Hotter-type horses, and hotness in general

[Pocket_Pony]

Most of my horses have been varying degrees of hot.

My first horse was not generally hot, but unpredictable.

My next horse was hot and nervous about some things and required tact to ride.

My next horse was not hot but also required tact to ride.

My next horse was a crazy hot mess when he decided he wanted to be (and still acts that way even though he’s 19 and retired), but also lazy when he wanted to be.

My mustang is lazy and I have to build hot and forward in him.

My current pony is very forward, but not hot. It is a different kind of ride (granted, she’s got less than 30 rides on her). She’s forward, has lots of GO, always feels like she’s got somewhere to go, is quick off the leg but not reactive or spooky. So far I’m liking this kind of ride.

A friend once told me I have a calming seat when she first saw me ride a horse she knew to be hot (who is my TB that I ended up buying). I think I have a lazy butt. :lol:

ETA: Sorry, I posted quickly because I had to run out. Back to say that I think that people do like certain types of rides. Because of my aforementioned lazy butt, I like a horse that has some natural go. Crazy and unpredictable I don’t like, but a horse who is forward thinking is fun to ride. I think it can be an adjustment to get used to riding hotter horses, and if one is generally a timid rider, then it probably isn’t a good combination, especially if the horse is nervous as well. For the rider, I find what helps is a lot of self-awareness to learn how to focus and be in the moment and have a zen-like approach to riding. If you are someone who can think like that, then I think that you can work up to riding hotter horses successfully. If you are always aware of every little thing and think that the arena should clear out so you can have special space and want it to be quiet like a golf tournament, then maybe a hot horse isn’t right for you.

[poltroon]

[QUOTE=champagnetaste;8628433]
I rode a horse a few weeks ago. So different from my former horse, plus too-long stirrups and a saddle that put me in a chair seat (something I battle anyway) – we got mixed signals and before I knew it we were cantering. The video shows me pumping with my seat and the horse cantering not esp upset, but it took a few circles to get back to trot and it freaked me out a bit.

I’m going back to try again. Really like this horse but concerned I’m trying to put a square peg into a round hole. This horse is everything I want.[/QUOTE]

Give it another try, but whatever you do, don’t buy a horse that makes you afraid. If you ride again and now you have the confidence to deal with it, awesome! But if you have fear moments on the flat and are having to fight those, you may never be confident enough to ride this horse for fun on a daily basis. And that’s what this is supposed to be - fun. Better to buy a different horse for a while and learn and grow, and sell it on, or to lease, or otherwise find a horse that is fun for you to ride, alone, now, than to risk a horse that you end up afraid to ride. It’s a lot of money to spend, and there are fun horses out there for you that maybe have a little more forward than your last ride.

[mjhco]

[QUOTE=poltroon;8628600]
Give it another try, but whatever you do, don’t buy a horse that makes you afraid. If you ride again and now you have the confidence to deal with it, awesome! But if you have fear moments on the flat and are having to fight those, you may never be confident enough to ride this horse for fun on a daily basis. And that’s what this is supposed to be - fun. Better to buy a different horse for a while and learn and grow, and sell it on, or to lease, or otherwise find a horse that is fun for you to ride, alone, now, than to risk a horse that you end up afraid to ride. It’s a lot of money to spend, and there are fun horses out there for you that maybe have a little more forward than your last ride.[/QUOTE]

THIS. Just because some of us prefer hot doesn’t mean that everyone should want to own such a creature.

Buy one that makes you smile every. single. time. you are around that horse or think about that horse

If that horse is very quiet and needs a push. So be it. If that horse has a huge GO button, so be it.

Buy one for YOU not for anyone else. (including your trainer that might have goals of their own)

[Scribbler]

The ideal obviously is loads of forward, loads of go, but minimal silliness, plus good brakes. That I think you could get from a naturally sensitive, hotter horse well trained, with a rider that is quiet in the aids and comfortable with going forward.

That said, you really don’t want to buy a horse that scares you, as a number of posters have said. I don’t think I have seen any adult amateur rider successfully grow into a horse that scares them. They end up not riding, or they end up getting hurt, because their anxious checking of the horse all the time causes other behavior like bucking or bolting or rearing.

OP, if an unscheduled transition from trot to civilized canter, caused by your miscue on a strange horse, is frightening to you, that’s a bit of data about your confidence in riding, and your use of aids. It isn’t necessarily important data about the horse you were riding. It doesn’t sound like he “took off” or “bolted,” only that he is more on the aids than you are used to. Is your skill and confidence is up to riding this horse without wanting to continually shut him down?

[Christa_P]

Get what is FUN to ride. In my case I want what some consider hot - light to the aids, naturally forward and confident, but also safe and sensible. In my case TB mares tend to be a perfect fit. My current one is not spooky, she trail rides everywhere, alone and in company, she is light to the aids, and is naturally forward moving.

Spooky, flighty, bucking or rearing are all things that I avoid and don’t want to deal with.

[Mondo]

There are definitely a confusing number of definitions for hot. I can ride both, with some skill, but far and away I’d rather push than pull. OK - gross oversimplification obviously, but the too-quiet, duller horses are more of a challenge to me. I love a big guy that says, “Make me!” Largely, because I CAN.

Occasionally, I enjoy the breath of fresh air that is a hotter horse. The requisite soft hands, quiet seat, relaxed mind are all good reminders of correct riding. The hot guys will give you their hearts and once you establish a relationship with them it’s an unbeatable feeling! Please let us know when you try that horse again under better circumstances (for you). I hope you enjoy it!

[FatDinah]

I think a hot horse is one who is very aware and quickly reactive: That’s good and bad. They listen to EVERYTHING the rider says with their body - sometimes things the rider doesn’t mean to ask for.:lol:
They notice things in their environment - personally I like a horse that has the sense to look at where they are going but you have to give them the confidence to face new/odd things. A friend developed a test for shelter dogs for service training and one of the most telling was the startle, like opening an umbrella a the dog. You wanted a dog that reacted, then went to investigate. I think a good hot horse is like that.
Hot horses tend to have opinions and express them. That’s OK, as long as they accept the rider has the final say.
If they are hot (sensitive, opinionated) when they are 3, I promise you they will be the same when they are 23!!!

[FatDinah]

I think a hot horse is one who is very aware and quickly reactive: That’s good and bad. They listen to EVERYTHING the rider says with their body - sometimes things the rider doesn’t mean to ask for.:lol:
They notice things in their environment - personally I like a horse that has the sense to look at where they are going but you have to give them the confidence to face new/odd things. A friend developed a test for shelter dogs for service training and one of the most telling was the startle, like opening an umbrella a the dog. You wanted a dog that reacted, then went to investigate. I think a good hot horse is like that.
Hot horses tend to have opinions and express them. That’s OK, as long as they accept the rider has the final say.
If they are hot (sensitive, opinionated) when they are 3, I promise you they will be the same when they are 23!!!

[snowrider]

In my experience most “hot” horses are kinda lazy. When you make them work correctly they became magically much less hot. I think it starts with insisting they accept a quiet but always-present leg and move forward off the leg. You can train rythmn and pace. Otherwise you are always trying to slow the rushing down and end up with a horse who is behind the leg and the bit, although still fast and reactive. That’s annyoing as heck but fixable with time and patience. Every horse should eventually be able to walk trot and canter on a loose rein without rushing off or getting hollow or losing focus but for some horses that takes a long time mentally. Similarly every horse should move forward off the leg without running off or over-reacting even if you aren’t there to immediately half halt. Again, a training issue and takes a long time with some of them.

There are some horses who need to be ridden consistently 5-6 times per week and will come unglued if you just pull them out after a week off and hop on, even if they were turned out and theoretically had enough exercise. That’s just how they are and a lot of those horses aren’t suitable for working amateurs unless you have the money to be in full training so they get worked enough to stay focused under saddle. I’ve had horses that you practically had to start over after a couple weeks off and they were nice horses but I couldn’t have one now as I work full time and don’t have a reliable rider for when I can’t get out there. I don’t mind one day of lunging or just hacking quietly a few times after a couple days off but I don’t want a week of springing around like a rabbit or spooking at the letters because I went on vacation and they only got turned out for two weeks and forgot how to horse.

[CFFarm]

Haven’t read the answers but the number one thing riding a “hot” horse will teach you is an independent seat.

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=champagnetaste;8628211]
This is great info, thanks! Horse shopping these days, and my last equine partner did not really have the “go” button – and I couldn’t instill it.

On the other hand, I’m not sure I am ready for a hot/sensitive horse, and the perfect in-between could be hard to find![/QUOTE]

What I’ve found is I DON’T like riding unfamiliar hot horses, so when horse shopping I am not really comfortable on a hotter horse. However, I took a chance on buying a 4 YO that was “slightly” out of my comfort zone, and he has been wonderful. I call him “my little firecracker”!

[snowrider]

Also hot and brave can be wonderful. Hot and chicken is infuriating at best and dangerous at worst.

[Kimchi]

I am in the try him again crowed. Getting on an unfamiliar horse and hitting a few of the wrong buttons is very common (ask any one who has ridden a school master)i think fear is the big factor here, did his response to you hitting the wrong buttons scare you? If not then he could be a great match and really teach you to refine your aids. If it did then maybe you pass on this horse.

And no shame in preferring a different ride, I personally prefer pushing a little more than pulling, but just a little more, I also like being able to hack out on a long rein and be able to leave her for a week and have her come out like I rode yesterday.

[piccolopony]

[QUOTE=mjhco;8627164]
Yes, there is HOT and sensitive and reactive.

And there is crazy.

Don’t like crazy (crazy can be associated with hot OR lazy)

Hot may or may not involve SPOOKY. Don’t like the SPOOKY ones.

You learn to not over react. You learn to THINK what you want. You learn to sit chilly. And enjoy what it offered.[/QUOTE]

This is me too, I like hot, forward, sensitive, but NOT spooky. I’ve handled it with horses before but never again. I also really like a quiet horse on the ground. My current horse tends to be hotter under saddle (probably partially me) but quieter in her normal environments on the ground.

[Manni01]

I think you get along well with a hot horse when you trust your horse…then you can form a relationship which is fun for both sides.

[Magicboy]

If you’re really lucky you find a quiet mannerly horse with a really good engine. To me, that’s the perfect combo. I second the advice to check your feelings when riding the prospect and don’t buy a partner that scares you.

[SonnysMom]

My last horse was a PUSH horse very lazy. My lease horse after him was the same way.
I then bought an Arabian cross at an auction. He is very forward thinking. He can be a little spooky but in reality it is more like looky than big spook.

He has a fondness for the dolphin canter and slightly humpy backed, especially in the winter. He can get a bit strong and forward. If you give him too strong of a cue he will sometimes LEAP into that canter even when you wanted him to just trot. He will sometime kick out when I ask for that inside bend. We had a few interesting rides this winter.

The first winter I was afraid I had overhorsed myself.

Since then I have trail ridden this horse all over the place, taken him to a training level dressage show, foxhunted (non-jumping field), paper chased with him, I will be doing the Lucinda Greene clinic and hopefully some low level eventing this year. I can jump around a 2’6" course with him. Still don’t have a consistent lead change- dressage or hunter change.
That being said I will probably never go back to a push ride. I really like the responsiveness of a more forward thinking horse. He has taught me more about being a soft rider with consistent contact and good position than all of my previous horse combined. He has taught me to not curl into fetal position as my default when something goes wrong. He has taught me to not react to every little thing and to just sit chill, smile, ride it out, tactfully correct it or in some cases ignore it and keep going because it will work out.
Have I had moments where I was pushed out of my comfort zone with this horse? Absolutely. I was never scared to ride him but I would have moments where my heart is in my chest for a couple of minutes. If I make myself relax and get back to a nice open position and out of that fetal position it instantly gets better.

You may want to consider leasing a more forward thinking horse for a few months to see if you can get used to a forward thinking horse versus a push horse. Since I had so many push horses in a row for so many years it took me a while to get comfortable riding a horse with an engine and his own impulsion. I had to learn to change my expectations and learn to trust my riding ability and to trust my horse. He is forward but not stupid. Yes, he does better when he is in consistent work.

[Pipkin]

Yep, and I think they improve you immensely as a rider.

My TB (who isn’t hugely hot but is sensitive/sharp and a little unforgiving) has taught me far more than the sporthorse and wb who put up with all sorts of crap and never complain and still go nicely. Riding him is like having a teacher standing over you with a ruler, ready to rap your knuckles if you make an error. It can be stressful at times, but you sure don’t make the same mistakes twice!

The easiest trap to fall into with a hotter horse is letting them dictate how they are ridden. They need to learn to accept the leg and the bit, you can’t go pussy-footing around because you’re worried about upsetting them, that is how they learn to get away with all sorts of clever evasions

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=champagnetaste;8627038]
Can a person learn to ride a hotter horse? Can a hotter type learn to accept “mistakes”, or at least to be more accepting of leg and seat?[/QUOTE]

If the horse can learn to trust you, and relax, yes.

If you can learn to trust the horse, and relax, yes.

If either or both of you can only manage to be tense, worried, waiting for the worst to happen, then no.

Buy the horse you can ride now, don’t buy a horse you think you might someday be able to ride.

Is it possible for you to lease a horse with a more forward attitude and test the waters for say… 6 months?

Growing up the riding school I attended had school horses of every size and temperament. It was easy to find out what one clicked with, and how to handle a horse you lacked rapport with.

[leheath]

[QUOTE=Mondo;8628997]
There are definitely a confusing number of definitions for hot. I can ride both, with some skill, but far and away I’d rather push than pull. OK - gross oversimplification obviously, but the too-quiet, duller horses are more of a challenge to me. I love a big guy that says, “Make me!” Largely, because I CAN.

Occasionally, I enjoy the breath of fresh air that is a hotter horse. The requisite soft hands, quiet seat, relaxed mind are all good reminders of correct riding. The hot guys will give you their hearts and once you establish a relationship with them it’s an unbeatable feeling! Please let us know when you try that horse again under better circumstances (for you). I hope you enjoy it! :D[/QUOTE]

I am the exact opposite, but thought this was a good description of the options! I do not enjoy a horse that says “make me” - had one once and will never buy one again as it just wasn’t fun. I don’t mind a horse that says “are you sure?”, followed by “OK”, when I quietly say “yes.” I am a quiet, cooperative leader both in and out of the saddle, not an authoritarian!

I prefer the hotter horse (more pull than push), but it must be sensible. If they are going to get wired and worried, they need to follow my lead back to calm pretty quickly. If they keep spiraling up and completely tuning me out, I no longer want to deal with that. Same with super spooky - reactive and distractible is OK (within reason), huge random spooking a shrubs, not so much.

In terms of lightness to the aids, I want one that can be trained to be light so I think that needs al little hotness - I bought an OTTB that needed spurs and a whip to barely move. Within 1 week she was light off the leg. Unfortunately, she was hot (OK) and not sensible (not OK) and eventually that didn’t work for me as I ended up afraid when she tuned me out.

My current horse is young and was a little more push than pull initially, but definitely not a “make me” horse. Now, she still has a good whoa (I don’t mind taking a few circles to come back from canter to trot if I am trying for a nice transition, but if I say “WHOA”, they need to stop!) but responds to much lighter aids and is becoming much more forward thinking. She is super sensible and has a good work ethic. She is basically my perfect match and you can tell because we are progressing faster than I ever have with previous horses - we bring out the best in each other.

I don’t think I would ever buy a horse that scared me (for whatever reason) when I tried it. I have made the mistake of buying a horse that I want to be able to ride, rather than one I actually can ride (at the time) and it didn’t end well. As others have said, you should look forward to every ride. A “bad” ride might be frustrating, but shouldn’t be frightening.

It is also helpful to know your “no goes” - for me bucking is the number one thing I can’t deal with, so any horse I buy needs to think “up”, not “down” if it is going to not go forward for whatever reason - sometimes this is conformational as well as mental, but it is something I always look for.