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Anyone switch from jumping/eventing to straight Dressage?

Dressage
#41

I grew up doing hunters and jumpers. As an adult, after college I evented and finally did dressage. I got into “straight’” dressage because I had a WB who didn’t like to jump XC was talented in dressage. I always wanted to excel in dressage.

I love dressage because I’m a scientist and love to understand exactly what I’m doing and what the horse is doing. The partnerhip is unparalleled because the rider has to reliable communicate and the horse has to agree and say “Yes” There’s no faking that. But I do love to jump and still jump my horses. Unfortunately, my current horse is a good arena jumper (a full sib is a hunter stallion), but will likely have a heart attack on xc. The best XC horses I ever had/rode were OTTBs.

Dressage is hard. Embrace the nuances and you might find as much satisfaction when your horse gives you a correct shoulder-in and you can correctly sit it as you would when your horse reliably leaves poles up in the arena and listens to you when you dictate a line.

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#42

I’m waffling on this! I did eventing for years, but I can relate to FatCatFarm about my dwindling time as one of the main factors. I have a fairly demanding job and now have 2 horses in full work. When I had one horse, I could take an entire weekend day to go xc schooling, or participate in a 2-day clinic, etc. I had to trailer out for my jump lessons, so whatever jumping I did, it would require at least a 1/2 day (with trailering + lesson).

Also, I do love dressage. I have felt how much it improves my horses and makes them better athletes (for whatever discipline we want to do). And it is amazing how they slowly build strength and now movements that were hard, start to feel easy for them. There is always something to work on, or improve, I never feel bored in my non-jumping rides!

I still take a jumping lesson about once a week. But the dressage work has improved my event horses rideability to fences, as well as her balance. Started my young horse over baby stuff this summer, did one xc school and she seemed to love it. But again, I don’t feel like I have the time to get both of them prepped to do an event. I would need to quit my job and do that full-time (and that doesn’t pay the board bills!)

Another aspect was the show experience. When started showing dressage, I was amazed by how reasonable the schedule was. I had time to chat with others, to watch other rides, and enjoy the day! With events (especially 1-days) I was always walking xc courses, putting in studs, changing tack, wrapping, bathing, braiding, and then walking the SJ course! After a long, hot weekend, we had to strip all of the bedding out of our stalls (after we had paid $100-200 for the tent stabling). And then pack up for a long drive home (sometimes 7 hr drives, whereas, I can compete in a number of recognized shows within a 1 hour drive).

My young horse (now 5) was jumper bred, but I have shown her dressage so far and she has gotten really good scores. I have no desire to jump huge fences but I do want her to be an “all-around” horse. I do hack her out, set up lots of cavalettis, and do some little jumps. I’m actually planning to do dressage primarily with her, and then see if I want to event her when she is older. Or, maybe we will just do dressage! :slight_smile:

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#43

I’m deep in dressage but wasn’t always. Eventing was fascinating and fun, I always came out of stadium wondering if I’d missed any. My dressage was incidental.

.I started dressage thinking I needn’t put the time into it, the endless conditioning, involved in eventing. Little did I know. I began to feel that it was a never ending game, as fascinating as chess, but with its cross training aspects I wasn’t missing much of the rest of horse life.

#44

I was a hunter/jumper rider before I discovered dressage. My first horse ended up having his jumping career cut short, and at that point it was either sell him, or do something different with him. Since selling him wasn’t an option, I tried a dressage instructor, and fell in love from the first lesson. My horse was an Appendix who everyone said would never make it past Training Level but he had a heart of gold and a lot of try in him. We made it to showing 2nd and schooling some 3rd, before he developed heaves and after battling that, had to eventually be retired. He was with me 19 years. But my love of dressage stuck with me. For the last many years I have been mostly backing young horses and working with behavioral issues, but have just come back to the dressage world as it really is my one favorite discipline. It can benefit ANY horse or ANY rider. I also have a Type A personality and love the minute little details of everything, so for me dressage works quite nicely!

#45

I started in hunters like most people did where I grew up. I loved it, the adrenaline rush over fences was very addicting. I had my horse at home and set up my own little course. I was even the reserve champion at my very first schooling show( I was in my twenties so not a child). Needless to say I really enjoyed it…until…I had to put my horse down from the wear and tear he had experienced from his previous owners and their jumping program…long story…not going to elaborate.

I never wanted to experience that heartache again so I switched to dressage and love it…don’t miss jumping …at…all.

#46

I started eventing much older than most riders start. My muscles betrayed me and I found jumping to be a bit difficult, especially in stadium. I felt overfaced no matter what the height and collapsed like a sack of bricks over bigger fences. It started to not be fun anymore, so I switched to dressage. It boomeranged on me in a good way. With the dressage training, I ended up plugging a lot of holes in my training. As much as I liked dressage, the idea of going to a show just to ride 2 five minute tests just wasn’t doing it for me. My horse was getting bored too. We both have the attention span of a gnat, so the 3 different phases of eventing played into both of our personalities. I started to school him over fences again and realized our jumping suddenly felt easy. My position was becoming much more solid, and his responsiveness to my seat was awesome. Fences that used to look gigantic became twigs on the ground, so now we’re heading back to eventing. We’re keeping it small, but it’s going to be fun again!

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#47

This time of year with the time and weather changes is always tough for me. I feel tired, worn and less motivated. Had a fantastic lesson over fences today and my new instructor is so motivational, it was the kick in the pants I needed so not quite yet ready to throw in the towel on eventing. I do concede it, would greatly simplify things for me though.

#48

Like many of my advanced age in the US, I started riding hunt seat. Did some jumping. Enjoyed it but showed no natural talent - not bold enough and no eye for distance! After a break from horses when real life happened, I boarded my new horse at a stable where a fellow boarder was a good dressage rider. She started giving me lessons on my inverted horse and I was hooked in spite of having to spend lots of time patiently correcting his giraffe pose. Eventually I discovered that he loved to jump! He was dead honest and really perked up going over a few modest jumps. I was able to relax and become a better rider over fences. It never really changed my focus though. I would jump him to reward him for concentrating on dressage :slight_smile:
My next horse had some soundness issues and didn’t care for jumping so we didn’t jump after a while. His break was trail riding. New horse is really green, so we will have to master cantering with steering and less excitement before we explore his attitude towards jumps! :winkgrin:

I found with a number of fellow boarders who used to event that, if the horse and rider still want some jumping, they tend to do local schooling horse trials and hunter paces. I would guess that about half of the former eventers concentrate exclusively on dressage training and don’t jump (some due to rider or horse issues and others just for focus).

#49

I’m ‘focusing’ more on dressage at the moment because my bred-to-be-an-eventer-on-both-sides-of-her-family-tree doesn’t find jumping all that comfortable, so we’re sticking to what will keep her happy for longer (she’s 9). That said, we are still jumping occasionally, but as a cross-training tool, not as part of my training schedule, and now only 2’6" to 2’9" max, rather than 3’ and up.
I think I will always consider myself as an eventer though, just at the moment one whose not doing so much of it as she used to or wants to.

#50

Fanfayre, I’m with you: I still identify as an eventer, and am on the Event forum more than any other!

2 Likes
#51

Ooooh, Do I feel a clique coming on??? :lol:

#52

I made the switch to dressage when my little mare told me that she was ok jumping in the ring, but just didn’t have the drive on xc. She was schooling 2nd and Novice at the time (2014), and is prepping for GP this coming spring. We still jump 2’6" a few times each month for cross training, but she is so much more willing to dig deep into the flat work than she ever was/is over fences. (I do miss eventing, though, so I’m bringing along an RPSI gelding…he’s 5yo this year, and has shown the FEI dressage young horse classes, but hasn’t yet been mentally ready for rated BN…with luck, his brain will catch up to his body in 2018.) Incorporating both disciplines seems like a good plan.

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#53

I did! After 8 years of jumping and coaches that where no fun at all jumping was not longer fun, my mare got into an accident and is no longer ride able. Plus i realized that my mares confirmation was not conducive to jumping (after the fact) I was tired of putting horses heads in fixed positions, bitting them up and forcing them into positions they are not naturally inclined too. Then I found out about dominique barbier and what a break through! I now take lesson at a barn where the teachers are trained by him, no extra gear on the horse, focus on horsemanship, lounging then ground work then you get on. Teachers go at your pace. the horses (andalusians) are amazing and so in tune with your mood, for the first time since being on a horse i actually felt the horse on the bit with loose reins (not to loose) Its incredible to be on a horse that carries its self. in the past i always felt like i was holding the horses weight in my hands. Not to mention its physically more comfortable to me, your not working at making the horse do things, no kicking squeezing, I never thought I would do anything but jump, now i realize all the mistakes i made, and i cant imagine doing anything else, the connection in unreal. If your up for some reading try Dressage for the new age by dominique barbier. good luck on you new adventure! I do agree on keeping things fresh for your horse the lesson horses i ride are focused on classical dressage but do trial riding some jumping and working equitation!

#54

I evented when my coach loaned me her wicked schoolmaster, when I bought my own, she wasn’t suitable for eventing, my coach moved, I moved, all things conspired against me eventing again, I finally put all the Ducks in a row again 12 yrs later, and showed my OTTB,whom I’ve developed myself, in the dressage ring, age, horse,skills, enjoyment, coaching, and fear all played into my decision but you should see how proud I was getting back in that sand box!!

#55

Gah, I’ve been sick for a month! First cold, then flu. We’ve just had an extremely cold week for the deep South; absolutely frigid. I’ve hardly had any opportunity to ride. Got to ride two horses two weeks ago, both good dressage schooling rides, but nothing since. I feel like I’m giving up by throwing in the towel on eventing but I think I will be so much less stressed by concentrating on dressage. It’s just SO hard trying to get the riding done for all three phases. I’m hoping to find the Zen of it.

#56

Take it easy on yourself! The weather has been truly horrible the last few weeks. I have an 8-day-a-week horse that I haven’t ridden in 5 days now. The week or so before that I was riding at the walk every other day because that’s all I could do with the weather and footing. I’m going to try to ride for real this afternoon now that it’s in the 40s (which feels like summer!) and I swear, I feel like I won’t remember how. It’s been a long, cold, and miserable few weeks for me–and I haven’t even been sick like you!

If it helps you to just focus on dressage for now, do it. Eventing will always be there and solid flatwork can do nothing but help in the long run!

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#57

I’m having to make the switch with my new horse. He doesn’t like to jump. So I’m going to quit making him do something he seems to dislike so much. So we are going to concentrate on dressage. I’ll still jump my other boy, but I’m actually looking forward to swapping to dressage for the new guy. I’m checking out and joining my local dressage association. That makes it official, right?? :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#58

Just really read this and that’s awesome and accurate, especially always one side slipping with eventing. Exactly! If I concentrated on improving our dressage, it seemed we lost our rhythm in jumping, or my horse wasn’t fit enough to gallop cross county as he should. I still feel a little sad about it but also relief.

#59

I’m on the brink, except I love xc and actual events. Dressage shows lack the atmosphere and camaraderie. I love how at events there’s always a next task/discipline, courses to walk, competitors parties, camping and just way more community.

that said, I loooove dressage. And I have no desire to jump more than 2’9, whereas I feel the sky is the limit with dressage.

my last horse loved to jump and needed very little schooling as he was a super steady confident guy. It allowed me to mostly ride dressage and attend events :stuck_out_tongue: New young pony needs a lot more jump schooling and experience.

#60

I’ve heard the same thing and it has given be cause for pause about this decision. I too love cross country, but it’s tough getting the schooling in for me. My horse is one that likes to take a peek at new things which is why schooling shows have been great. We can go school cross country before the actual show and get the mileage we need, but it would take a while before I felt that he would go out there and just jump all the things without wanting to stop and look each time. Like he went and would confidently jump around Chatt Hills, but go down to Big Bear, a different venue, and he would totally back off and be looky. It’s a confidence thing and something of a vicious cycle. I expect him to stop, because it’s been what he does in new environments, which probably communicates stop to him, so he does. Kyle Carter had me aggressively riding the fences on him and it worked, but it was work. Doesn’t seem very fair to my horse because I can’t just drop everything and go school cross country several times a month. Plus, being older, I no longer ride by the seat of my pants and am more cautious.

I love the whole “Have A Good Ride!” atmosphere at events. I’m going to really miss that.

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