Spanish horses vs Warmbloods for dressage: which do you prefer?

Well, of course

If I ever had money to get myself a breed that is considered a "dressage breed" I think I would look for an Andalusian or lusitano (sp?), I have a secret love for both breeds.

I did read once in I think Dressage Today that while collecting the spanish breeds is very easy, getting them to extend is not.

Also agree. Though the modern friesian is starting to look more like a dressage horse, they were originally bred to be cart horses.

The iberians are bred for collection. They don't have trouble with the high level collection movements because they are 'designed' to sit on their backside! Extensions are a problem though as QHdragon said.

I prefer WB's. As Anebel said, they have the more powerful ground covering paces and are bred to be competition horses.

Friesians are bred to be cart horses. Some are being bred now towards more of a sport horse type, and they look stunning, but again, find a lot of the work difficult in higher level dressage.

Warmbloods every time for me! Lucky seeing as I have 8 dressage warmbloods!

For the classical (and any dressage) if I could choose it would definitely be an andalusian horse. They are so intelligent and have the great temperamant, event the stallions, that they are easy to train and are born with the natarul "collection", which is a bonus to them. Whereas the warmbloods that I know, some of them can be can be "hot tempered" not all of them though! And are quick learners . I agree that a spanish horse isnt suited to jumping as their build are more "dressagey" if you know what I mean. But the warmbloods are excellent jumpers....sooo...
The spanish horse for me! But then again....the warmbloods do have better movement at the pirroutte and flying change and are take extensions better..
Oh I don't know I like them both!

I've never had the pleasure of riding either type, but both are beautiful in different ways. That being said, if one or the other were to drop into my lap, I personally would prefer an Iberian. I'm not a big competition rider, and I love that grand baroque look and long full mane...

One question, though -- clearly that both WB's and Iberians are bred for dressage, just for slightly different strengths within the discipline, correct? Has anyone ever seen a cross between the two types? I would be curious to see if one could produce a hybrid with the Iberian's ability for extreme collection as well as the WB's "flash" and presence in the competition arena. I suppose some of each ideal would be sacrificed... perhaps the hypothetical hybrid would simply be a mediocre quality competition horse without exceptional talent at either extreme?

Fuego's wonderful freestyle at the WEG!! I'm fairly sure that horse had the best international finish of any Spanish horse in recent memory.
My coach has had the privledge to work with some wonderful Spanish horses in her travels and has described them as being great for Amatuers because they are so much easier to ride. In general, they don't bounce you, they don't freight train and are very sensitive. They can also perform all the work although they might not have the huge extensions or "10" movement.

There is no doubt that horse loves his job!

I think that there could be more higher level baroque type horses but they are a risk because they are not the norm. So there are more higher level warmbloods than spanish because they are safer and it is harder to get big movement out of a collected horse than to get collection out of a big mover. But I think that when you do get the big movement it is a nicer more correct movement coming from the collection of the baroque type than the flashy extension of the warmblood. I hate seeing the flashy front ends and the lackluster hind ends of some of the top dressage horses these days but that's a pet peeve of mine and is a personal opinion. I would love to one day own and compete on an andalusian or lusitano crossed with my TB. But I'm saving that for when I actually NEED a new competition mount because it will be a lifer =P