Piling on to Team Made Horse here. We’d gone looking for a large pony hunter to lease for my then 14yo and came home with a teenaged Czech WB gelding who had an active, verifiable USEF record at 1m-1.10ish and had competed thru 1.30m, possibly 1.40m, in Europe. He was extremely well-priced and maaaaybe quiet enough to ribbon in the local Hunters. We got extremely lucky – the seller and her trainer were already overwhelmed trying to keep up with 50+ inquiries a day. I also got the impression they liked the way my daughter rode and felt that the horse seemed to like her, too.
He’s been amazing. Just what daughter needed. Her confidence over fences had been rattled and she was nervous, yet angry at herself for being nervous. And she subconsciously worried that she was asking too much of her beloved ponies. My “grandson” changed all that. Fences under 2’9" or so are nothing to him. He might as well be jumping a twig on the ground. Additionally, he’s an excellent decision maker and uncannily discerning. He will abort mission if he believes that you are going to meet disaster if he jumps. Otherwise, he’s going. At home, he will let you know in no uncertain terms that he saved your butt. At shows, he will extend grace. Our trainer’s trainer walked up while she was watching daughter and grandson’s round at a schooling show: “Oh, that’s a very nice horse!” At another show, someone remarked about his “unhurried” pace. That made me chuckle. But it is part of what makes him such a lovely horse. He will not allow you rush.
All this gave daughter the freedom to worry about her circus and monkeys over fences. He’s certainly quiet compared to horses like McLain Ward’s Contagious. Yet he’s quirky and no dead head. He got “fired” from a half-lease in under 4 weeks after he bucked the poor woman off. He’s very European and thinks that hacking out alone or above a walk is a practice drill for the Zombie Apocalypse. Now that daughter has officially met with his approval and can increasingly push the fancy buttons, the extent of his schooling is becoming increasingly apparent. And we’re starting to see a fire and athleticism that previous owner thought he didn’t have. He LOVES TO JUMP. They’re doing the 1m open and Low Children’s at Upperville this June. And I would not be surprised if it turns out that he carries her into the 1.20m or beyond.
Long story short: find you a slightly older, been there, done that horse. For the price of hock injections and a monthly sessions with a beloved bodyworker, we basically have the elusive 3" + packer. Riding is supposed to be fun. It is too much work and money not to be. Find the equine partner that makes it fun for you!
