At 20:06:20 on 05.11.11, TripleCrush wrote:
I always hear people saying how some young horses have a lot of potential for jumping a certain height, but I'm curious to know how they know that. Example - A girl I know bought a young talented warmblood gelding from a trainer cheap, because they wanted to get rid of any horses that didn't have Olympic potential. ~ how would they know considering the horse is still young? ~ I know most trainers use free jumping to determine jumping ability, but still, I haven't gained that skill yet. Thanks for your help!

At 01:27:03 on 06.11.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
An olympic horse not only has to have ability but bravery, only the best athletes equine and human alike make the olympics a horse would need more than tallent for THAT event lol but i have never heard anyone say potential for a certain height, i have heard things like 'scopey jump, pontential eventer' or 'potential sports horse, lovely movement' etc. Free jumping you would look at the shape in which the horse takes the jump, how eager it is, how brave, the tecnique, often people say a scopey jump is when they jump too big but i think scope is when the horse jumps a jump of any size well with good tecnique, watch some videos on youtube you will soon pick it up :)

At 09:31:56 on 06.11.11, NMH wrote:
Agree with that Jess- top riders often say- it's the horses's MIND, attitude, that makes them really exceptional, more even than their physical attributes - talent is in attitude at least as much as in physique (... comforting too for those of us humans born rather less than perfect lol!)

At 22:14:35 on 06.11.11, kibby wrote:
Jumping is the easiest to scope out talent on. What I look for is the horse should be tight with the front legs with a very nice bascule or scope. This means they round nicely through the air and produce a nice arc. Then it's down to temperament, is the horse trainable, ajustable, what happens when he comes into the jump on the wrong stride does he adjust his stride and is he still brave. A top rider can swap temperament for more talent but for someone like me temperament and trainability is just too important.… I would say these guys she bought the horse off free jumped him and didnt think he was scopey enough.

At 23:29:04 on 06.11.11, TripleCrush wrote:
Oh okay, I have noticed that, but just wanted another's opinion. I forgot to add, most of the time, what I've also notice is that sometimes people never see the horse jump, but they say it's talented. But it makes sense when you guys say traits like bravery. Thanks again :)

At 09:39:27 on 07.11.11, kibby wrote:
You can also often pick out what could be a good horse by watching their gaits. Their canter should be a definite three beat gait and I like to look for a nice open but upward canter and a good swing in their walk.