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Another potential dressage horse

6K views 48 replies 15 participants last post by  DuffyDuck 
#1 ·
The search for a new partner continues, I have one who I may be trialling, BUT, I was emailed about this girl, and I am very tempted by her, what do you think of her as a dressage horse? She was bought as a jumper but doesn't like to jump..





 
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#35 ·
I know that fugly is fine, there was nothing attractive about Mr G's sales ads at all, but I still went to see him...

As to what I really want, a horse with all the substance of Bert here



BUT

:oops: Sorry Bert a little more refined, so a bit longer in the leg, etc

with the spirit and spark, and heart of an Ace



With the 'can do' attitude of a G Man



I am usually the first to say to people, look for the horse you want, not the breed, and yes I'm kind of breaking my own rules, and I have nothing against QH's, I believe that they are probably the most versatile horse out...

BUT

*Stamps foot*, it's my party and I don't want one
 
#36 ·
Then start saving more money or take out a line of credit is my point....

A cheap warmblood wont get you half as far as a nice "alternative breed" of horse. A good warmblood with the substance, "spark" and can-do attitude you're looking for along with the conformation for dressage and even an ability to only do second or third level is still a 30,000 horse at 5 years old, if it's sound (Caruso on that website).
To find a nice QH or TB or cross that is trained to second level, under 10 years old and still has the substance and possibly more can-do attitude will only set you back 12,000 MAX. The trouble is these guys are hard to find and get snatched up quickly or aren't for sale. So keep your eyes peeled and don't settle for something that is going to be lame, is already lame or is going to max out in a year. It is possible to find something trained and well conformed in your price range, it just probably wont have the worlds best dressage breeding or flashy movement....
 
#37 ·
There are certain realities I have to face as well, and I'm certainly not taking out a line of credit for my hobby, it's not going to happen.

*SIGH* it would be easier to change my riding style, and find a nice cow horse.

LOL, I know it often sounds like excuses, as it always does in a thread when the OP is seemingly not listening, but geographically we are in the middle of nowhere. The horse market remains stronger north of the Border here, then it is to the south, all the ones that have taken my eye in the way of TB, TBxDraft, etc etc, are $5000 for something that will typically jump, but needs more work on it's ground work, and it's not exactly a hotbed of dressage.

There is also the length of time I may want to ride, or compete, well we'll do the best with what we have
 
#40 ·
Thanks for the good luck message.

In all the horse shopping I really want is to find one that gives me 'that' feeling, the one that you can't explain and I just don't have it.

I enjoy G Man as he is now, but have zero interest in taking him further, that is difficult to explain, I like him, he is my go to horse when I need someone to pony the other guys about the place, he is far happier in his western tack going long and low. It's difficult to explain, but it's just not working:oops:

Bert now, she makes me smile, but she's never going to be a dressage horse bless her.
 
#44 ·
Ace can do a bit of dressage, but can't see the point in it, she likes to doit her way, a total blast, but the judges don't mark so well for it. Also :oops: just at the moment, a 20 year old sway back ex broodie, isn't the best choice to carry my current weight.

I have a lot of work to get her fit enough to be ridden again, and more importantly me fit enough to ride her
 
#45 ·
and more importantly me fit enough to ride her

Then maybe this isn't the time to be looking for another horse. There is nothing wrong with the appy you have. That horse just needs to be ridden more aggressively forward instead of you just following along with the gaits it offers you.

And as far as the horse liking only the western saddle, I really don't think ANY horse just arbitrary decides they don't like a specific saddle that is discipline related...more like the rider likes or dislikes the saddle.
 
#47 · (Edited)
To be fair, every horse who isn't yet developed, in terms of training and musculature, as a dressage horse will "prefer" to not go round in a dressage frame. :) To do so takes a certain level of fitness and correct training for both rider and horse, and the unfit or incorrectly muscled horse will be thinking, "This is a little bit too much like hard work." If you'd gotten on my horse ten years ago, you could easily think, "She doesn't really like this dressage stuff." Nowadays unfit riders who haven't developed what is mainly core strength find her very hard work to ride, whereas she is easy peasy for fit riders. So you need both, horse and rider.

I agree with Spyder about Mr. G. I also think Bert is a pretty good looking horse. I know she has a kind of complicated back story (apologies if I can't remember exactly what it is) but with a bit of time and training, surely she could learn to carry herself a bit. :)
 
#48 ·
No there is nothing wrong with G Man, there is an awful lot right with him, BUT I don't find him comfortable to ride in the arena, and that smile factor isn't there.

It's hard to explain but G Man doesn't have 'IT' and I don't see anything wrong with admitting it.

As to the weight/fitness thing, good point and both things need to be addressed and worked on, but when it comes to Ace, even at my very lightest, which is pictured there with me riding her, she had to adjust herself to balance when I mounted, and as I say she sees little point in dressage, and at her age I would rather enjoy her as she is than try and progress her any further.
 
#49 ·
GH can I ask a few questions first?

How much dressage experience do you have?
And do you ride English much, or mainly western?

If I were in your boots, especially with winter and Christmas here, I would perhaps look for a coach that teaches dressage fundementals, to teach you what you need to see and feel in a horse for you, and to help get you fit. That way you can have more security in yourself when you go out and buy a horse and not have any doubts.

Just a thought :)
 
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