So I have been through a bit of a drama on another forums where I posted pictures of the horse that I am now leasing. They say that he is not suitable for dressage because he has lordosis or a sway back and that I would be laughed out of the arena. Now, he is completely sound and is not in pain when ridden. He is also an old schoolmaster and knows his stuff. I can only think that true dressage work can only help him (and any horse for that matter) and that no real dressage judge or competitor would laugh us out of the arena. Heck I doubt they would even notice his minor sway back until I took the saddle off.
So what are some other dressage rider's thoughts on dressage with horses with lordosis?
Here is the best picture I have of him on flat ground, and I think he doesn't even look this swayed in person.
They may not laugh openly but there will be snickers and remarks. The best thing to do in that case is to show them how well he moves - that will quiet them down.
As everyone else suggested the training may do him some good but I would check with a vet first. Is it caused by age or illness?
I think dressage is benefitial to any horse. Some horses are better at it than others, but people making comments about your horse not being suitable for it is really rude.
Well I won't lie, people will probably laugh. But if it's what you want to do, and he enjoys it, then it shouldn't matter what people say.
They probably will laugh.
Your biggest difficulty will be in getting him to get the hind quarters under himself to be effective. It may never truly happen but there is nothing wrong with you working at it anyways.
He just will be limited somewhat in what he can accomplish and how well he can do it.
I was laughed at because I was showing a 15.2hh half arab ( and I am 5' 9" ) that only cost me $250.00. When I got to GP they stopped.
Well I don't think people will laugh at you, but you are definitely going to get very rude remarks and comments from fellow riders, especially in this discipline. I would be careful with the judging as well. The reality is, if a judge picks your horse out and decides that he/she does not agree with you guys competing with this technicallity, you won't place and might get talked to.
Having said that, if you are going to work with a vet and know for sure that the horse is not going to be in pain, discomfort and that dressage is not going to make the condition any worst, go for it.
At the end of the day, you are going to be likely building some muscle and hopefully topline which can only help this little beauty. I have seen a lot of horses with various medical or conformation issues that would make you question their rideablity alone and they have ended up(for the most part), kicking some butt in the show ring. As long as your ducks are all lined up in a row, what people say or think does not matter. Don't let that affect you.
Well, it's not his fault that whomever had control of him when he was early in age, was ridden too early and hard to create the sway back. Poor guy.
I am sure you can do Training Level Dressage just fine and I do not see you being laughed out of the arena at Glass-Ed shows or at Schooling Dressage Shows.
I am sure he "can do his stuff" being an old School Master, that isn't the question. The question is, "How well" can he do his stuff?
Being a sway back, he may be hindered from doing the movements that are required, in the way that the Judges expect the movements to be done. Yeah, sure, anyone can do a 20 meter circle, and anyone can move from trot into an upward transition into canter. Yep, anyone can go across the diagonal and walk on a loose rein - but the question is, how well can your fellow do these movements?
I am not sure exactly what the Judge looks for in Training Level tests, yeah the test is strait forward and the test offers hints about what the Judge wants, but what does the Judge reallllly look for with each indavidual horse and rider team?
I am sure softness, suppleness, bending, roundness, forward open movement, tracking up, not heavy on the forehand -
It isn't that you'll get laughed out of the arena because he is a sway back - it is, how well will he beable to do the movements required, conformationally?
If you want to do Dressage, go ahead and do Dressage. But I think you are all over the place with what exactly it is that you want to do. And what horse you want to do that with.
I would wait for Spyder or Anabel to answer your questions.
