Belgian Drafts for Dressage

[ginger708]

I can not see any harm that I have done to my draft trough dressage training. And no I am not just interested in upper levels. I am interested in improving my horsemanship and training by teaching a horse not traditionally built for dressage.
So from my point of view I knew exactly what I was getting into. I knew that I was going to have to work for every gate, extension, and collected movement. I am in it for the challenge. I have no delusions that Rocco is my gp horse. But he is the horse that is teaching me how to work through issues that all young dressage prospects have. I cannot speak for all drafts but from my experience with my draft is that he is smart, willing to work everyday, if you are not correct with your aids he will call you on it.

The non draft people are correct about one thing with drafts you will have to put in a lot more time in to drafts than horses more traditionally suited for dressage. But how many talented horses from more “traditional dressage breeds” were sold as horse not capable of higher levels because the trainers didn’t have the time that some of the horses need to develop. The animals are individuals no matter what breed.

Professional trainers are running a business they need to prove that they can bring horses along in a trimly fashion and they need to keep their clients happy. So if a horse is not moving at the pace that they like the horse is sold. I am not a professional trainer I am in it for the art of dressage and the challenge of training horses. I am in this for the rest of my life I do not need to do 4th level tomorrow. And as long as my horse is sound and can do the work we will be doing dressage until it is time for him to retire. Which I think will be a long time considering he is in better shape now than when I got him living the life of a retired plow horse. Yes my draft was a working plow horse with the scars to prove it. And I think he Digs his work a lot better now.

[Ambrey]

@InsideLeg2OutsideRein;3354181

Would you push a kid with the build to do shot-putting into gymnastics, too? :eek:

What if everyone in the family liked gymnastics, and the kid was happy doing it, and turned out to be good at it? Would you tell him he couldn’t because it wasn’t in his blood?

I know of a little girl who is very thick and heavy set, but her mom put her in gymnastics. She is now on a competitive team, still thick and heavy set, but super athletic and motivated and GOOD.

So now, about that analogy…

[Vesper_Sparrow]

I personally love to see a lot of different breeds competing in dressage shows. Sometimes, I wish there was a GI mark for how good the horse was doing in relation to its limitations, so that if a horse who was not naturally gifted for dressage (by breed, age, conformation, etc.) was doing way more than could be expected for him/her, he/she would get extra points. I guess I’m living in dreamland.

[Ambrey]

@Vesper Sparrow;3354412

I personally love to see a lot of different breeds competing in dressage shows. Sometimes, I wish there was a GI mark for how good the horse was doing in relation to its limitations, so that if a horse who was not naturally gifted for dressage (by breed, age, conformation, etc.) was doing way more than could be expected for him/her, he/she would get extra points. I guess I’m living in dreamland.

Isn’t that what breed specific awards are for?

[ginger708]

My understanding of breed awards is that the award is given to the horse of a particular breed based on scores for that show season. The particular breeds are not scored any differently at the shows. The breed award is just an additional award for the year. All it says is that your Arabian did better than all of the usdf registered Arabians that year. And not every breed is recognized there is a list and if your breed is not on it than too bad.

[Ambrey]

Oh, you mean like dressage handicapping.

Boy, I can’t imagine the WB breeders would go for that

[Phyxius]

[QUOTE=ginger708;3354449]
My understanding of breed awards is that the award is given to the horse of a particular breed based on scores for that show season. The particular breeds are not scored any differently at the shows. The breed award is just an additional award for the year. All it says is that your Arabian did better than all of the usdf registered Arabians that year. And not every breed is recognized there is a list and if your breed is not on it than too bad.[/QUOTE]

True but USDF does not sponsor the awards, the breed does. There used to be a Percheron all-breed award, but it was for registered full perchs only with no advertisements so unless you were already a USDF member and activley LOOKING at USDF All Breeds awards you wouldn’t have known it exsisted and the Percheron Horse Association has since stopped sponsoring it.

Blah more information than anyone probably wanted to know, but if someone has a breed that is not already offering a USDF All-Breed they can work to get it sponsored.

There are 68 breeds sponsored including american drum, haflinger, and shire. I guess they didn’t get the memo that USDF rules don’t think drafts should do dressage. Here are the sponsored breeds - http://www.usdf.org/awards/all-breeds/organizations.asp

[Vesper_Sparrow]

[QUOTE=ginger708;3354449]
My understanding of breed awards is that the award is given to the horse of a particular breed based on scores for that show season. The particular breeds are not scored any differently at the shows. The breed award is just an additional award for the year. All it says is that your Arabian did better than all of the usdf registered Arabians that year. And not every breed is recognized there is a list and if your breed is not on it than too bad.[/QUOTE]

Right, but such breed awards are not very common up here, at least for my particular off-breed of choice. And I can’t see any kind of handicapping actually being instituted in the real world.

[ginger708]

I do not want handicapping I just want to be judged fairly on my test. And so far in my area I have been. Look if I hit Lamplight in training level with Rocco competing against warmbloods and thoroughbreds I’m am not foolish enough to think that I will be in the ribbons unless I do a spectacular test. My goal is to have a clean correct test every time that I go out and get scored accordingly. If I get in the ribbons great if I get a good score even better.

[MyReality]

@Ambrey;3354349

What if everyone in the family liked gymnastics, and the kid was happy doing it, and turned out to be good at it? Would you tell him he couldn’t because it wasn’t in his blood?

Ambrey, nobody said ever the kid couldn’t do something because it wasn’t in his blood. i.e. nobody said a draft cross or a TB couldn’t do dressage because it wasn’t in his blood. I carefully use the exact same words so you would understand.

If you want to make an analogy, what we are talking about is like the following,

2 heavy set parents, gave birth to a slightly heavy set new born, good 12 lb healthy baby. All 20 of his cousins are sort of heavy set, 17 of them do very well in wrestling let say, and one of them do very well in ballet let say. This new parents ask his doctor, we really believe in nurturing our son at an early age, should I develop him in wrestling or ballet or something different, like marathon.

In the real world, obviously it’s up to the kid. But the doctor will probably tell the parents, well all children can benefit from some running, and some dancing teaches coordination. But that is not the same as suggesting he is suitable to do marathon or enroll him in full time ballet school.

We’re talking about a generalized prediction, based on type and conformation, as a result of breeding. Nobody can escape generalization of some sort. It doesn’t mean anything if the subject proofs to you otherwise. Then why do we want to make such seemingly meaningless generalization, because some of us has a very specific goal in mind, and it helps us make informed decision along the way.

This applies not to only suitability to dressage, this applies to any trait you’re looking for, be it color, temperament, endurance, or even amount of hair.

[canticle]

I think it’s more like telling a fat person she shouldn’t do yoga. Or not teaching a dyslexic kid to read. Dressage will only help. That’s what people are missing.

[Equibrit]

Belgian Drafts for Dressage

Golfing on skis.
Ballet in hobnail boots.
Tchaikovsky on an accordion.
Champagne with sauerkraut.

You can do it - but it’s just not good.

[canticle]

Is the violin a better instrument than the piano?

[STF]

@Equibrit;3354890

Golfing on skis.
Ballet in hobnail boots.
Tchaikovsky on an accordion.
Champagne with sauerkraut.

You can do it - but it’s just not good.

ROTFLMAO
I sure wana go drinking with you some day… you crack me up.

[STF]

@canticle;3354882

I think it’s more like telling a fat person she shouldn’t do yoga. Or not teaching a dyslexic kid to read. Dressage will only help. That’s what people are missing.

It can help. Dressage is made to strengthen and supple, but if you have long term goals you have to adjust your goals based on what your horse can offer and offer with ease without stressing the body = causing stress, tenseness, etc.

[Equibrit]

“Is the violin a better instrument than the piano?”

I would say they are equally bad or good, depending on your viewpoint, at performing dressage.

[Vesper_Sparrow]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;3354890]
Golfing on skis.
Tchaikovsky on an accordion.

You can do it - but it’s just not good.[/QUOTE]

Have you ever heard the late Larry Adler play Bach, Mozart, etc., on the harmonica… it’s terrific.

[STF]

Guys, come on…
The fact is the drafts are not a common choice for the serious dressage rider and that is just fact. If someone wants to play around in the big rectangle, then fine, but they need to realize they may be a bit limited down the road and the road up the levels may be a bit harder to get there.

[Equibrit]

@Vesper Sparrow;3354969

Have you ever heard the late Larry Adler play Bach, Mozart, etc., on the harmonica… it’s terrific.

My dear, it pales in comparison the the 1812 with a full orchestra including cannons and fireworks!

It’s just not good.

[STF]

Does a banjo come with it too???