Best Breed for Amateurs in Dressage?

[goodpony]

I happen to love my Connemaras and Connemara Crosses and also think Cobs are quite well suited to the work. I am an amateur rider and can expect to ride 3-5 times a week and lesson once a week. I have spent far less time taking two steps backwards to take one step forward...as I have had to do with other breeds I have owned. I have found both the work ethic and rideability as well as the sensibility to be excellent...they also make super all rounders and enjoy jumping/eventing as well as driving. I also own both a Connemara x Arabian (who is a lovely riding/dressage type) and a Connemara x Hanoverian which will make a very fine dressage horse/amatuer eventer.

[SharonA]

Another vote for the horse vs. the breed

If the ammie is riding four or five times a week, they aren't going to be ammies for long. :-)

This adult ammie loves, loves, loves her Arab mare. Smart, funny, interested, tries very hard, and a good communicator when I'm pissing her off with my bad riding. :-) And that Arab head is just so beautiful, especially when she's carrying it in the proper spot. But, she does get bored to death with 20 meter circles day in and day out. I avoid them on our non-lesson days, and she's much happier.

[imjustjoking22]

I'd have to put in a vote for the Morgan- hardy, tough, clever, and generally quite laid-back and willing to learn.

[angel]

The best breed for the amateur has nothing to do with the breed actually. It has to do with the special something that the amateur recognizes as they touch the horse. As with many things, you need to love the "person" you are with in order to make the journey fullfilling. I would never say to anyone, that because you are an amateur, you need XYZ breed of horse.

[blackhorse6]

I think the big question for an ammy is, "what are my goals".. Recently I cliniced with a well known trainer and those were the first words out of her mouth. If your goals are to ride your horse to GP, then you better think about the horse you want to take on that journey. Not only for your sake but for his. An example. I had a fabulous trainer who trained her QH/draft cross to I1. She was wonderful but the comments always read, "lacks impulsion, not enough elasticity, not enough lengthening" you get the picture. she could collect beautifully but the changes were very difficult. She was a wonderful schoolmaster for many. I think any horse with a good mind, sound and willing can be trained up the levels.. But at some point you will meet a road block if the horse just physically can't do it because of it's build/breeding.. Another poster mentioned to this affect, "pretty is as pretty does".. I have always believed this.. On the other hand, you can't get blood from a turnip

[thatmoody]

My first choice for an adult amateur who was somewhat ambitious would be a Friesian. I have worked with several different breeds of horses and by far the Friesians I worked with were the most fun! They were forward, friendly and SUPER WILLING and best of all as close to bomb-proof as anything I have ridden. Plus you can also drive them which is way more fun than most people would think.

Why a Friesian? As a group I haven't found them to be all that easy to ride, truthfully, at least the several that I've ridden. Easy to get to go in a false frame that looks good, yes, but difficult to get a really correct ride out of. Training level is easy, easy, easy, which is why so many people get them. But when they try to move, up, I've seen so many problems crop up that aren't really easy for an amateur to solve. I certainly see that the puppy dog personality is attractive, but they wouldn't be the first horse I would recommend for an ambitious amateur. Perhaps the ones that you're getting up there are a lot different, or the heat makes ours wilt .

A smaller WB, with a good personality, would be the easiest horse to ride and score well on, that I could think of. The least "project-like" and the fewest issues to deal with because their tempo is already more established. Truthfully QH's tend to have pretty good personalities, and can be good rides, and score ok locally at our schooling shows.

My favorite horse, of course, is a good TB, with a good mind and correct movement. I'm just waiting for one to fall in my lap and I'll be gold .

The andalusians I've ridden (and I've ridden a lot of them) have been good choices, although a bit hot and sensitive. If you like that (I do, which is probably why the Frieisians drive me a bit nuts), and are willing to work to lengthen them and get them to be a bit more stretchy, they are nice horses.

[thatmoody]

The best breed for the amateur has nothing to do with the breed actually. It has to do with the special something that the amateur recognizes as they touch the horse. As with many things, you need to love the "person" you are with in order to make the journey fullfilling. I would never say to anyone, that because you are an amateur, you need XYZ breed of horse.

And this is the best advice. As a horse shopper, I've never looked at a "breed," and have had excellent luck so far. I've had some great horses in my life, and they've all been individuals selected mostly for their personality. I have to click with them, or riding them is just a chore.

[SmartAlex]

Another vote for Saddlebreds. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Their brain and attitude are great. They're very athletic. Breeders are practically trying to give away the ones that are conformed to be and move like good dressage prospects. Everytime I read about one in a dressage context, I hear that they are amateur friendly and easy to ride. Which must be why the Saddlebred show scene is driven by amateur competitors.

[horsetales]

I'll add a horse with Irish Draught blood to your list. They will add the mind that is great for an ammie rider along with a good moving athletic horse. I have 3 of my offspring that are in serious dressage homes. You can easily find crosses with TB, ASB, arabs and QH along with pure ID.

[vtwmbld]

The best breed for the amateur has nothing to do with the breed actually. It has to do with the special something that the amateur recognizes as they touch the horse. As with many things, you need to love the "person" you are with in order to make the journey fullfilling. I would never say to anyone, that because you are an amateur, you need XYZ breed of horse.

Beautifully stated, Angel

The brain is everything. I'm an older rider starting a youngster (a 15.3h Oldenburg filly) who takes such good care of my sorry old a**. Due to a leg problem, I have to crawl off the right side and can't handle the big huge movers, but she adapts to me and is incredibly patient. She has the movement, but reserves it for the trainer. God bless a good brain! Worth their weight in diamonds.

[PixelGraphixDesign]

Andalusian! Andalusian! Andalusian! The absolute, perfect amateur friendly breed. Even the stallions are amateur friendly and they are fun and extremely gratifying.

Ditto that. Bred for dressage. Light to the aids. Easy to sit. Kind temperament. Intelligent and generally easy to train. Though, of course, like any horse, they need to be properly trained.

(BTW, I own a warmblood, but have ridden Andalusians and have definitely appreciated how much less physically taxing they are to ride. Not that I would ever trade my boy for anything!)

[mitma]

I just heard that the USDF magazine, Connections, will feature APPALOOSAS as the breed of the month in the upcoming May issue...

Anyone who wants to belong to a 12 step program (like myself) for this topic just PM me!

Or, check out the Appaloosa Sport Horse Association:

www.apsha.org

and, they're on facebook too!

[oharabear]

I think it's about finding the right combo of a good temperament AND about finding one with nice gaits. For example, my Standardbred has the BEST temperament, willing to do anything, but his trot is HUGE and we have done noting but spend time trying to get it more round and ridable. When I first started riding him, I felt like I was going to get launched into outer space with each trot stride!

Then, on the other side of the equation, I have a Welsh pony who is cute as a button, and has 3 gorgeous gaits, easy to ride and fun, BUT, she is spooky, flighty, dingy, sensitive and just a general spaz. She is NOT an ammy-friendly horse, despite her nice gaits.

But I think that the temperament/movement combo is more of an individual thing than a breed thing.

[NOMIOMI1]

Are you going to look at something already being ridden? Age wise I mean?

Then I would say look for something ALREADY ammy ridden, and that seems to be calm and easy, and when you get on change of hand, he/she is just as willing


We did that with the last stallion we looked for. He had an ammy riding and showing him and BOY oh BOY what I wouldnt do to have a horse so willing and quiet. His babies are the same

[xQHDQ]

There are amazing horses being bred here, but there are two problems. The first is that there are very few people available to train these babies for amateurs. Sometimes these really well trained horses are too sensitive to mistakes because they've only been ridden by a professional. The second problem is that those horses that are trained well enough are out of most amateur's price range.

[tlw]

Cleveland Bays

Cleveland Bay and CB Cross. Great mind, work ethic, athleticism and generally very affordable. There's also something cool about partnering with a horse with such a distinguished history. I got all my Bronze Medal scores on mine.

[CHT]

There are amazing horses being bred here, but there are two problems. The first is that there are very few people available to train these babies for amateurs. Sometimes these really well trained horses are too sensitive to mistakes because they've only been ridden by a professional. The second problem is that those horses that are trained well enough are out of most amateur's price range.

Very true.

[MistyBlue]

Size does matter in some ways to the lower level ammy. Not because of it's actual height...but as you move up the levels you're controlling more and more of the horse. And the gaits are larger and usually more expressive. OP states that her students are tending to clutch at their horses during their rides...too much horse I would think.

Toning down the size of the horse alone helps a lot of riders. Sometimes because some riders tend to tense up on anything large. Sometimes because the gaits and stride length just work better for that student.

I do have fave breeds for more relaxed riding as students learn. Appy is one of them...a good appy is hard to beat in personality and how much it's willing to give and *forgive* the rider. One already being used as a lesson horse is a good idea though...some tend to be more "one person" type horses and others shine more as lesson horse. The stubborn appy-tude can be a big help...it will do what's it's trained to do even if the rider turns into a noodly armed octopus in the tack.
Welsh cobs are great little horses...sizeable enough for adult riders and nice movement without the rider needing a core like Ahnold to sit the trot.
I like Fjords...same reason as above. Pretty laid back usually too. Seems to give students the impression that they're riding a friendly teddy bear...good for their confidence.

I guess a good suggestion would be: choose a horse that can do the discipline but isn't going to be the next Olympic contender. Sure WBs are the in horses for dressage...they have the expressive powerful movements that score very well. But for students...well, there's a reason driving schools have 4 cylinder cars and not fleet of Ferraris. Not saying the other breeds are lesser horses...just saying fit the horse to the students and not the shows competition.

[kinnip]

I just went through this purchase process myself. I am an AA who rides 6 days a week, 7 if someone else needs a horse ridden. Ultimately, it's true that breed isn't the issue, mind is, however, you need some guidelines on where to look and breed is a good start. I recently decided that I'd really like to go pro, so my goals may not fit those of your riders exactly. I looked at WBs. I love riding them, difficult trot and all. They are, however, waaay out of my price range. I've tried Andalusians and they are lovely rides, but as an AA, I've found it's easier to harness a lot of power than create more balanced impulsion. I perused some very nice Appendix QHs, also out of my price range.
I went with the Thoroughbred. I wouldn't suggest someone buy one right off the track, but there are many reputable brokers. Look for someone who has ridden the horse already and is familiar with its needs and its talents. For most AAs, cost is a major concern. An OTTB who has had some off track work can be a really delightfully affordable prospect.

[MistyBlue]

Andies are great...love their minds, movement and versatility. However...they're not great for someone on a budget. Or for someone looking for a very specific personality since in many areas of the country they're as rare as hen's teeth.