Does anyone do both?
Sequentially, not concurrently. Four years ago I competed in dressage, next year I’ve set a goal of competing in Ranch Horse.
Two different horses --very different. Dressage horse (now unrideable due to inoperable bone chip) is a 17.2 hh OTTB with a racing and 3-Day background.
Ranch Horse is a 15 hh Foundation Bred QH (Hancock/Two-eyed Jack) with a really good mind and a lot of innate talent (or he’s just really smart).
Personally, I like the Ranch Horse practices much more fun for me. I haven’t attended any shows or clinics yet, so I can’t speak to “the people” --but then I generally find that people are what one expects: expect people to be stand-offish and snobby, they are. Expect them to be helpful and kind, they are.
The only group of horse people I am uncomfortable with are those who extol their discipline and denigrate all others. I have met dressage people who when hearing that I fox hunt, cannot say enough critical things about fox hunters —and fox hunters who when I say I ride reiners (used to) can’t say enough nasty things about reiners —and contesters who criticize pleasure riders --etc etc etc.
Hey, we all love horses --so live and let live.
Yes, I did both, concurrently, with my last 2 horses. I am bringing along a youngster now and will do the same.
Not me, but Kathleen Bailey in Maine has been competing her Morgan Kennebec Rugby in regular dressage, Western dressage, ranch horse, jumping, eventing etc.
daughter does both classical dressage and western ranch horse on the same horse. Horse is a Morgan
Rugby just won a hunter derby today but it was an outside course so he just thought it was more cross-country!
Thanks everybody, I am having so much fun with my 6 year old that I bred. We started in classical dressage and now starting to play in the western world, he doesn’t move like a pleasure horse even though he is 1/2 qh. So we will see what this year brings…