So do you think this guy has a free enough shoulder to do dressage?

[Couture TB]

So what do you think? He seems to want to be a jumper though :lol:

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/MattsonTraining/GQtrot2.jpg

[rabicon]

Again its a bad photo to tell from but he looks capable. Very cute. Maybe do eventing if he likes to jump. Don't know how far he could get in dressage but why not start and go from there.

[Fantastic]

Dressage is much more about the hind end of the horse, than it is the shoulders. A horse that is ridden with an active engaging hind end steps underneath itself, lightens and frees the forehand; giving the horse the ability to elevate the front end.

The correct way to ride is back to front. Ride the horse's back legs = focus on the hind end and not the front end.

With all that in mind, your horse looks nicely active behind, and he has lightened his forehand. Keep riding the hind legs, and progress from there!

[slc2]

He reaches well forward with the front and hind legs and the shoulder moves very well. Of course he would be fine in dressage, he just needs to be taught to do dressage.

Who told you that 'freedome of the shoulder' is the primary, sole or even predominant definition a horse's potential in dressage? :eek:

[Couture TB]

Just thought I would post it (I am home sick) he naturally works back to front, infact he goes in a happy mouth loose ring, and he is a stallion! He was put in training with me for dressage but he loves to jump. I swear he pouts when I bring out the dressage saddle. I have trained to Prix St George and he shows so much potential for everything. He just loves to jump so much

[Couture TB]

Oh no no I didn't mean that freedom of the shoulder was the main thing to look for. It just seems that every dressage person comments on how free he is through his shoulder and how well he tracks up. The photo was taken when we were just hacking in the field and I was just doing trot work with him to build up muscle.

[merrygoround]

Dressage people tend to like a horse that tracks up and is free in the shoulder.

However, he must like dressage, and therefore it is up to you, to present his physical education in a manner which he will enjoy.

He perhaps gets more freedom when jumping. But in order to jump well, he needs to learn dressage. :yes:

[slc2]

"He pouts when I bring out the dressage saddle"

I think this is called "anthropomorphosizing"

Barring some painful condition, if a horse isn't enjoying dressage work (what most riders say when the horse is resistant, swishing his tail, refusing to obey the rider, fussing with his head, pinning his ears back, etc), something is wrong with the riding, not the horse.

[Couture TB]

"He pouts when I bring out the dressage saddle"

I think this is called "anthropomorphosizing"

Barring some painful condition, if a horse isn't enjoying dressage work (what most riders say when the horse is resistant, swishing his tail, refusing to obey the rider, fussing with his head, pinning his ears back, etc), something is wrong with the riding, not the horse.



I just ment that he prefers to jump. He does have basic dressage training. He could performe a Prelim Event dressage test correctly. He just seems to really bloom when he is working over fences. You can tell he loves it.

[ideayoda]

All horses benefit from jumping, it frees the back, allows for a brighter mind, lets the horse go into the hand more properly, and allows active hindlegs. Why would anyone not use it? Do both (dressage and jumping)!!! (Remember many odgs would do gp jumping one day and GP dressage another.) And make sure that you are not shortening or excessively flexing the horse in the name of dressage, make sure the horse has the same life in its stride on the flat as it does between fences.

[freestyle2music]

Is there anyone on this board to have the guts to tell the world that you can't judge a horse or rider from a single or even a collection of photo's/pictures.:confused:


GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Theo

[slc2]

Yes, and it doesn't take 'guts', just common sense, and the ability to ignore the backlash.

[ridgeback]

Is there anyone on this board to have the guts to tell the world that you can't judge a horse or rider from a single or even a collection of photo's/pictures.:confused:


GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Theo

God Bless you Theo!!!!

[Couture TB]

*sigh* I figured this would just be something fun to do to get others opinions on this particular photo. I am all open for critiquing both the good and bad, but it seems that people want to assume quite a bit about a horses training, rider's training, and the program the horse is in just from one photo, in this and other threads. No you can not tell a TON from one photo or quite a few, you have to see a horse in person to tell that. However you should be able to pick out strengths and weaknesses from a photo or two, at least strengths and weaknesses in thoses photos as photos are usually how you end up contacting a person on sales or training or on stallions for stud.

[BumbleBee]

He looks like a fun ride.
BTW Some people are just contrary by nature. The ignore feature is a blessing for these folks.

[Couture TB]

Thanks Bumblebee:) He is a ton of fun. I pull up to the stable and he runs to his gait nickering. He does not put up with error though. Have to sit lightly have nice light steady contact and you MUST ride him back to front. Wouldn't trade riding him for the world. I feel lucky just to be able to ride a horse like him.

[SandyHTF]

Absolutely not. In fact, you should send him to my house immediately to save yourself from the embarrassment of being seen with such an animal. :lol:

Really, he looks like fun and from what I can see, I like his movement. If he pouts at the dressage saddle, that is probably not going to be your best indicator of future success. Though if you can keep your schooling varied and fun, he may still do very well. I had a horse that really enjoyed jumping and a lot of variety. I incorporated small fences into our dressage work and it seemed to keep her fresh and upbeat.

[Couture TB]

I plan on continuing his dressage training along with his over fences, even if he does jumpers instead of eventing. I had a TB that didn't like dressage but after he got more mature (this stallion is only 7 and was started as a late 4yr and has not had a ton of work due to my health and a very loyal friend as his owner) so I think he might decided he likes it a bit more later in life.

Hehe I don't think his owner would like it if he ran away from home to your place :lol: I do have a very huge huge huge moving 7yr Oldenburg that has scored all 8s and 9s on his dressage tests that is at the bottom of my to do list though;)

[BumbleBee]

Thanks Bumblebee:) He is a ton of fun. I pull up to the stable and he runs to his gait nickering. He does not put up with error though. Have to sit lightly have nice light steady contact and you MUST ride him back to front. Wouldn't trade riding him for the world. I feel lucky just to be able to ride a horse like him.

I have one like that. I'll be riding my gelding and notice I have a huge cheshire cat smile going. I think we are pretty lucky.:yes::cool:

[Couture TB]

I have one like that. I'll be riding my gelding and notice I have a huge cheshire cat smile going. I think we are pretty lucky.:yes::cool:

Ya his owner says I never stop grinning when I am on him, no matter what he is doing. We are lucky riders to have those types of horses under us. I have told his owner if she ever dies I get him!

[ridgeback]

For the life of me I cannot understand why people ask a question and then get pissy if they don't like how someone answers:rolleyes::sigh: Your idea of dressage or jumping might be different then others on this board so some are just pointing out a pic can't tell you much. I've seen QH that have no real stride but can take a pic like this under the right circumstance. Good luck with your horse.

[Couture TB]

For the life of me I cannot understand why people ask a question and then get pissy if they don't like how someone answers:rolleyes::sigh: Your idea of dressage or jumping might be different then others on this board so some are just pointing out a pic can't tell you much. I've seen QH that have no real stride but can take a pic like this under the right circumstance. Good luck with your horse.

:confused:

When was I not polite? This was not a photo at just the right time, he just moves like this. Thank you for your time to make a comment though.

[ridgeback]

:confused:

When was I not polite? This was not a photo at just the right time, he just moves like this. Thank you for your time to make a comment though.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying he doesn't move like that. I thought you were irritated by those of us that commented, you can't really tell anything from a pic. Sorry if I mis-understood.

[BumbleBee]

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying he doesn't move like that. I thought you were irritated by those of us that commented, you can't really tell anything from a pic. Sorry if I mis-understood.

Ridgeback - You got caught in the cross fire not at all intended for you.:winkgrin:

Her post was just a general happy with the horse, thing. The crankiness on my part is that a certain poster always assumes that no one but them knows anything then rant for a few pages about how people don't understand dressage theory and are doing it all wrong.

Really the horse is super cute and looks loose and athletic, I imagine put to work he could be quite a nice dressage fellow, not denying the work is important but the OP wasn't assuming he was going to float up the levels based on one aspect of his movement.

[Couture TB]

Yup that pretty much sums it up. Found one of the few photos I have of him under saddle since people aren't usually there when I ride and thought I would share it. He is being brought up the levels of training for dressage and jumping slowly and correctly so as there are no holes in his training and do not have to worry about loosing roundness and responsiveness(sp) when moving onto say half pass.

Now if anyone wants to yell at me for hunching my shoulders a bit when I ride you are more then welcome to :lol: