what to look for in a horse for dressage?

[Hevz2001]

Hi, This is more of a general interest post than for any purpose (though I'm considering getting a horse on loan by next year)
I was just wondering what one would look for in a horse, if they wanted to train it to do some dressage? i.e What should the conformation generally be like and the gaits?

[LynneAC]

Hi

What level dressage are you thinking of doing? If you're looking at unaffiliated/lower levels then most horses are capable of doing dressage which is, in essence, *just* flatwork. I've seen some chunky cobs with lovely gaits doing dressage tests AND getting good marks. It isn't all about beautiful 17.2 hh warmbloods :)

[Hevz2001]

Not too sure really...I would really love to get to elementary level (perhaps even higher?!) one day, but to start with it would be prelim/novice tests. To be honest I'm not really sure how the system works! I'm learning to ride dressage (or rather just good flatwork really, but want to learn more advance dressage eventually) but I've never ridden in a test before (due to lack of own horse!), how exactly do you know when to move up a level?
In a nutshell I'd like a horse who is capable of going further than novice...but not so good that its wasted on me!
I wont be getting one on loan until about this time next year...so still time for plenty more lessons!

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by LynneAC
I've seen some chunky cobs with lovely gaits doing dressage tests AND getting good marks. It isn't all about beautiful 17.2 hh warmbloods :)

hehe...there was an adorable cob at the horse show i went to last week that kicked our butts...:p I won the next test, but the cob looked really nice.

try to find a horse that isn't downhill at all, one that's a little uphill is the best, it will be easier to collect a horse like that. Also a horse that has springy gaits and gushy hocks, they should be very free with their movement, its a lot easier to work with a horse that wants to go forward than one that doesn't really want to move. A good, short back is also nice for collections, and getting your front and back to connect. Sometimes if a horse is too long in the back, they tend to forget their rear and you have a harder time engaging them....:)

hope that was helpful, really just about any sound horse can go up the levels, if you want one that has the movement to win at upper levels then it gets expensive, but you don't need to spend an arm and a leg to find a decent horse for dressage.

knowing when to move up a level is easy, you show at the level just below what your horse is currently working, so you know the horse knows all the movements and can do them accurately

[Hevz2001]

Thanks for all your help! I really really wish I had my own horse now so that I can have a go!

[Hevz2001]

Am I right in thinking there are 19 prelim tests?

How does the rider know what level they are? Do they just look at the content of the test and decide if their horse is capable of it? Or does the judge tell them what level theyre at after watching a few tests? Sorry if I sound really stupid! I'm just quite new to this!
Also, whats the difference between affiliated and unaffiliated? (I've been told before but can't remember)

[LindaAd]

Originally posted by Hevz2001
t I've never ridden in a test before (due to lack of own horse!)

At the riding-school where I go, they're having a dressage competition at the end of July - we've already been told the test, they're very simple ones that they've made up, and you get assigned a horse to ride. .... It sounds good fun - I've never done anything like that before.

To answer your question about how you know which level you're at, people usually start at the lowest level which is called Prelim. If you're any higher than that, you probably know already... The next level after Prelim is called Novice, which can be confusing, and after that I think it might be Medium then Elementary, but I haven't really looked beyond the first two.

[IrisSilverMoon]

pick a test you feel comfortable doing, something that included elements that both you and the horse are more than cabable of. You as a rider should also be working at least one level ahead of the test you ride. YOu never know what will happen at a show, so for your first I would pick something fairly easy that should be a good confidence builder, if you go out and totally excell then you can try something a little harder next time.

Since scores are in percents this is how i've always broken it down. Anything below a 60% still needs work, its a good level to be showing at and working on getting better. 60-69% is still a good lever to show at, this will be where you are going to be concentrating on winning, both you and your horse are doing great, time to go win! anything above a 70% is absolutely fabulous, you have pretty much mastered the level and feel free to go try the next one and see how you do!

Its really up to you as a rider for what you think you and your horse should do, if you do something that's too much and you can't do parts its not as big of a deal as jumping, there's little chance you will hurt either yourself or the horse by doing something too hard, you'll just get a crummy score.

so definately find something that feels pretty good to ride, then see what the judge thinks and you can go fromt here...:)

[carrie160]

The levels are:
prelim
Novice
Elementary
Medium
advanced medium
advance
prix st georges
intermediaire l
intermediaire ll
grand prix

As the numbers increase the difficulty of the test does aswell

Affiliated is harder than unaffiliated as it is more competitive as the riders are usually more serious than at unaffiliated. The tests are the same though. Unaffiliated is cheaper and it usually run by riding clubs and equestrian centres, where as with affiliated you have to join the horse to british dressage and the rider aswell, i'm not sure of the price though but you have to do this once a year, the classes are more expensive as well. Oh and unaffiliated tend to only go up to elementary (well in my area they do) so if you want to go further then you will have to affiliate.

[Lgd]

Basically correct conformation. Three correct paces. Good temperament and nice mind.

Of my two friend's and myself, none of us have poncey warmbloods.

Peri (my older mare) is a 16hh 7/8TB who was bought to go eventing. Did that and decided she wasn't keen on the SJ section but had great talent for dressage. Been to Nationals at all the levels from Elementary to PSG. She is now competing at Intermediaire I level.

Tavia (my baby) is a 15.2½hh Russian Orlov x TB/Connemara. Bought so that my niece could learn to bring on a young horse. I've pinched the ride while Claire is at University and we've just started doing Medium level classes. She's done four, won 3 and been second in the other.

George (Sarah's old chap) is 23yo, 3/4 TB (Peri's half brother). He didn't start affiliated dressage until he was 16yo. He has just been placed today in an Advanced Medium class :D

Rolo (Sarah's baby) is only 5yo, TB x Welsh Sec D/Shire :eek: and already 16.3hh. He has just started his affiliated career and has already won his first Novice class and been placed in his other three starts.

BJ (Lindsey's) is a 13.3hh Fell Pony. He has had some time off due to health problems, but prior to that had reached Medium level and reached the National championships at Elementary level. He is now back to full fitness and will be starting to compete again soon.