Dressage "Type"

[Snowflake]

My mare is not a typical dressage "type" but I like to show her in intro level just to do something. But, a part of me always feels like I'm intruding. I'm always very respectful, but my mare being this lumbering draft cross spotted appy thing, and doesn't show off the finer points of the sport. (A straight shouldered, peg legged trot isn't all that becoming) We do it for our enjoyment but try to keep to ourselves as competitors. I certainly don't want to draw any more attention to myself then I think I already do with a fat spotted horse. I train myself with the occasional private lesson (1x/month or every other month) and haul to shows alone. I'd love to have a dressage buddy locally, but lack of time to ride, lack of funds for a lot of training makes me feel like I'm not "elite" enough. As dressage people, what's your impression of the casual rider at shows?

[Fixerupper]

Go and have fun. The schooling shows are probably your best bet for judges that get what you are there for - but the good higher level judges will judge your performance not your horse. In my area there are lots of draftx and appies and quarter horses at the lower levels - and if they are good they win.
Having said that...know the rules and the etiquette of the warmup ring, and anyone who is rude to you is just rude! :)

[ChaseTheDream]

my horse isnt the typical dressage horse either(straight shoulder, downhill confo, stiff as a 2x4:lol:.. ect) but he tries and does pretty well.

i think your horse will do great and you never know how far you can go by just trying it out.


good luck!!!!

[simon63]

The reason for doing dressage is... it's a journey and not a destination, and this process will ALWAYS be beneficial for the horse as well as the rider. You don't need a five-figure warmblood to enjoy this ride, so YOU GO, GIRL!!

[bort84]

Well, my horse isn't fat, but he's spotted! I have a leopard appy picked up basically from a backyard with no papers (never thought I'd own an appy, but it was love at first sight) and he gets nothing but praise from the dressage people I'm around. I suppose he's maybe a little typey in build, but he's also only 15 hands, so I think we qualify for atypical. Once people see him out of his stall, they say, wow, now who'da thought... I like the reaction. If he were chestnut and 15 hands with a scrubby little tail, who'd ever notice?

I think real horse people like to see different breeds succeeding at things they don't usually compete in. At the last clinic I attended, the clinician said, wow, I can't wait to see how many warmbloods you beat with him this year. How unexpected.

I've only just started in dressage, but I've found there are snobs in EVERY discipline. So ignore them, and embrace the real horse people that like to see some variety every now and again. I mean, as long as you aren't the lady on the fat spotted horse that is running everyone over in the makeup ring, I don't think anyone will actually mind. Shoot, I don't like a horse of any color being obnoxious.

Plus, having a "different" horse often draws some interesting comments and compliments from the crowd. Just enjoy it! This sport is often expensive, but it's much too wonderful to allow only wealthy people on fancy imports to enjoy it fully (nothing against those fancy imports, just can't afford them yet).

[amm2cd]

I have been showing my young home-bred foundation quarterhorse gelding, and to say that he's type-y would be way off base.
But type-y or not, we have a (recognized) show median of 67% at training level and 65% at first level. We beat quite a few lovely warmbloods due to consistancey and accuracy alone.
I'm in college in a non-dressage area, so I don't get a lot of lessons... But articles (Dressage Today) and videos (played in slow motion to see the aids) are really helpful.

Just get out there and have fun with your big loud non-traditional horse. Trust me, even the really sucessful ammys are jealous of the people who truely have fun at shows....

[Equibrit]

You are probably in the majority. Go for it.

[twnkltoz]

Anyone who is worried about what kind of horse YOU are riding needs to spend a lot more time paying attention to the horse THEY are riding. I ride an Arab and I don't really give a crap what other people ride, except to go "ooooohhhh" when I see one I like.

My old instructor has an appy/TB cross and does quite well with him at schooling shows (doesn't want to spend money on big shows as of yet). Judges often say things like, "Wow, what's his other half??" because he's such a nice mover.

[CapitolDesign]

Please do more intro tests! The clients I have the ride in Intro never have much competition because people always seem to think they are not good enough or too good for Intro.

If your horse can soundly walk/trot, you deserve to be in Intro. If you work hard at improving that walk/trot and riding the test 110% accurately, you deserve a good score and a blue ribbon... regardless of your horse's suitability to be an FEI dressage horse.

Where are you located? We always welcome loners to stable next to us and hang out :)

[jwsporthorses]

I go to a ton of 3*** shows and I always love to see the the drafts, mustangs, quarter horses etc. It is a reminder that dressage isn't about how much money you've spent. I think you would be welcomed at any any of the shows I go to!
Go for it and have fun and enjoy the journey.

www.jwsporthorses.com

[rideforfun56]

I have shown my Arabian mare in dressage shows - training and 1st level and the nice people are still nice. They do refer to my horse as 'cute pony', but at 14.3 hands compared to their giants at 17 +hands, she sure does look small. The people that are not nice - well they still aren't nice even if you have the same breed as them (take Arab shows for example). We go where we want, follow the rules, test as appropriate, show respect to our competitors and the facility and have a great time.

[slc2]

My mare is not a typical dressage "type" but I like to show her in intro level just to do something.

--There IS no dressage type of horse until you're trying out for the Olympics. There is 'appropriate for you' and that's all there really is til that point.

But, a part of me always feels like I'm intruding.

--You're NOT intruding. I hope you can get yourself to stop having that feeling. That kind of apologetic, embarrassed attitude just gets in the way of enjoyment.

I'm always very respectful, but my mare being this lumbering draft cross spotted appy thing, and doesn't show off the finer points of the sport.

--Neither do most people's horses! Let's face it, out of the 22 million horse riders in America, only three of us are heading to the Olympics every 4 years. The rest of us are pretty much just like you.

(A straight shouldered, peg legged trot isn't all that becoming)

--If your horse is fit and well trained, and you ride well, that's all that matters. Anyone who thinks different needs to take up yachting.

We do it for our enjoyment but try to keep to ourselves as competitors.
I certainly don't want to draw any more attention to myself then I think I already do with a fat spotted horse.

--I hope you can stop thinking that. Be calmly friendly, relaxed with people and they will be friendly to you - if they aren't, that's their problem, not yours.

--At shows, some people are VERY nervous. Right before a ride, they may not be at their chattiest. It's always good to be laid back and not too perturbed at people - they may be very, very nervous....again....people aren't that different from you, they're getting used to shows, and THEY may not feel THEY belong.

I train myself with the occasional private lesson (1x/month or every other month) and haul to shows alone.

--Lessons really are the most important thing.

I'd love to have a dressage buddy locally, but lack of time to ride, lack of funds for a lot of training makes me feel like I'm not "elite" enough.

--Please do try to get over that 'I'm not elite enough' feeling. You may not have the training or experience to grab a blue ribbon in every class, but that has nothing to do with how good of a person you are or 'deserving' to be there. If you can control your horse and not run over others, you have a right to be there, and a right to be happy and proud of your horse, no matter how you place or what you score.

As dressage people, what's your impression of the casual rider at shows?

--I really don't see the problem. If you were crashing into people or cutting them off in the warmup, I could see people saying, 'hey, watch it!' or something like that. But that should be it.

--There are ALWAYS people in every endeavor or activity who are snobs...usually they are the people with the LEAST going for them.

--MOST riders are 'casual' and MOST riders do not have fancy dressage horses. You're just like everyone else, you're no different. I hope you can shake off that 'keeping-a-low-profile-i'm-just-scum' attitude.

--I would not expect to be greeted with glad cries if you're cutting people off in the warmup or crashing into them (be sure to know the etiquette rules for riding in the warmup), or your horse is getting loose and recruiting others to run around with him, or if people see you beating your horse half to death they may not like you too much, but despite a few wierdos, dressage people are mostly pretty decent. if you take good care of your horse and are cooperative in the warmup they will treat you fine. If they don't, that's not exactly the type of person we want representing the sport anyway...don't kid yourself into thinking experienced, knowledgeable people are rude - that's really not who's doing it.

[EqTrainer]

Please... go show and have a good time. If you were near us, we'd be happy to hang around w/you, no matter how fat or spotted your horse was.

My working student rode in a judging symposium last year.. when asked about her horse, she announced that he was an OTTB and that he was barefoot... I was ROFLMAO.. she said she wished she had taken the WB/QHx that is barefoot, it would have been more fun to announce and more shocking... but he wasn't as far along as the OTTB ;)

the horse you love and own is the horse you are riding, and that is what matters. Have fun w/your spotty horse.

[EqTrainer]

--Let's face it, out of the 22 million horse riders in America, only three of us are heading to the Olympics every 4 years. The rest of us are pretty much just like you.

---

This is so true, and really is worth repeating.. I may change my signature line to this for a while!

[slc2]

no royalties?

[Baroquecoco]

go and have fun. I have a serious dressage horse and a play horse (mystery drafty cross) I take them both. the serious horse scores better. but everyone including the judges love my big play horse who will never get past first level. and I have a blast. so go for it.

[EqTrainer]

no royalties?

Trying to remember what I paid Eurofoal for the current one.... :lol:

[slc2]

Well I definitely want the same rate she got...:)

[mickeydoodle]

it is just walk trot for goodness sake, go and have fun!!!!! and maybe next time enter training level and canter! everyone can have fun at this level!

[GilbertsCreeksideAcres]

OP, I had to check your name twice to make sure I hadn't started this thread! You described my fat, spotted half-draft so accurately, as well as my own riding situation!

Go and be great on that fat, peg-legged critter.

[slc2]

To rephrase a statement a trainer made, 'You're not allowed to go completely mental til you hit first level test 4'

That's about the time a really bad case of FLI sets in (first level itis).

[Snowflake]

it is just walk trot for goodness sake, go and have fun!!!!! and maybe next time enter training level and canter! everyone can have fun at this level!

hahaha... She doesn't canter. Ever. Trot is maximum speed. Even in the pasture. Effort isn't her strong point.

Thanks for all the kind words. She really is just fun. She's safe and I feel so comfortable with her. Intro really is the only opportunity for us to go out and do something. In my area, there aren't many W/T adult huntseat classes. Most of the time, my rides are casual bareback ventures. I'd like to have a competitive horse, sold my oldenburg mare 2 years ago and my Trakehner passed away 4 years ago after a cancer diagnosis. I think that's where some of my lack of confidence comes from. I've had the fancy warmbloods, but being a full time student, I can't afford to board two horses. I'm wholly committed to keeping the slow fat horse for the rest of her life. She deserves it.

The time will be right for another fancy horse someday, but I know even when I do, I'll still enjoy those bareback rides on the spotted beast more than the perfect extended trot.

[dwblover]

You should really listen to everyone's advice, because they are right. Just have fun! :)You might feel a little uncomfortable just because you are there alone, and a lot of times barns go together, so there are large groups of people who know each other. But I bet if you struck up a conversation with someone you might just gain a few new riding buddies. My Dutch Warmblood was pretty much gifted to me by a friend, and I took him to some local shows this year. We only did intro too, because we have :eek: cantering issues. So I went and had fun. I knew full well that a better rider would be riding that same horse at probably second or third level, but he's mine, I love him, and we had a blast. I was terrified that people would ask what the preschool-level rider was doing with a horse like that, but no one even noticed. No one cared that I was riding at intro. And the judge was very sweet to us and took time to give us great feedback after our rides. That is why I love schooling shows. And hopefully after a few more outings we might just make it to training level and beyond. Everyone there is probably just as nervous as you are.

[JRG]

I still feel like that, and I am showing Third.

I say go have fun, meet people, join a GMO or local organization.

I am still working on the meeting people part. LOL

[Icecapade]

I'll be taking my 13 + a smidge hand arab stallion to a USDF insert some shiny things in there bla bla bal kind of instructor. I don't think horse in her barn is under 16/17 hands.

And hopefully next spring or summer, we will be competing. I work construction, swear like a seasman, bellydance in the mean time and yeah...

we don't match....

and I won't know anyone... and my horse will probably be a weird combination of snake- giraffe (you know the arab arch but way up in the air) the first year we try to show. And I'll be frustrated but you know what... I'll be so proud of him and excited to be a. on a journey and b. doing something with him giving him a job and a purpose in life, even if he never takes it as seriously as I do...

Because honestly he would hate sitting around, he loves going out... and could care less.... in his mind he is AWESOME and at least 18 hands... and thats all that matters. He enjoys himself... and I enjoy the journey of letting him grow as an old man.

enjoy it... make friends... I'll bet they enjoy watching, and its way more fun in any sport to watch someone who enjoys what they are doing, even if they are have as skilled as someone else, who clearly is finding no pleasure in it.

True of any art form! Glad to see another nonconformer. =)

[mickeydoodle]

A friend from my barn and I went to a show a couple of years ago and we met this great new friend who was stabled across the aisle. She is still a really close friend, we meet up at shows, and she trailers to our barn for lessons with our instructor. I would never have met her except for this show, as she lives about 1 1/2 hrs away in another state. Go, meet people, have fun.

[rabicon]

Go to schooling shows and HAVE FUN!! :yes: Thats what they are there for, we see lots of drafts and draft x at our schooling c/ts and some at the dressage shows. What state are you in? I wouldn't mind a nice dressage buddy :winkgrin:

[FriesianX]

--Let's face it, out of the 22 million horse riders in America, only three of us are heading to the Olympics every 4 years. The rest of us are pretty much just like you.

---

This is so true, and really is worth repeating.. I may change my signature line to this for a while!

OK, if you don't take the line EqT, I may borrow it! SLC - how many times may I use that quote before I do owe royalties?

[twnkltoz]

hahaha... She doesn't canter. Ever. Trot is maximum speed. Even in the pasture. Effort isn't her strong point.

Thanks for all the kind words. She really is just fun. She's safe and I feel so comfortable with her. Intro really is the only opportunity for us to go out and do something. In my area, there aren't many W/T adult huntseat classes. Most of the time, my rides are casual bareback ventures. I'd like to have a competitive horse, sold my oldenburg mare 2 years ago and my Trakehner passed away 4 years ago after a cancer diagnosis. I think that's where some of my lack of confidence comes from. I've had the fancy warmbloods, but being a full time student, I can't afford to board two horses. I'm wholly committed to keeping the slow fat horse for the rest of her life. She deserves it.

The time will be right for another fancy horse someday, but I know even when I do, I'll still enjoy those bareback rides on the spotted beast more than the perfect extended trot.

I think that is so sweet! Yes, just hang in there and eventually you can have a competitive horse to keep the slow, fat one company. :)

[Icecapade]

Let's face it, out of the 22 million horse riders in America, only three of us are heading to the Olympics every 4 years. The rest of us are pretty much just like you.
.

I'll swipe it... and I'm always a credit recieved kinda girl... I am too dee deedee to come up with my own shit, so no sense trying to pretend that I do!

I won't use it on the qoute section... I'll just use it in real life lol lol and say ... yeah this lady I don't really know at all...

yeah she said it ;);)

[sm]

I'm always very respectful, but my mare being this lumbering draft cross spotted appy thing, and doesn't show off the finer points of the sport. (A straight shouldered, peg legged trot isn't all that becoming) We do it for our enjoyment but try to keep to ourselves as competitors.

Actually, dressage is made to improve the average horse, and a judge should be able to recognize and reward any type of horse. Let's not kid ourselves, there are "family horses" that are worth their weight in gold. I know one that taught 5 young children how to ride through training level and never once put a scratch on any one of them.

For spectators and fellow competitors not to recognize the value and the contributions of the average horse is simply beyond stupid, IMHO.

[bluesegolene]

We all agree :go and have fun, it is about you and your horse!

I have the big WB type horse. Everytime I ride a test with her, I am close to having an anxiety attack, because the score will reflect much more my talent than hers (she has plenty, and I am working really hard at developing mine!:D).

I remember with fondness the time when I had a no pressure, no expectations horse. It was FUN! And I really did not care what people were saying/thinking (and they were very nice!)

It is still fun, it is just a lot more ...serious for me and requires a lot more work ( well...I just don't clean a bottle of wine while braiding my horse's mane the night before anymore;)