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Dressage Prospect???

4K views 28 replies 12 participants last post by  NittanyEquestrian 
#1 ·
I Have MY 7 Year Old OTTB Mehtala, And Decided Jumping Was NOT My Thing, And I Want To Stick With Dressage Which I Have Been Riding For 6 Years, Any Comments, On If Dressage And My Mare Are A Good Match? This Was My 3rd Dressage Lesson On Her!
 

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#2 ·
Very typical of most OTTBs, she is tense through her back, hollow and not "through". She also has not engaged her hind end and doesn't come close to tracking up. I would focus more on relaxation, getting her to stretch down, and working long and low before even thinking about "on the aids", a frame or an outline.

Dropping your hand down below the standard straight line between elbow and bit may work short term to get the horse to drop its head, but it creates more trouble long term in terms of correct training. It's also incredibly punitive, creating direct downward pressure on the bars of the horses mouth.

Dressage is difficult for TBs is general because they're not bred or built for it (Yes, I know there have been fabulous exceptions); particularly hard for OTTBs because they've had traveling inverted and bracing on the bit confirmed by all their previous training.

Your mare is attractive and seems willing and like she's being a good sport about what she's being asked, which is a huge plus. It's hard to evaluate her athleticism from these photos, but certainly she'd be capable of doing Intro, Training and First Level.

However, I will tell that reschooling an OTTB as a dressage horse is a long, difficult task, sort of like emptying the ocean with a teaspoon. Relaxing the back and stretching is the key. It can be done, but one day after months and months of work, you'll be happy your OTTB stayed on the aids for her whole Training Level test; and you'll realize that riders on warmbloods achieved that milestone in 1/4 the time or less, which much less sweat than you did.

Disclaimer: I dabbled in dressage, it was not my primary discipline. If anabel, Spyder or Mercedes post in this thread and say something different, please pay attention to *them*. They are the true dressage experts. My experience with OTTBs is pretty extensive, however.
 
#3 ·
Very typical of most OTTBs, she is tense through her back, hollow and not "through". She also has not engaged her hind end and doesn't come close to tracking up. I would focus more on relaxation, getting her to stretch down, and working long and low before even thinking about "on the aids", a frame or an outline.

Dropping your hand down below the standard straight line between elbow and bit may work short term to get the horse to drop its head, but it creates more trouble long term in terms of correct training. It's also incredibly punitive, creating direct downward pressure on the bars of the horses mouth.

Dressage is difficult for TBs is general because they're not bred or built for it (Yes, I know there have been fabulous exceptions); particularly hard for OTTBs because they've had traveling inverted and bracing on the bit confirmed by all their previous training.

Your mare is attractive and seems willing and like she's being a good sport about what she's being asked, which is a huge plus. It's hard to evaluate her athleticism from these photos, but certainly she'd be capable of doing Intro, Training and First Level.

However, I will tell that reschooling an OTTB as a dressage horse is a long, difficult task, sort of like emptying the ocean with a teaspoon. Relaxing the back and stretching is the key. It can be done, but one day after months and months of work, you'll be happy your OTTB stayed on the aids for her whole Training Level test; and you'll realize that riders on warmbloods achieved that milestone in 1/4 the time or less, which much less sweat than you did.

Disclaimer: I dabbled in dressage, it was not my primary discipline. If anabel, Spyder or Mercedes post in this thread and say something different, please pay attention to *them*. They are the true dressage experts. My experience with OTTBs is pretty extensive, however.
You covered it pretty well maura. For 3 lessons you are not that bad but I would question any instructor that tells you to place your hand/arm in the position it is in.

That is the sign of an instructor that is working on the head incorrectly and causing the stiffness throughout. This would be the very first thing I would work on. Just a note that this arm position also throws off your back and shoulder position and causes you to lose the use of your seat.
 
#4 ·
Thank you guys alot, And she actually is built for dressge, not to long, and the only reason my hands are like that is because riding in dresage in a close contact saddle that is too small is difficult, i just bought my dressage saddle and wil be getting video and more pictures, thank you alot!
 
#7 ·
I think basic dressage is very good for OTTBs, as it is for most horses. However, she does not have what I would look for in a dressage horse prospect conformation wise.
 
#8 ·
Do you want to ride tests and competitions or not? Because if you do, it might be quite difficult, as it has already been said before, warmbloods will always be "better". But if you want to do dressage for yourself and your horse, i don't see any problem. Every horse can be a "dressage horse", in German there is a saying: "Die Dressur ist für das Pferd da, nicht das Pferd für die Dressur" which means: Dressage is for the horse, not the horse for dressage.
 
#9 ·
I always get myself in trouble with the word "prospect."

To me, "prospect" means capable of competing successfully at the mid to upper levels of a sport. In that sense, no, your nice, attractive mare isn't a dressage prospect.

If your real question is "Should I do dressage with my mare?" than the answer is an emphatic yes. My first foray into dressage was with a very confirmed OTTB who didn't respond to any of the other training tools at my disposal and remained inverted, braced on the bit and counterbent and leaning in on turns. Getting him moving off my inside leg and firmly onto my outside rein under a dressage instructor's supervision is what finally made a difference and allowed me to progress with his training.

So by all means, work with a dressage instructor. You'll improve her movement, way of going and suppleness and she'll be a more responsive riding horse.

And, if you get to that point, do compete her. The experience of showing in front of a judge, hearing their comments and reading the comments on the test is invaluable.

Just remember I warned you about the warmbloods beating you up and taking your lunch money.
 
#10 ·
This Mare Is Only Going To Be My LOW Level Training Thru First Level Dressage Horse, In 2 Years I Will Be Breeding her for my HIGH level horse. to our Trehkaner/ Gelderlander/ Dutch Stallion that cant be ridden due to injury, and she bearly raced, only 2 starts, then was spoiled for 3 years, and so this is a big improvement to what she used to be, pics dont do justice for her confo

thats him
 
#17 ·
This Mare Is Only Going To Be My LOW Level Training Thru First Level Dressage Horse, In 2 Years I Will Be Breeding her for my HIGH level horse. to our Trehkaner/ Gelderlander/ Dutch Stallion that cant be ridden due to injury, and she bearly raced, only 2 starts, then was spoiled for 3 years, and so this is a big improvement to what she used to be, pics dont do justice for her confo
Pardon my hysterical laughter.

Not gonna happen. She's too racy in her conformation to produce a 'HIGH' level dressage horse. You would need a stallion who is prepotent for everything, which again, not gonna happen.

You'll do what you want, but I'm telling you right now, you're going about it all wrong and will be disappointed in the results, particularly once you gain a modicum of knowledge and experience.
 
#13 ·
Sorry but breeding a 'high level' dressage horse does not entail putting a cute wb stallion over an average mare. You'll be lucky to get something that is built uphill putting those two together. if you want a really talented, quality foal, you need a very nice mare that is all round well put together, then pick a stallion that will compliment her features. Please don't join the mob of 'I have a mare therefore I should breed her to any stallion'. Just because you have the stallion doesn't mean you should use him. He may be available to you, but have you put any thought into how he compliments her conformation/temperament/movement...???? I think not.

My 2 cents.
 
#14 ·
Sorry but breeding a 'high level' dressage horse does not entail putting a cute wb stallion over an average mare. You'll be lucky to get something that is built uphill putting those two together. if you want a really talented, quality foal, you need a very nice mare that is all round well put together, then pick a stallion that will compliment her features. Please don't join the mob of 'I have a mare therefore I should breed her to any stallion'. Just because you have the stallion doesn't mean you should use him. He may be available to you, but have you put any thought into how he compliments her conformation/temperament/movement...???? I think not.

My 2 cents.
Also there is nothing spectacular in the breeding of this stallion.
 
#16 ·
I would recommend just buying a weanling foal if you want one. You can get a much higher quality one than if you were to breed your mare, and it would probably be cheaper than stud fee+vet fee+care. I saw a oldenburg weanling a month ago that scored 8.4 on her overall inspection and was absolutely adorable and she was only $3,000.

Edit: plus when you buy, you already know what you are getting. If you breed, you don't always get what you think you will get.
 
#20 ·
Well, You Guys Obviously Don't Know The American Warmblood Association, The American Warmblood Association Tries To Put The Best To The Best, And Produce Competitive Sport Horses, And Actually Elliott's Father Avenir Is Impressive, Avenir Was In The Olympics And His Father Was In The Top Ten UNITED STATES DRESSAGE FEDERATION Stallion List. Obviously You Don't Know Anything Either, And I Do Know How To Ride Dressage, I Was In A Hunter Type, Close Contact Saddle, And Do You Realize I Am Only 15.
 
#21 ·
And Actually Elliott's Father Avenir Is Impressive, Avenir Was In The Olympics And His Father Was In The Top Ten UNITED STATES DRESSAGE FEDERATION Stallion List. Obviously You Don't Know Anything Either, And I Do Know How To Ride Dressage, I Was In A Hunter Type, Close Contact Saddle, And Do You Realize I Am Only 15.
Well, that was Elliot's father. Not Elliot.
By the way, you should know that you're placing the stupid card quite a few highly respectable riders, who were kind enough to take the time out of their days to post their critiques and opinions to this forum.

Nobody was insulting your way of riding. However, they were suggesting (actually, they were blatantly telling) you should get past your barn blindness and reconsider your choice in breeding her to this stallion.
Why not take some clear conformation pictures of your mare from all angles and post them to be critiqued? You can also take some video of her movement, too. I'm sure that you're right about these pictures not doing her justice, so take some that will do her justice. Prove to the world that she is what you claim she is!


Oh, and a side note? Please Stop Typing Like This. It's quite difficult to understand! Mind-boggling, really! ~
 
#25 ·
okay, so this is never going to work, i have decided to go back to hunters, this is crap and annoying, obviously all i wanted was a little input, not for my horse and i to be insulted off of the website, it was actually quite rude, Dressagexlee and the first person to respond were more subtle, and polite, you don't know my mare, or me, don't go judging her confo in shots, that you cant even tell,
 
#27 ·
When you pay someone to "be polite" to you as your instructor is doing then I would suggest you stay with them. You got your answer to your question on the first 9 posts.

You should have left the breeding part out and put up a different thread in the breeding area.

I can tell you one thing that if you want to show and SUCCEED you will learn to take the positive and the not so positive comments in stride with less attitude.
 
#26 ·
Now, now. This little debate is no reason to not ride dressage anymore. If you want to do it, then there is nothing stopping you! As I said, nobody is telling you that you can't do dressage with your mare or that you're a terrible rider! If anything, we praise you for taking on dressage; it's a great element of training that, to be quite honest, many hunter/jumper riders often skip over or lable as unimportant, when it is really what makes a good jumper.
Any discipline in riding cannot be mastered in a week, so nobody should be pressuring you for perfection when you've both just started dressage. Don't place that unreasonable expectation on yourself, either. An expectation on you is an expectation on your horse, and it will just become a fight, and that isn't what riding is about! ~

So, keep pursuing dressage with your mare. There isn't anything stopping you!
 
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