Question about Dressage work

[remedyroo]

About a year ago we bought a 12yr thoroughbred gelding for our daughter who rides in hunters. He has been trained to do many things and is a wonderful horse.
The previous owner(who was a trainer but not my daughters trainer) still rides him a couple of days each week. She does alot of warming up and bending to help keep him supple. She also continues with his dressage training even though we don't do dressage with him.

I am wondering if the more advance dressage work she does with him is to stressful on his body because he doesn't do it all the time?

The previous owner doesn't own a horse any longer and is still very attached to our horse (it was her baby). I am sure that she wouldn't want to hurt him in any way but wonder if the reason she does the dressage is more for her not for him. We just don't know that much about dressage. I plan on asking her but I wanted to get some feed back before I take that step.

thanks for your help!

[ginger708]

I do not believe that she is hurting the horse in any way. As a Hunter the horse's ground work should be dressage. The horse should be doing more dressage than jumping. Dressage will not only build muscle it will improve rhythm, stamina, and balance. If your daughter wants to improve and excel as a hunter she should be training dressage as well as jumping. George Morris has written many articles on the importance of proper ground work using dressage for the jumping horse.

[merrygoround]

I suspect that the reason he is such a wonderful horse is a result of his dressage training.

At 12 he is quite young, and continuing with his dressage work will be helpful to him. I can't agree too strongly that your daughter should be learning proper flat work (which is what dressage is), if she wants to progress as a rider.

I find it disappointing that this area of her riding education has been neglected.

[goeslikestink]

I suspect that the reason he is such a wonderful horse is a result of his dressage training.

At 12 he is quite young, and continuing with his dressage work will be helpful to him. I can't agree too strongly that your daughter should be learning proper flat work (which is what dressage is), if she wants to progress as a rider.

I find it disappointing that this area of her riding education has been neglected.

me too
op perhaps you could ask the previous owner to show your duaghter and explain to her why shes doing what she does in jumping dressage basic movements are needed just as much as they are flat work

for exsample the half halt stride- its not all about wtc up to a jump one has to learn distances and to see the strides but one can not jump properly unless the horse is balanced and that comes from dressage

[KCFoxy]

I couldn't agree more about the importance of Dressage. I ride distance/endurance and can't say enough about how Dressage has improved ME. My horse has benefited from the groundwork and my improved balance:yes:.

[remedyroo]

The good news is that she does work with the previous owner on different dressage skills (just the basic ones for now). Also, her trainer is trained in both dressage and hunter jumpers so they do use dressage movements on the flat in their lessons. I was just concerned with him doing the more advance dressage movements, but I don't know what they are called.

[fatorangehorse]

As long as it is ridden moderately well (doesn't even need to be perfect), i can't imagine it could hurt. The only caveat would be if the trainer rode with excessive rein contact and didn't allow the horse to move freely through the back.

Any of the more advanced movements I'm assuming lateral work vs. collection work - but wither way - could only help if he's capable of doing the work. A few times a week is more than enough for him to be strong enough.

A question I would ask is how does he feel or look the day after she has ridden him. If she is over doing it at all, he would be stiff.

Agree with al lthe previous comments - nothing could be better for his strength and longevity. you're lucky to have this cross-training for free.

[CapitolDesign]

I agree that the dressage work will only help your horse. I school h/j horses on the flat for people and they are always happy with the results it gives them over fences.

More advanced dressage work strengthens the horse from front to back, but also laterally. Like a ballet class for a football player, it will allow your horse to be more balanced and agile in his movements. He is less likely to be injured because his supporting muscles are stronger and he is encouraged to drive from his hind end and not pull from his front end/travel on the forehand.

[EASY RIDER STABLE]

OMG, how nice is that the old owner/trainer is still riding him and continuing your horses training whether it's Dressage or otherwise. Consider yourself MOST FORTUNATE ! !

[petitefilly]

OMG, how nice is that the old owner/trainer is still riding him and continuing your horses training whether it's Dressage or otherwise. Consider yourself MOST FORTUNATE ! !

Yes, lucky girl. Consider yourself blessed. Get out and kiss that pony on his nose, and your benefactors.

[cu.at.x]

I am wondering if the more advance dressage work she does with him is to stressful on his body because he doesn't do it all the time?


If done properly, dressage should never be harmful. As long as she's letting him go at his own pace and not pushing too hard, his gaits will only improve. I agree with those who said you are lucky to have this trainer riding him--IF she is a knowledgeable and conscientious professional.

[goeslikestink]

just a thought the previous owner has it made really sells the horse to you yet still rides it as and when she wants to kinda got her biscuit and eating it

if you worried about the horse doing to much and its your horse now as in your baby and not hers

then you going to have to tell her- shes cant ride him anymore as it migt be as your duaghter grows and developes into her world of what she wants to do and more shows or events then there might not be enough time left for the old owner to ride your horse

its your horse now and really and truely if your daughter going to develope and is dedicated
then its your daughter that should be having dressage lessons and show jumping lessons on her horse

sometimes previous owners can be interefering and all though its great to have a relationship with previous owners it not always wise to as they can take over and interfere
somewhat yours has it made sells the horse to you yet still has the ability to ride it
haha so really and truely she laughing as she still gets to ride her horse and she doesnt even have to pay for it ( not sure on that one) ie rent food etc

then in that case polite word in her ear,, and just say well daughter has the option to take blah blah further herself so iam sorry we are going to do everything ourselves from now on thank you for keeping him fit ad thank you for making sure he settled with us but now is the time when we need to do it on our own and make our own mistakes

[InsideLeg2OutsideRein]

Is there any particular reason that you are worrying about his soundness due to the dressage work? i.e. does he appear sore somewhere after the former owner rides him? If your concern is puerly hypothetical, I will agree with others that (more advanced) dressage work after a proper warmup will help your horse immensely and not do any harm. If the horse starts displaying soreness, perhaps in his hocks, a discussion would be in order about a) how much he should be asked to collect and b) if this would be an indicator for the need to generally start him on something like Adequan, or if hock injections might be in order (as this soreness would eventually show up in his everyday work, too).

Or -- do you just perhaps want to cut the cord from the former owner and don't quite know how to do it? He is YOUR horse now, and you have the right to determine who rides him, even if it might feel a little awkward : ).