]

I'd sell the condo, take a leave of absence, and head off to be a working student with someone who could help bring me up the levels. It's been awhile since P, but after I'd spent a bit of time there (on a "retired" *** horse), Int was looking awfully fun. :)

All depends on the horse - my P horse would make you work for every inch in the D, but man, he'd teach you about XC.

[deltawave]

my P horse would make you work for every inch in the D, but man, he'd teach you about XC.

That describes Gwennie perfectly. Except the "he" part. :p :sadsmile:

[clivers]

I would love him and hold him and call him George. :)

Then, George willing, I would learn everything I could about him, us, and how we ride the bigger courses, and work my way up (slowly and safely and with my coach's blessing) from prelim to advanced.

Oh, and I would build a shrine to him somewhere on our farm because he would be a lifelong dream come true and we should all remember to appreciate his generosity and spirit.

[flea]

Take veeerrry good care of him or her. And enjoy the heck out of Novice/Training. I'm to old to go higher. The horse would like it probably, just a walk in the park for that type of horse. I would feel no compulsion to get someone to take him to his potential, he doesn't care and would be happy to be well cared for and event low level I am sure. I don't think the horse has Olympic dreams!:) If it was a horse I couldn't ride I would give him to my daughter...no, lend him...he is mine!

[DLee]

Figure it was the chance of a lifetime and see how far I could go.

[cheryl ann]

Check the mailing label on his halter, cuz he must have gotten delivered to the wrong place...!

Ride him/her on the trails, take him camping, and maybe even try putting him to cows.

[WW_Queen]

Does this magical horse have an age? Limitations? Any quirks that could get you E'd on XC? :D

I'd brush the cobwebs off my show stuff, take out a loan, get a good coach and start working my way up the levels.

[tangledweb]

maybe even try putting him to cows.

Much call for jumping over cows in your area?

[purplnurpl]

My newest motto is:

the best horse is a sold horse.

bet I could buy a nice boat and jet skis with that paycheck.
Or maybe even one of those giant trampolines that floats in the water!

Or I would open a TRUE Jumbo Sports and make things like giant 'sit and spins' or giant 'big wheels' for big kids like me. Or a pogo stick that doesn't max out at 100 lbs. : )

[mythical84]

I would find a good coach, work my butt off, and go as far as I could. And before I left the barn every night I would give him an extra kiss and peppermint (oh wait, I already do that and Harry's only done 2 T's! ;) ).

[Jupes]

Fun thread!
It's enjoyable to hear everyone's thoughts and dreams. :)
As for me, the more I thought about it, the more realistic I became. I guess I'm with tangledweb. That is, unless the horse had a super sweet personality. Gotta love that "pet" quality, too. hehe.


Sell it. Buy a nice ridable * horse and spend the difference on a nice house.

No point casting pearls before swine.

[Ibex]

In theory: find the money, learn to *really* ride and see where it would take me.
In reality: sell, buy another horse and a house. :sigh:

We're guessing my youngster will grown into a Prelim-packer who can put in a nice dressage test. She's got a nice big jump when we free-jumped her, but not the fire for more by my guess. What she DOES have is a great packer personality and I think will take good care of her rider once she learns her job (she's only 3...)

[riva1]

That's almost as good as winning Power ball. Well, if I won PB, you wouldn't have to GIVE me 'superhorse'. :winkgrin:
I'd load him right in the trailer (with Finn, my lovable but nutty 5 yo), head to Tamarack (or Jimmy) and learn to ride said superhorse - then I'd make London, 2012 my goal!
Happy thoughts.
Darn, what would I do with the kiddos??? Powerball would be much easier!!

[cheryl ann]

Much call for jumping over cows in your area?

Ya'll don't know some of my neighbors...LOL!

[Roney]

I'd paste on the saddle-tite, grab mane, and jump over the most fun XC fence I could find.

Then I'd lease the horse out to a deserving young rider. :)

[mjrtango93]

Ya'll don't know some of my neighbors...LOL!

Hey our event horses have to do some cattle work! We don't directly own the cattle but there are 300 head at the barn and the cattle ranchers horse is old, like anciently old! We go out and check the cattle for him and do a bit of the herding and cutting. My advanced guy used to love it and would get really into it.

[imapepper]

That's almost as good as winning Power ball. Well, if I won PB, you wouldn't have to GIVE me 'superhorse'. :winkgrin:
I'd load him right in the trailer (with Finn, my lovable but nutty 5 yo), head to Tamarack (or Jimmy) and learn to ride said superhorse - then I'd make London, 2012 my goal!
Happy thoughts.
Darn, what would I do with the kiddos??? Powerball would be much easier!!

I would much rather win the PB and spend the money on fun stuff. First, I would buy my own place. Then I would buy a truck and big trailer because I would need to pick up all of the OTTBs that I would buy :lol: I would just work with youngsters and rehab projects and get them going to Training level, Level 4 jumpers or whatever it was that they would prefer to do as a career until they were ready to go on to a new home :) I might keep one or two for myself ;) I would have working students who didn't have a chance to ride otherwise and give them some of the chances to show that I didn't get as a kid :) Maybe one of my OTTBs might just become that **** horse someday :D

[Lori T]

Jen's mare, Impulsive, was an advanced level horse that was given to us when Jen was 13 and her pony had just died. Former owner turned down offers from Bruce and Peter Grey because that wasn't the type home she was looking for her (former owner got burned out). The first week, Jen cried she couldn't ride her..she was used to her little arab pony that she did BN on, and here she was on an incredibly talented 16.2 hand TB. Hauled her butt off to her trainer, her trainer rode her for 30 minutes and told Jen if she didn't want her, she would take her! By the end of the lesson, Jen had a smile on her face as she learned what buttons to push! Spent a year doing novice and finished 3rd individually/6th team at USPC Champs. Moved up to training where she spent the next 4 years. Yes, she could have gone prelim at any time, but I wanted to make sure she really knew what the hell she was doing. This was to be the year they finally moved up to prelim and young riders with a goal of a 1*. I was nervous watching her school prelim and intermediate, but knew that I didn't want her moving up on any other horse. Wasn't meant to be, Imp came in 3 legged in January with multiple bone fragments in her knee (true TB, she never showed any indication of a problem..the surgeon couldn't believe how much damage there was and that she never was lame). Now retired and Jen rides her for pleasure. But my God, she taught Jen so much. What an experience she had! It made her the rider she is today..soft, patient and quiet, to say the least!

[Gnep]

sell it and stock yhe fridge with beer

[CBudFrggy]

Check the mailing label on his halter, cuz he must have gotten delivered to the wrong place...!

Ride him/her on the trails, take him camping, and maybe even try putting him to cows.

OMG--Me too! Camping for sure! Cows too! Then maybe a couple of reining classes.

[billiebob]

Sponsor an up-and-comer to compete it. I know I don't have the ability (or the balls--XC scares the bejesus out of me) to do a 4* but I'd be the most boastful owner out there!

Of course, I'd have to do the conditioning rides. Shoot!

[OneDaySoon]

I have told the history too many times to repeat, but I learned 2 things to go along with that special 4* $400 horse:

1. Have enough money to also have the very best instructors

2. Personal Bravery (a horse like that will make 3' jumps look like ground rails)

Here I am at 16 on our Advanced horse at the YR qualifiers a gazillion years ago:
http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/2218/2143694010098335381S600x600Q85.jpg

[WNT]

I would figure out right quick what I needed to do to get sponsorship (or marry rich, equally difficult it seems). Otherwise, probably sell it and get a less expensive, younger horse and have money to compete and bring it along.

[Tuckertoo]

Figure it was the chance of a lifetime and see how far I could go.

My thoughts exactly. I would jump at the opportunity, learn everything I could, do everything in my power to learn and compete safely, and see how far up the levels I could go, making sure I wasn't going too fast just because I had a "made" horse.

And I would cry, because that horse would show me just how much I suck at riding when I couldn't even get it to trot in a straight line.:lol: I think I'll keep my guy thankyouverymuch because I've pretty much taught him everything he knows, so.....even if it's all wrong, at least I know how to ride him:p

Seriously, though, I would love the opportunity.:yes:

And WNT---love the sig line. Gotta love Mythbusters! :)

[horsecents]

I hope Robbie J. posts since he's living the dream!

[olympicdreams04]

Stranger things have happened, you know. For a fall season, I got the privledge of riding Simply Red and learned more useful things than I had in perhaps the previous 3 years in 3 months. He had a health issue that no longer allowed him to jump safely but the flat work skills that I learned were immeasurable. Apparently the universe is intent on making appreciate dressage because again a couple of years later, I had the windfall of getting the ride on a difficult but talented Grand Prix horse that even further insteeled the principles of balance and connection in me. I am the first to acknowledge that I have been lucky in love when it comes to horses. My current ** mare was one that I watched be mishandled for years and had *willed* to my after the untimely passing of her AA owner that could rarely finish a Prelim with her. She has been a dream come true. I can't even imagine what the boon of a **** horse would be like. But, with the ideals of a perfect world in mind, with unlimited money and time, and assuming the horse was competition ready we would gear towards Fair Hill CCI***. FL would be a given with probably a little down time to fine tune our skills with my GP dressage rider friend down there and maybe a trip to HITS or two. We'd do Rocking Horse III at Int and then rock the socks off of their Advanced course. Rolex top 5 finish would be par for the course and while we're at it, we might as well alert the powers that be that we're ready to anchor the WEG team. Sigh. If only. In reality though, I am a firm believer that if you don't install the buttons you won't know how to push them when push comes to shove. Its still nice if heartbreaking to dream though.

[Bobthehorse]

I dont, and never want, a made horse. Half the fun is in bringing it along, building a relationship, putting in the training....the other half is seeing all that pay off with a great bond and partnership at ULs.

Say you get a 4 year old, spend I dont know, 8-10 years bringing it along to Intermediate or Advanced. You spend tens of thousands of hours in the saddle with that animal. Compared to the, oh, fifty to a hundred hours that someone buying a made UL horse puts in before taking it out at the ULs. Which one will likely be easier to feel out on xc day? Make it around safely? Know when to pull up and call it a day? Gage the horse's reaction?

I personally, find no satisfaction in buying a made horse. Also, I am SICK of seeing ads for Advanced horses that read "perfect for young rider looking to move through the levels quickly and collect ribons". WTF??

[Meredith Clark]

I second giving her to my trainer because I don't have the guts to go around a big course!

I'd love to be a proud mommy and eventually take her around some lower courses and breed her.

I'm a big fan of not breeding for no reason but if I had an awesome 4* horse i'd have a reason to breed :)

[subk]

My newest motto is:

the best horse is a sold horse.
Mr. subk's old motto is:

never pass up the opportunity to make money on a horse.

Of, course that's HIS motto about MY horses...none the less, I can't imagine anything better in this sport than riding the upper levels on a horse you made yourself. I think I'm with Bob on this one. Sell him and buy a couple spectacular young prospects. Funny, 13 years ago I went out looking and found a young horse, just started, to bring along and took him through a CCI**. Today even though my budget is much more flexible I'm still looking for the same thing: young and green, I'll install the software...

[Whisper]

If the horse was given to me on the strength of my being a good home, I don't think it would be appropriate to sell him without checking in with his previous owner and making sure it was ok with them. Assuming the horse was kind/easy enough for me to ride, I'd start out at BN, and probably do some shows in the related disciplines (dressage, H/J, hunter paces, etc.). Hopefully we'd be ready to move up to Novice fairly quickly, but I'd want to stay there for at least a year before moving up to Training, to make sure my basics were solid enough. I know it's kind of wasting the horse's talent, but I've been fortunate to get to ride a couple of horses who have a lot of training, and it's wonderful getting the feeling of doing it *right*!

[eventer_mi]

I would love him and hold him and call him George. :)



*snork*

Love it.

[Cody]

Take veeerrry good care of him or her. And enjoy the heck out of Novice/Training. I'm to old to go higher. The horse would like it probably, just a walk in the park for that type of horse. I would feel no compulsion to get someone to take him to his potential, he doesn't care and would be happy to be well cared for and event low level I am sure. I don't think the horse has Olympic dreams!:) If it was a horse I couldn't ride I would give him to my daughter...no, lend him...he is mine!


I agree with Flea. I have been given the opportunity to have that 4* horse as friends have leased me their horse that competed at that level. Yes he does need special care and he loves his peppermints. He's not difficult to ride at all. Actually much easier than my Spot pony. He and I have parted company one time already, he spooks and I fall off. He strolls back to the barn. He didn't get his carrot or peppermints that day. So I think he remembers that because he hasn't done it since.

I'm like you flea, I have no aspirations of going any higher than training. I would like to do the training 1/2* and that would be perfect for him. In fact, what you are saying sounds like what Jenn Holling told me about my paint pony.....that he didn't care how far up the levels he went, just to not go hungry, be scared and be loved.

I consider myself very fortunate to be able to sit on this horse, I have never had something that's been to the upper levels.

Cody

[tuppysmom]

We have a horse who has done 3 4 stars. We hope that he can do 2 more over the next 2 years and then retire. We have talked at length about what he will do after that. You have given me some ideas, thanks!

[deltawave]

I would take Tony and give him a good home with lots of mares to boss him around! :D

[BBowen]

I'm with DW on giving the ride to my trainer. I am too old and unskilled to be thinking about an upper level horse. But, I have a phenomenal young trainer that works with my filly and he would definitely have the ride and I would sit back being the proud owner. He has ridden at the advanced level and is very talented. Would love to give him that opportunity.

[roki143]

I totally did get one! And no I didn't buy him, but got him cause he was broken and no longer wanted, I just happened to be the right rider working for the right people at the right time. He was able to give me an unbelievable year at the upper-levels - although I had to deal with some (ALOT) of baggage, and piecing together a horse - it was the most amazing experience!

Was a the ride for just anyone - NO - but that's how I ended up with him! Alot of patience, and listening for the voices he heard in his head.

Now he sits in my backyard with a long mane - no back shoes, and the little neighbor kids feed him treats -- and I'd wager my life to say he's the happiest he's been in a long time! I even taught an up/down lesson or two on him - which if you knew this horse - you'd understand how impossible that sounds!

[Sebastian]

While I have not ridden a 4* horse, I did have the distinct pleasure of owning a former GP Jumper (ridden/trained by Hap Hansen).

He was truly the most amazing horse I've ever met, and he probably taught me more than any human trainer I've ever had. He was 15 when I got him (just happened to be in the right place at the right time...) and I LOVED him, and fed him bananas (his fav), and we trained and showed for 2 years. Echo had some "issues" that were easily managed. But, my trainer and I discussed, and decided to keep the jumps at 3'6" when showing, but we schooled bigger at home on occasion. We did not win much, but my plan with him was always "education" first. I rode around like the jumps were 4'6", never gunning or running him at anything. It was the BEST two years of my life. Eventually, as he approached 20, his left hind decided he was done, but I swear, if you'd pointed him at it, he still would have tried...

He's 100% retired now, living on a friend's ranch in TX. I miss him horribly, but having a beautiful 30 acre spread to "manage" and call his own (yeah, he thinks the place is his...lol) is what's BEST for HIM.

He made me work my butt off -- never "gave" it away, and EVERY mistake was mine. He even made me cry a few times... But, I will always love him for the knowledge and friendship he gave to me.

Seb :sadsmile:

[tbeventer]

I have my 4* horse... I just haven't gotten that far with him yet. However, I'd love to have a going upper level horse that I haven't made myself... or would I? Wouldn't it be terribly boring to ride a horse someone else has made? It may be fun for a few go-rounds, but in the end, I think it's much more satisfying to know you've done the work yourself. :yes:
Once my now Prelim-Intermediate horse (coming 7 year old) is a 4* horse it will be lovely to look back at all the time and frustration he has caused me and realize that it truly was worth it! I wanted a horse with the "switch" that went off and he definately has it, although we're still learning to control that switch. (Thank you to all the trainers and riders that beat him to a pulp and then flipped him over the rail on the track for that!)
So, perhaps in time for the next Olympic go around... or maybe if Chicago gets the bid in 2016 I'll have finally made my solid 4* horse.

[Sebastian]

I have my 4* horse... I just haven't gotten that far with him yet. However, I'd love to have a going upper level horse that I haven't made myself... or would I? Wouldn't it be terribly boring to ride a horse someone else has made? It may be fun for a few go-rounds, but in the end, I think it's much more satisfying to know you've done the work yourself. :yes:
Once my now Prelim-Intermediate horse (coming 7 year old) is a 4* horse it will be lovely to look back at all the time and frustration he has caused me and realize that it truly was worth it! I wanted a horse with the "switch" that went off and he definately has it, although we're still learning to control that switch. (Thank you to all the trainers and riders that beat him to a pulp and then flipped him over the rail on the track for that!)
So, perhaps in time for the next Olympic go around... or maybe if Chicago gets the bid in 2016 I'll have finally made my solid 4* horse.

While I COMPLETELY understand the desire to make your own... Never underestimate the power of a TRUE schoolmaster. They FIND ways to challenge you -- trust me :winkgrin: . Remember there is a difference between a "packer" and a "schoolmaster."

I'm currently making my own now, too, but I never would have been able to do it without the knowledge I got from Echo.

Seb :)

[SEPowell]

I'd take off his galloping boots and go fox hunting :D

[ddashaq]

I would find him a rider and enjoy being the owner of a very nice horse! I have absolutely no desire to go beyond training, so a 4* horse would be sadly wasted on me.

[Carol Ames]

Assuming I also had everything else, health, house/farm , transportation, and anything elseI /we might need:lol:; I would put myself i the i"hands", i.e, :winkgrin:care of Jim Wofford or Karen and David since, i always preferred to take care of my own horses:yes:, I'm not sure how i would work that out but,hey, that's minor, right?:lol:I'd work that out :yes:;

[tuppysmom]

DW. Tony really likes cows. He has an old Arab gelding right now that he herds around the field, (at the walk), all day long, but I think he would be thrilled to have his very own cow!

[Jleegriffith]

I would sell the horse and take the money and invest in tons and tons of lessons for myself on a horse that is a solid at training level or prelim. I love the learning process and would welcome riding something besides greenies.

[Sightunseen]

I would love him and hold him and call him George. :)

Then, George willing, I would learn everything I could about him, us, and how we ride the bigger courses, and work my way up (slowly and safely and with my coach's blessing) from prelim to advanced.

Oh, and I would build a shrine to him somewhere on our farm because he would be a lifelong dream come true and we should all remember to appreciate his generosity and spirit.

DITTO

[deltawave]

TM, would a piebald shetland pony with a large udder suffice? My two big girls are mortally offended by the existence of cows. :lol:

[pinkdiamondracing]

I would take Tony and give him a good home with lots of mares to boss him around! :D

DW-- sorry but I call dibs on Tony!!:winkgrin:
Maybe my darling sister will take into consideration all the OTTB prospects I have given to her and let Tony come live with me.
He could live with my 23 year old OTTB and be my jumping partner.
It would be fun to go do some 3' jumpers on a horse like him.
I don't have the nerve for solid fences, but will jump the heck outta staduim fences. :D

Wonder how Tony would like the hunter ring?? J/K:lol::lol:

[tbeventer]

While I COMPLETELY understand the desire to make your own... Never underestimate the power of a TRUE schoolmaster. They FIND ways to challenge you -- trust me :winkgrin: . Remember there is a difference between a "packer" and a "schoolmaster."

I'm currently making my own now, too, but I never would have been able to do it without the knowledge I got from Echo.

Seb :)


I had a schoolmaster that I brought along from a yearling. I'd always wanted a packer but once I finally had one, it was really boring. He still had his antics, but I could send a 3 year old out in a field with him and he'd just plug along quietly. Now, a Grand Prix dressage schoolmaster I would enjoy! It would be a blast to finally learn how to ride piaffe and passage and PROPER canter pirouettes.:D

[scubed]

I would find a young rider who was willing to share (so that we could both ride and I could also continue to ride the muttly pony) and then, with lots of help from my coach, do a bunch of prelims and then hopefully move up to intermediate and a CCI**, my ultimate goal. Then, give over fully to the young rider for them to achieve some of their goals (which young rider would depend on how many years the big horse had left, etc. It could be a very young rider going novice now with goal to go prelim in a couple years or something like that of a young rider already at the upper levels with goals to do more).