Question: I have a beautiful four-year-old thoroughbred who pinned very well at schooling shows, but is not a classically beautiful mover. His bascule is acceptable, but his trot has too much knee action to be called a "daisy cutter." He's very well-mannered. If I want to move up to rated shows, should I keep him despite his lack of perfect hunter-style movement, or sell him and buy a daisy cutter? Will a well-mannered horse pin better or worse at the "A" level than a daisy cutter in adult amateur or amateur owner divisions?

Answer: The competition is so stiff at rated shows that it is very important to have a horse that moves reasonably well--particularly one that has the length of stride to go from fence to fence in the number of strides designated by the course designer. I can't say your horse wouldn't do well at all in rated shows, for everything else about the animal may be so outstanding that it can get by without being the best mover on the show grounds. I have seen horses with specific drawbacks end up doing quite well in the year-end awards simply because they were quite capable in other ways and because they were ridden by deadly-accurate riders who almost never missed the correct take-off spots to the fences. I think you should enter your horse in a few rated shows and see how you do. If you are disappointed, you can always sell your horse and find a fancier mover.

As for the question about manners versus movement, I would probably take the better mover and try to work through the problem with manners. However, most people are incapable of riding a difficult horse well, and even professionals--including myself--can be disappointed at their inability to make a horse with talent be well-behaved, too. It's always a big risk when you choose "pretty" over "nice," whether it pertains to horses or people.