I have been toying with the idea of taking my old all-around horse out of show ring retirement and training him in working hunter/Eq over for AQHA. He is 16.2H, completely sound, shown extensively at a pretty high level. I originally bought him as a hunter prospect but due to trainer issues, ended up only competing in the all-around events. I retired him about 4 years ago when I didn't have enough time to actually maintain him, much less compete on him. Since then, he has been a pasture ornament and used as an occasional lesson horse.
Now that I have a little more time, and have been jumping my project horse (doesn't have much talent, though), I am looking at using this guy again, but in the over fences events. If I do compete on him, I would want to compete at a regional/national level in AQHA, which is at around 3'. I have had a number of highly respected trainers in QH suggest moving him over to the over fences classes, or try to talk me into coming to their barn, but call me cynical, but I don't always trust it.
I have a couple of videos for you to look at, they aren't the best quality, but hopefully it is good enough to evaluate him some. The ones in the show ring are HUS classes from 4 years ago, when he was still really in shape and going strong (not in 1995 like the date on the video says - he wasn't even born then!). Also, you might want to turn down the volume. There's comments from the peanut gallery and family, and I don't remember exactly what all is said (might have a few choice words).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLYdN76-TG0 - This one is in a small arena where he couldn't move out his best, but it's the best one I have as far as being out in the open where you can see him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXrunDuUKjo - Bigger arena where he can move out more, but we occasionally get lost in the crowd.
The jumping video is from about a week ago, and is actually the very first time he has ever jumped. We had to up the fence height on him so he would do more than just step over it. From what I could feel, he has a stronger push-off and uses his body really well over the fences, but I'm not a jumping expert by any stretch of the imagination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiDKUnFsDkQ - Unfortunately, my friend who was in the center of the arena with a camera lost that copy, so I don't have it to show you. Would have been a better angle. (Please don't worry about my form - I was concentrating entirely on him, and really driving him to the base of the fence and staying out of his way, not trying to look pretty. Plus, I have a hurt leg/quad and have a hard time holding a two-point for very long.)
Let me know what you think. I know you can't say for sure either way based off of one video, I'm just looking for some plus and minuses on this. Thanks!!
Here are a couple of random videos from shows, I don't think they will help you at all, though, except to show that he is really broke, balanced, and manueverable, which would be good for Eq over classes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UtJnDtrb9E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB2eskBt8Ls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcS3YYYZJg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_EQ-U-Lc7Y
Now that I have a little more time, and have been jumping my project horse (doesn't have much talent, though), I am looking at using this guy again, but in the over fences events. If I do compete on him, I would want to compete at a regional/national level in AQHA, which is at around 3'. I have had a number of highly respected trainers in QH suggest moving him over to the over fences classes, or try to talk me into coming to their barn, but call me cynical, but I don't always trust it.
I have a couple of videos for you to look at, they aren't the best quality, but hopefully it is good enough to evaluate him some. The ones in the show ring are HUS classes from 4 years ago, when he was still really in shape and going strong (not in 1995 like the date on the video says - he wasn't even born then!). Also, you might want to turn down the volume. There's comments from the peanut gallery and family, and I don't remember exactly what all is said (might have a few choice words).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLYdN76-TG0 - This one is in a small arena where he couldn't move out his best, but it's the best one I have as far as being out in the open where you can see him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXrunDuUKjo - Bigger arena where he can move out more, but we occasionally get lost in the crowd.
The jumping video is from about a week ago, and is actually the very first time he has ever jumped. We had to up the fence height on him so he would do more than just step over it. From what I could feel, he has a stronger push-off and uses his body really well over the fences, but I'm not a jumping expert by any stretch of the imagination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiDKUnFsDkQ - Unfortunately, my friend who was in the center of the arena with a camera lost that copy, so I don't have it to show you. Would have been a better angle. (Please don't worry about my form - I was concentrating entirely on him, and really driving him to the base of the fence and staying out of his way, not trying to look pretty. Plus, I have a hurt leg/quad and have a hard time holding a two-point for very long.)
Let me know what you think. I know you can't say for sure either way based off of one video, I'm just looking for some plus and minuses on this. Thanks!!
Here are a couple of random videos from shows, I don't think they will help you at all, though, except to show that he is really broke, balanced, and manueverable, which would be good for Eq over classes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UtJnDtrb9E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB2eskBt8Ls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcS3YYYZJg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_EQ-U-Lc7Y