| While most dressage (a French term meaning | | | | through the judged events. If you are naturally uneasy |
| "training") horses are warm bloods - Holsteiners, | | | | atop a horse, then you will want to find a horse that is |
| Trahkeners, Dutch Warmbloods, and Oldenburgs - | | | | very intuitive and calm. If you were really tall and lanky, |
| some American Quarter Horses have also been very | | | | you would not want to get a shorter horse, no matter |
| successful in dressage competitions. Whether the | | | | how successful the horse has been in previous |
| intent is to participate in basic dressage competitions | | | | competitions. |
| with your horse or you have goals of reaching | | | | If a horse being considered is champion dressage |
| international competitions or even the Olympic games, | | | | horse, then perhaps the horse will not be a good |
| selecting the right horse for the job is important. | | | | choice for little Suzie to ride, even if little Suzie wants |
| In the search for a good competitive dressage horse, | | | | to compete. Little Suzie is still quite young and a |
| the horse must be trained in terms of rhythm and | | | | champion dressage horse is very expensive. Perhaps |
| regularity. The horse should be able to maintain a | | | | more to the point, a champion should compete |
| steady and regular gait whether in a pure walk, a pure | | | | regularly, rather than occasionally. Another thing to |
| trot or a pure canter, down a straight path or a winding | | | | consider is the bond that will develop between little |
| trail. | | | | Suzie and her horse, and how Suzie's participation in |
| Pay close attention to that definition and note that | | | | the dressage training of the horse will only add to the |
| dressage competitions are all about the horses and | | | | experience for Suzie. |
| not the rider; the same is the case with other elements | | | | In other words, when you look at dressage horses, it's |
| of dressage as well. When it comes to the judge's | | | | important to recognize that all breeds of horses that |
| decisions about how to score dressage horses, it is up | | | | are used as riding horses can be trained in the |
| to the horse to perform well against its competitors. | | | | techniques and principles of dressage. If you are an |
| Another factor that judges score is the relaxed and | | | | experienced rider who does not have a great deal of |
| confident behavior of the horse. The evenness of the | | | | experience with dressage - or any experience within |
| horse's gait, a lack of tension and soft chewing of the | | | | the dressage ring for that matter - you're likely to find |
| bit, smooth transitions and a swinging of the tail | | | | that the same American Quarter Horse that you've |
| demonstrate these important factors of the horse's | | | | been riding in pasture or on the trail can learn the |
| performance in the dressage competition. | | | | basics of dressage. Perhaps more importantly, you'll |
| Judges in these events also look at the contact that | | | | find that a bit of training as a dressage horse will lead |
| the riders have with their horses; dressage horses | | | | you to a more enjoyable, everyday ride. |
| should not pull the hands of the rider and the reins | | | | Dressage horses are less likely to refuse to do as the |
| should be held evenly - in other words, the horse | | | | rider asks and is comfortable with bit contact. The |
| should be able to come up into the bridle and should be | | | | flow of motion between riders and dressage horses |
| carried forward in a natural motion. | | | | tends to be consistent and will exhibit a constant |
| Just as the pull of the dressage horse is measured, so | | | | communication between the two. Dressage horses |
| is its push - the thrusting power that propels a horse | | | | are balanced and better able to draw on the strength |
| forward with correct muscle and joint use. Part of the | | | | of their hind legs, and have experience keeping a |
| horse's push is measured in the straightness of the | | | | steady pace whether walking, trotting or cantering. |
| dressage horses gait, the horse's ability to move | | | | When, as a rider, you are able to focus more on the |
| forward with its hind legs following the same path as | | | | ride than on controlling your horse, you'll take more |
| its front legs. | | | | pleasure in each outing that you make. Dressage |
| If you are looking to acquire a dressage horse for | | | | horses - or, at the very least, horses that have had |
| future competition, you will want to consider the abilities | | | | some experience with dressage - make great horses |
| and traits of the person for whom the horse is | | | | for kids and less experienced riders: while the rider |
| intended. While the judges critique dressage horses in | | | | remains in control, dressage horses are responsive, |
| competition more than the rider, it is equally important | | | | and that can have a huge impact on the pleasure of |
| for the rider to be able to guide the horse and to lead it | | | | riding a horse. |