Does anyone have the perfect horse

[MirandaSophie]

Sorry there are so many pictures...can you tell I miss them both So much it hurts

[jennyb]

Love your pics Miranda, especially the one of you cantering Sonky bareback!

My horse is mostly perfect for me, if he weren't so accident prone Other than that, his only real faults are spooking and spinning, which he rarely does, and the occasional bout of tension and rushing. Never reared (under saddle! ), only bucked under saddle once, doesn't bolt and never ever known to nap. He's a very good boy really, I rode him out in strong wind today, not sat on him for over two months and he was perfect.

[pipgibson]

My friends have said Harly and I are like pea's in a pod together!! Not sure if thats a good thing or bad!!

But I wouldn't be without him now. ;D After going through so much together and getting to how we are now. He still likes to spin around some-times and bucking has to be the best hobby for Harly!!

But in my eyes he is just great!!

[megnum]

My horse is perfect ;D

[Rosie J]

My perfect horse is the most unsuitable horse you could imagine, but I love her to bits. Its my meggie of course. 13.2 (Im 5'10!) NF with sweet itch and recurring lameness, she is difficult to catch, headshy with anyone other than me and Dan, and would give a rodeo horse a run for their money with her bucking, if I ever put a saddle on her again. Meggie is the only horse I have not 'fixed' - because I dont want to. I love her and I cant bear to put her through any training that would upset her. dont I sound stupid?! she brings it out in me! But she shakes when you get a saddle out, so I put it away again - she doesnt need to learn to be ridden if she doesnt want to she can just look pretty (in her own rustic way!) and give me secret cuddles when its quiet at the yard and noone ever has to do antyhing scary to her again.


Now, what I need is a 17h spritely good looking SJ horse, but there you go. Perfect and perfect dont mean the same thing do they?

[Zoe RA]

He's looking down at me as I type

He is perfect now, because the dear old sole has been dead for nearly 10 years, so I have forgotten all his little habits - like breaking the fencing with his bum as he rubbed his tail, and not going further than the nearest patch of grass if anyone but me rode him, and trashing the field when his chum was taken out for a ride (he was got as a companion for said chum and HE was the one with the separation anxiety!) etc etc.

But his good side was that he took me on Sponsored Rides, Cross Countries, got ribbons at shows, carried my son safely when he was only 3/4 and had never ridden before, gave me some fantastic hacks that I shall remember all my life, and was fun and loving.

He was perfect - for me anyway!

[emi]

WQe have two of them ;D

Starsky is your perfect childs first pony type - fun and friendly but totally safe. He is a touch spooky, but only with things you'd expect a horse to be spooky with. He's fantastic - you can stick a little kid on him and not worry about their safety but at the same time the more advanced rider can get on and get more out of him - he has nice paces, works nicely on the bit and will clear a small course of nottoobright jumps with a confident rider.


Conor is like, the epitome of perfection. He's 6 and a half and good at everything. Many people have seen him work in the school and asked if I've considered doing dressage on him, but at the same time he has a jump that seems to come from nowhere and although isn't totally out of control in a jump off, often wins classes because he trusts his rider and will turn and jump at any angle from any distance. He;'s amazingly fun cross country and will hack out with out bolting off. You could put the most unconfident rider on him and the most experienced rider on him and both will get a lot out of him and find him really fun. He's never been properly strong - gets excited and fast on country rides but stops at the squeeze of the reins.


But both ponies are grey. so maybe that's not quite perfection!!


OP, it is very hard to fdind the perfect horse. Starsky, many people wouldn't think he was perfect because he's not a keen jumper and can be spooky. But we think he is and he was such a lucky find.

Connor took us 9 months to find and he was definately the best horse we saw - 99% of the others were wrong in some way (bucked, bolted, kicked, too lazy, couldn't jump at all, unpredictable etc)

Perfection is n't necessarily a horse that doesn't run off or spook or be lazy. It's going to be different fordifferent people. I know a family with a horse that plods along, has fairly poor conformation, and is not very well schooled. But for them the horse is perfect.

Also, some of the things that you may consider as "imperfections" with your horse may actuallybe curabe. For laziness, perhaps his feed could be altered? Or maybe lots alots of quick transistions, or more exciting work? Connor is 'lazy' in the school if he is bored and the rider doesn't give him something to think about. The energy is there, he just doesn't always use it.

Perhaps also, there may be a reason why your horse bolts and spooks. Pain could be a cause. I've heard although don't know much about it that magnesium defficiency can cause spooky horses. Maybe your horse is more perfect than you think

[sandalfarm]

Not yet he isn't after only 6 weeks. It took 4 months until Sophs became what I wanted. Surely it never happens straight away and then you learn to deal with their differences.

[gilly]

He's not perfect but I love him and I wouldn't swap him for anything.

He is the most loving gentle horse ever, and is so quiet and careful around my energetic toddler who likes nothing better than to run under his belly and hug his legs. He's not the easiest to ride but he keeps me on my toes and challenges me ( and not always in a good way). I think I would be bored now with anything that didn't make me push out of my comfort zone sometimes. He's taught me so much and still does. He's just the best!

[nich]

yes and i would never ever part with her!

[wozzer]

I think that I've got the perfect horse for me but echo emi - we all are looking for different things.

Maybe what we should talk about is a perfect partnership? That means it doesn't matter if your horse has confirmation faults or you have riding faults, it's how you get along together?

[chloe]

Dolly's perfect!

She's gorgeous, soppy, friendly, calls when she sees me, hacks alone and in company, schools nicely, enjoys her work but doesn't get sour when left in the field for a while. Is happy to live out or be stabled overnight. She's bitless, treeless and barefoot.

[eskimo]

I have 3 perfect horses for me!! Each one has there own quirks and personality but i love them all & wouldn't be without a single one.

My one horse Murphy is definitely a perfect horse i had him as a 3YO Ex racer he's now 21YO. Ive learned so much from him its untrue & he is perfect no vices, no spooking, doesn't buck, rear or Nap he's always happy to do what ever i ask of him and go where ever. We have competed in Eventing & Dressage. He is a true perfect partner a total one off I'm very thankful to have him in my life!!

I do love all my horses the same but i just thought i would tell you about Murphy!!

[Jeanette]

My horse Jack is as perfect as any horse could be for what I ask of him.
I have 3 stepsons who age between 7 and 15 years old. Jack copes with all 3 of them riding him and even the 7yo has started to canter on him now.
They have taken part in numerous competitions at the stables all coming back with handfuls of rosettes.
All 3 boys only started riding 5 months ago and were complete beginers. The 2 eldest are now confidently jumping 3ft on Jack, maybe lacking in style a little but Jack looks after them, even when they come at an angle with no impulsion!
The youngest loves standing up on Jacks back and then sliding off his bottom.

I am so lucky as I bought Jack 18months ago with the intention of selling him on again! I loved him from the start and kept finding excuses not to sell him! Then the kids started riding and there is no way I will ever sell Jack now unless I absolutely have to. Jack seems to know the ability of the rider on him and adjusts accordingly. He is one in a million.

This is a picture of him at the fancy dress at a Christmas Show


And at the end of the boys first ever show!

[berylsmum]

To me Gydja is utterly perfect. She never naps, bucks, rears and is very non-spooky. Yet she is still a fun foward going ride. If you want her to go she will (and how!!!) yet if you just want to plod she will do that happily. She is very well schooled a lovely light responsive ride. I have built up so much confidence on her I am now doing things I wouldn't have believed possible before I got her. She looks after me completely. She is also brilliant on the ground full of cheeky personality and affection but still very easy to handle.
Beryl isn't quite perfect but I wouldn't have her any other way. She can be spooky and a bit nappy but there isn't a nasty bone in her body. She can get grumpy at times and pull faces, but it is all a front she is actually the soppiest, sweetest animals you could find once you have given her a good scratch on her itchy spots.