should i switch to dressage?? *long & pics*

Okay, so you may have seen me before in the jumping section and ive posted pics in the critique section too. But i am considering changing to dressage with my pony Donna. If you haven't seen my other posts about her she is 9 years old. 14.2hh. Morgan/QH cross. I have owned her for almost a year now and I have done pretty much all the training she has ever had.

I normally do jumpers with her. She will go over any jump I ask no matter how high or what it looks like. But even though she does that, I don't think she enjoys it a whole lot. She seems to be much happier on the flat. She has A LOT of energy and likes to go but lately I have been able to get her to relax and really work well. I have only been walk, trot and doing ground poles with her to help her relax but she doesn't even like to go over ground poles.

So, i was wondering what you guys thought of her if I were to do dressage with her. I have always wanted to learn dressage but there isn't a place close enough to me that I can afford. Well...here aresome pics and I will try to get videos uploaded soon. Thanks!! Also, please don't critique how im leaning forward. She has a somewhat weak/sensitive back and I couldn't find the gel pad so i was trying to keep as much weight off of her back as possible.

These pictures are all from 10/4/09.
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YES! You two will do well in dressage! Dressage is for all disciplines...it helps rider and horse communicate better! :) Dressage will help her go over jumps better too (if she enjoys it). For little training, you two look great together! www.dressagetrainingonline.com is a good place to start till you find a knowledgable dressage trainer.

Okay here are some videos!! Sorry they aren't the best. The camera isn't that great for videos and my mom isn't the best either, but I hope it is good enough.

In this one you can see how she doesn't even like the poles.

Thank you! I will check that website out in a little bit. I really hope me and her can go far in something, wether its dressage or jumping, I don't care. She has already come a long way since I got her. The only thing with her and dressage is that she gets confused with what im asking her to do really easily. She is SUPER SUPER sensitive to every movement and aid that I use that she gets confused sometimes, but once she understands it, she learns fast. I guess we will see what happens soon. Thanks!!

I think both you and your horse would greatly benefit from dressage. I strongly believe that dressage is the basis for all disciplines; you don't need a black bridle and dressage saddle to do it!
Anyways, my point is that I'm a hunter at heart, always will be.... but when I found out how much fun dressage is after the boring basics, and how much it helped my courses, I am gung-ho for dressage now.
I think you and your horse are too cute together, and would do so well with it.

Thanks so much! But I was thinking if she enjoys being on the flat so much and if she does well with it, then i will end up getting a dressage saddle and everything. That won't be for a long time though. I have heard a lot of people saying that dressage is needed to be able to do any type of riding, and I believe that is true. So I was wanting to do the basics and more. haha I just want my poor pony to be happy. =)

I am a hunter thru and thru and will be taking some dressage lessons soon just for Maddy and my benefit- so I would say go for it :)

Your girl is very cute by the way!

First of all - no matter how you position your weight in the saddle, it is all still going to be on the horse's back. Leaning forward, back, sideways, etc doesn't fly in dressage. And if you actually think about it, sitting in the tack and dispersing your weight over your seat in balance instead of just your stirrup bars is going to distribute your weight over a greater area, therefore creating fewer pressure points.
And I'd like to point out that your attire wouldn't work in dressage either.

But overall, looking a the work you and your horse are doing I would say that a switch to dressage wouldn't be a bad thing.
And in a quick google search of "dressage in York, PA" yeilded half a dozen barns that claim to do dressage. I'm sure there is one good coach in your area. My coach lives a 4 hr drive from me :P

Good luck!

You are a beautiful rider on a beautiful horse. You are really tall - I feel like your stirrups are short. Find a dressage teacher, read anything you can get your hands on, go to some shows and see if it is for you! Good luck. I think you would make a very elegant dressage rider!

Whats wrong with her attire? She's not at a competition so what does it matter?

I dont really have anything to add, JDI basically said it all. But yeah, give it a go! You've got nothing to loose and everything to gain :)