Thanks for the responses. I now have a clearer picture of the type of horse I want to buy and how to describe that horse to my trainer. I think I sometimes give her the impression I’m braver than I really am, and as a result, she believes I can ride horses I have no business on. In fact, due to my horrible balance, I have no business being on a horse period, but that’s another story. It’s good to know some horses can be cool, yet sensitive, and that sensitive doesn’t always translate into hot. Valegro is such a cool horse to me. Love him.
[QUOTE=khall;7817130]
oldernewbie, that is the same observation I had with Toto at WEG 2010. He was calm and relaxed (trying to eat his ribbon) and took the victory gallop totally in stride with a relaxed gallop on a loose rein. Yet he had to be reactive and “hot” off the aids (though NEVER saw EG box him like Rath has done) for the work he performed. I loved what that showed of Toto’s temperament, plus I like a playful horse![/QUOTE]
Yep, I think of Toto as being a tad hot, but do you remember the video that went around after Paul S. bought him - the one where the groom was riding him? He was just as level headed as could be. I thought she did a better job than MR, who I wanted to boot when he boxed Toto. :mad:
There is video somewhere of Charlotte & Valegro in a warm up in Florida (prior to the OG). V was being quite hot and reactive in that arena at that time. Of course she rode him beautifully and kept going.
I’d say he is hot and has a fabulous mind.
[QUOTE=khall;7817130]
oldernewbie, that is the same observation I had with Toto at WEG 2010. He was calm and relaxed (trying to eat his ribbon) and took the victory gallop totally in stride with a relaxed gallop on a loose rein. Yet he had to be reactive and “hot” off the aids (though NEVER saw EG box him like Rath has done) for the work he performed. I loved what that showed of Toto’s temperament, plus I like a playful horse![/QUOTE]
And the funny thing - if you read about Toto’s early riding years, he was extremely reactive, overly sensitive, the classic “hot” horse. So this shows what good riding and trust between horse and rider can develop. And does anyone remember how tense and unhappy he was when Rath first started riding him? The rider makes all the difference. Gal is a very light, sensitive rider. The hot, sensitive horse does better with a lighter rider - less hand, lighter in the aids. They can feel overly contained with a heavier rider (and I’m not talking about weight).
I agree and disagree. Some horses are more naturally sensitive then others, and some are more naturally calm then others. Our job as the trainer is to channel that sensitivity and nurture it, and if the horse is dull, our job is to make them more sensitive. And our job is to create a partnership w the horse so they do trust the rider, and further enhance the horse’s positive attributes, while improving the lesser areas.
But having worked with many young horses - I can tell you from experience some are just naturally comfortable in their own skins. Not reactive to outside stimuli, more focused. And some horses are naturally more sensitive to the aids then others.
I like Equitbrit’s summary, and agree, a good rider can make a “duller” horse more sensitive. And a less educated rider can drive a sensitive horse crazy.
I want a smaller version of Valegro, 15-15.2 hands for $5,000.
… just from a bloodline perspective, Valegro is a Ferro grandson (Negro son), and so I would expect him to be somewhat “hot” and reactive. Not a bad thing if you know how to channel it… 
I have my Jazz mare in foal to Negro for 2015 and can’t wait to see that foal!! Different strokes for different folks…
To the OP, it is also quite easy to take your average horse and make them lazy, that’s a training issue. I seem to have done it with my young horse and now that we’re moving up, I need to undo it. Which is also making him a bit more dramatic. These things typically go hand in hand. The trick is to keep them on the aids so that the energy is channeled. Easier said than done.
Hot horses tend to never get calm, they get trained. With the right skill set, that hotness becomes channeled and turns them into incredible performers. You (nor I, nor most AAs with full time jobs and other obligations) do not want that kind of horse, unless you are very committed and very capable.
My old guy, The Exploding Pony, was always, always hot. Worked six days a week for his entire career. He was brilliant, difficult and complicated. I enjoyed it at the time but do not ever wish to go down that path again if I can avoid it
Everyone wants a nice, forward but not hot, fun, trained, easy horse to ride. They are few and far between!
[QUOTE=exploding pony;7820114]
To the OP, it is also quite easy to take your average horse and make them lazy, that’s a training issue. I seem to have done it with my young horse and now that we’re moving up, I need to undo it. Which is also making him a bit more dramatic. These things typically go hand in hand. The trick is to keep them on the aids so that the energy is channeled. Easier said than done.
Hot horses tend to never get calm, they get trained. With the right skill set, that hotness becomes channeled and turns them into incredible performers. You (nor I, nor most AAs with full time jobs and other obligations) do not want that kind of horse, unless you are very committed and very capable.
My old guy, The Exploding Pony, was always, always hot. Worked six days a week for his entire career. He was brilliant, difficult and complicated. I enjoyed it at the time but do not ever wish to go down that path again if I can avoid it
Everyone wants a nice, forward but not hot, fun, trained, easy horse to ride. They are few and far between![/QUOTE]
and they usually end up being $$$$ when you find them. Unless you look hard and get lucky.
I have seen horses of great temperaments that behave like saints no matter the skill of the rider. And their opposite, horses that are a PITA even under the best of riders (and that include pro riders and trainers)
Certain horse and rider temperaments and energy levels click and some just never do. Since as an ammie it usually is our one and only horse , becomes more important and can be a bit of a problem as often only time will tell what a horses temperament is “really” like in different situations and when asked for more etc. Still, certain traits such as staying calm vs freaking vs normal range of wariness when seeing or experiencing a new /scary thing are largely inborn, as is resistance vs trying if asked to do more, etc. My own theory is that foals pick up a lot more behavior from their mothers in first months then perhaps we realize…jmo though!
I know, I know. Everyone wants a forward horse with a calm temperament and easy to ride. A girl can wish, though.:lol: I can now see where Valegro is hotter than I thought he was, but he’s still not like the horses Isabel Werth rides.
[QUOTE=exploding pony;7820114]
Everyone wants a nice, forward but not hot, fun, trained, easy horse to ride. They are few and far between![/QUOTE]
Loved the hot types when I was younger. Now (that I’m old) I REALLY enjoy my PREs !
I have been riding a horse for a friend this week (friend is out of town), who is “hot” in the sense that he is very spooky and externally focused – every little noise, horse going past, whatever, makes his head shoot up and stare/freeze/spook. Definitely a “squirrel” horse. At the same time, he is extremely dull and unresponsive to the aids, and very behind the leg. It’s an interesting ride.
My own horse has a tendency to drift towards the lazy, but if you aim to ride well and keep your aids soft, she can achieve that holy grail of being forward but not hot or fast. It’s great.
[QUOTE=Caol Ila;7823621]
I have been riding a horse for a friend this week (friend is out of town), who is “hot” in the sense that he is very spooky and externally focused – every little noise, horse going past, whatever, makes his head shoot up and stare/freeze/spook. Definitely a “squirrel” horse. At the same time, he is extremely dull and unresponsive to the aids, and very behind the leg. It’s an interesting ride.[/Quote]
I had one that could be unresponsive to the aids but only when very frightened. Otherwise he was very light to the aids and eager to please.
Is this horse responsive when not distracted?
Hot and responsive? OK…
Hot and unresponsive? No way…
In any case “unresponsive” is not a good or safe place to be on a horse. I wouldn’t be riding one that was of that temperament. At least not outside of a confined space. Very dangerous…
I think every horse that is frightened is unresponsive to your aids. His temperament is governed, in part, by the way he responds to a frightening stimulus. Some frighten more easily than others, but the state of “holy crap I’m outta here” type of frightened, does not take account of rider’s aids.
My mare has her hot moments, but with my trainer’s help I am learning to channel that into something we can work with. When I am leading her someplace she is pretty cool and takes it all in. Sometimes we need to stop and have a look at something. When we are working her under saddle and she is really focused, she is in your pocket. But it does take some time to get there and you still have to work for everything. She doesn’t make it easy so she can be a challenge to ride correctly. She is a wonderful horse though and has loads of potential.
