How "rare" is the horse capable of jumping a 1.20 course safely?

[BK6756]

I’m a bargain hunter and I’ve had pretty good success with cheap/free horses and gradually moving up to the AA jumpers.

Do you think there is a huge change in ability once you are talking about more than 3’6"??

I’m not talking about a horse that only a pro can get around, nor am I talking about something that will win at WEF.
I’m talking about a horse that can tolerate some amateur mistakes and safely get around an average 1.20 course at an A show. Not necessarily the winner, but can get in the ribbons when ridden well.

So if you took 100 random OTTBs that were sound, how many would have the ability to get to 1.20 with a dedicated, (but not particularly talented) ammie?

[ladyj79]

Those are different questions.

How many horses can make it around 120? More than the number of riders who can do the same.

I would say the second question is how hard is it to find a 120+ horse for an ok rider on a budget?

Less easy.

But if you’ve done it before with free or cheap horses, seems likely you can do it again.

If you are looking at developing ottbs, seems it’ll take some time. Less if you also have a trainer who does this consistently. Regardless of if they become 120 horses, there’s certainly a significant market for horses who can jump safely and sanely around lower heights.

[Highflyer]

Assuming they are sound and brave and like to jump (which is not a small assumption and eliminates a lot of them), I think a significant percentage of OTTBs can. For example the horse I have currently is just starting to school at that height, but pretty clearly has no trouble-- and I know of at least 3 other OTTBs locally by the same stallion who compete at Intermediate or Advanced eventing which is why I took a chance on him in the first place. My trainer, who has a pretty good eye for TBs, gets most of hers to at least Intermediate.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

@BK6756

So if you took 100 random OTTBs that were sound, how many would have the ability to get to 1.20 with a dedicated, (but not particularly talented) ammie?

The not particularly talented ammie part of the question is what gives me pause. Are you talking about an average ammie working largely on their own or an average ammie working closely and often with a pro such that the pro’s experience and guidance in deciding when to introduce things and when to move up is critical?

Take everything I say with a shaker of salt because I have not done this myself nor am I really close to anyone who has - though I have observed more than a few dedicated people with OTTBs and very high hopes. It seems to me that if you take 100 sound OTTBs and pair each one with a not particularly talented but dedicated ammie, a solid percentage of those ammies are going to hit up against something that derails the journey long before the horse is jumping around 1.2m.

[gertie06]

If you miss at 1.20, it takes a very talented, athletic, and good-minded horse to bail you out. I think that’s what makes the AO jumpers so valuable. When you say that you’re “not particularly talented,” what do you mean? In this rider’s opinion, it takes a good deal of talent to get any horse around 1.20. So the question is less “does this horse exist?” and more “am I really capable?”

[Madeline]

@BK6756

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So if you took 100 random OTTBs that were sound, how many would have the ability to get to 1.20 with a dedicated, (but not particularly talented) ammie?

1.20 isn’t 4’ Probably 90 or more, given a decent opportunity to learn the job. And a trainer that would allow the ammie to progress.

[ladyj79]

The question is never really the horse. Most riders in the US jump 1m and under, and that’s of those competing over fences. The horses aren’t really the obstacle, although the limited demand means we have significantly fewer horses developed to this level in the US, and prices reflect this. if the rider is a 120+ rider already, then the odds are better. If the rider isn’t, the odds aren’t so good.

[BK6756]

@ladyj79

But if you’ve done it before with free or cheap horses, seems likely you can do it again.

If you are looking at developing ottbs, seems it’ll take some time. Less if you also have a trainer who does this consistently. Regardless of if they become 120 horses, there’s certainly a significant market for horses who can jump safely and sanely around lower heights.

Even though I’ve had a few success stories (and 1 failure), those were lower level horses. So now I’m wondering what my chances are to do it again, but ending up with a horse that can eventually do the low A/Os. I am a mediocre rider, so I feel like maybe I’ve just been lucky. The only thing I have on my side is willingness to take a chance and spend some time working out the kinks.

[BK6756]

@Groom&Taxi

The not particularly talented ammie part of the question is what gives me pause. Are you talking about an average ammie working largely on their own or an average ammie working closely and often with a pro such that the pro’s experience and guidance in deciding when to introduce things and when to move up is critical?

Take everything I say with a shaker of salt because I have not done this myself nor am I really close to anyone who has - though I have observed more than a few dedicated people with OTTBs and very high hopes. It seems to me that if you take 100 sound OTTBs and pair each one with a not particularly talented but dedicated ammie, a solid percentage of those ammies are going to hit up against something that derails the journey long before the horse is jumping around 1.2m.

Yes, I think you’re right about the chances of hitting a roadblock somewhere along the way.

[Horsegirl_s_Mom]

@Madeline

1.20 isn’t 4’ Probably 90 or more, given a decent opportunity to learn the job. And a trainer that would allow the ammie to progress.

Why do you say 1.20 isn’t 4 feet? When I googled the conversion, 1.20 meters equals 3 feet, 11.24 inches. So that it basically 4 feet, unless I’m missing something, which I may be!

[BK6756]

@gertie06

If you miss at 1.20, it takes a very talented, athletic, and good-minded horse to bail you out. I think that’s what makes the AO jumpers so valuable. When you say that you’re “not particularly talented,” what do you mean? In this rider’s opinion, it takes a good deal of talent to get any horse around 1.20. So the question is less “does this horse exist?” and more “am I really capable?”

I grew up riding backyard trail horses and just got back into riding as an adult about 10 years ago (starting with once a week lessons).
I leased a very experienced horse last year that I could school 1.20, but he was a purpose bred warmblood and was priced in the mid five figures, so not a budget horse like what I’m thinking about.

[BK6756]

@ladyj79

The question is never really the horse. Most riders in the US jump 1m and under, and that’s of those competing over fences. The horses aren’t really the obstacle, although the limited demand means we have significantly fewer horses developed to this level in the US, and prices reflect this. if the rider is a 120+ rider already, then the odds are better. If the rider isn’t, the odds aren’t so good.

I agree! I think the fact most people don’t want to go over a meter is what makes a 120 horse so rare.

[gertie06]

1.20 is, indeed, 4’. I worked my arse off to get to this level, and never quite made it…even on a really nice horse. Something about a 4’ square oxer with a 4’ spread in a triple combination makes me a wee bit nervous :).

[gottagrey]

If you’re getting back into the swing of things why not show in the Children’s/ Adults?

[BK6756]

@gottagrey

If you’re getting back into the swing of things why not show in the Children’s/ Adults?

I am showing in the adults, but I am looking toward the future. My gelding is 15 and will need to step down in the next couple years, so I’m thinking about starting to work on the next one and I want to eventually do the AOs.

[touchstone]

I’m going to go against the grain here and say pretty rare. There are a lot of horses that can jump one 1.20 fence, and many that could get to that level with a good professional. But a horse that can jump around that height with an average amateur ride is tough to develop and expensive to buy made. That doesn’t mean you can’t find one. But, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

[BITSA]

@gertie06

If you miss at 1.20, it takes a very talented, athletic, and good-minded horse to bail you out. I think that’s what makes the AO jumpers so valuable. When you say that you’re “not particularly talented,” what do you mean? In this rider’s opinion, it takes a good deal of talent to get any horse around 1.20. So the question is less “does this horse exist?” and more “am I really capable?”

This ^^^

[blondewithchrome]

I am in a hotbed of horse country here in Z3 and we have good numbers the 1.20 at big A shows regularly - so, to answer your question of are they “rare?” I would say no. However, the takes-a-joke, will bail you out of a miss, and isn’t the pro-only ride question you asked makes that type more rare and inevitably more costly.

OTTBs likely have the athleticism, but as others said - pilot and training is a big part of the equation. To jump around a solid 4’ course with a mediocre rider is in my mind a horse worth his weight in gold!

[gottagrey]

@BK6756

I am showing in the adults, but I am looking toward the future. My gelding is 15 and will need to step down in the next couple years, so I’m thinking about starting to work on the next one and I want to eventually do the AOs.

Excellent! There are plenty of Prelim and up Eventing horses that go around without batting an eye and those XC fences are 3’7" - 4’3" (with brush), 5’ drops, and wide. Lots of ammies and Jrs. going around prelim, and no their trainers don’t get to school them over the course before hand. so yes, there are 1.20m horses out there

[bluepece2]

I have two in Europe. Both are proven at 120cm. Both are worth between 30 and 60 thousand euros. The horses are there but they are not inexpensive. In Europe they are less money but that’s partially because we don’t have hunters. The lowest height for us is a 1m class if you want to show in the non “beginner” shows (my daughter is starting to jump at these at the lowest height is around 2ft and that class isn’t available at all shows). If the 120cm class was more the standard I would expect the horses is be less of an issue to find.