| When one reads advertises on the internet of a horse | | | | Suspension--natural suspension at the trot and canter. |
| for sale that is a "dressage, western pleasure or | | | | Though it can be improved upon, the natural ability is |
| hunter" prospect, one has to wonder how is that | | | | preferred. |
| possible? At the low level of dressage, training or first | | | | A good walk--the hardest gait to improve upon. You |
| level, a horse may move much in the same frame as | | | | can work on the trot and canter, but you're ahead of |
| an A show hunter, but if the horse is a prospect for | | | | the game if the horse has a naturally good, free, |
| upper level, he must be conformationally built to handle | | | | swinging walk. |
| the demands of greater collection. | | | | Other movement aspects to consider: straightness in |
| If you are looking for a young dressage prospect that | | | | and purity of gaits. Free shoulder, tracking well up |
| you can take up through the levels, picture the canter | | | | behind or overtracking. The ability to extend and collect |
| pirouette. The horse's movement is often described as | | | | within each of the gaits. |
| that of "a coiled lion," as he is able to "sit" more in his | | | | Bloodlines of upper level dressage champions. These |
| rear, his front end lighter and lighter. This is what you | | | | horses have been bred for upper level dressage. |
| want to achieve in the upper levels. Think of the old | | | | If you're looking for a horse that can get you to the |
| paintings of George Washington and others on their | | | | upper levels fast and allow you to learn more from |
| war horses that are coiled and ready for battle. | | | | him, buy or lease a schoolmaster. Schoolmasters have |
| In competition dressage at the upper levels, horses that | | | | already competed at the upper levels and are often |
| are not built appropriately will be unable to perform the | | | | being moved down a level because they may be |
| movements or will have great difficulty, if not break | | | | getting on in years and are not be physically able to |
| down. In a dressage prospect, look for: | | | | handle the extremes of upper level movement |
| Uphill build--the withers are higher than the croup | | | | anymore or because they could not progress beyond |
| Higher neck set, allowing the horse to carry himself | | | | a particular level and the rider has a new horse to |
| uphill. Where the neck meets the whither, is the muscle | | | | move further along. For example, a horse that is third |
| strong or concave? Will it require building that muscle | | | | level proven and fourth level trained may not have |
| to achieve the advanced upper level frames in | | | | been performed those fourth level movements in |
| dressage? | | | | shows to be competitive, though he has trained in the |
| Neck length that is capable of allowing flexion. A short | | | | movements and was successful at third level. |
| thick neck is detrimental, but an extra long one can | | | | If still unsure about a dressage prospect, attend |
| create difficulty in compacting the horse. | | | | dressage shows and watch the upper level horses to |
| Neck shape--the horse is not ewe-necked, either by | | | | understand what you need to consider with regard to |
| natural build or due to incorrect early schooling. The | | | | conformation and movement. |
| presence of a well-defined, strong crest and a not | | | | If you are interested in more great equine articles, |
| overdeveloped under neck muscle is preferred. | | | | please visit our resource box below and join our great |
| Back is straight, not hollow, as back is to be strong to | | | | family. We always leave the barn door open on |
| allow the horse to work from back to front. | | | | purpose for new friends. Hope you stop by. |