Dressage horse to hunters

[NC001]

I’ve seen posts about horses going from hunters to dressage but I haven’t come across much going the opposite direction.

The horse will be 11-12 yo and is basically maxing out in dressage. It can jump and has shown low level eventing. Is it realistic to think about moving over to hunters?

The main reason would be to join a club equestrian team in college. Hunters is much more common at the colleges the rider is interested in than dressage. The rider has done IEA hunters but this horse has never done hunters.
thanks

[JB]

Since Hunters require a fairly specific way of moving, and form over fences, the answer is - It Depends.

Lots of horses can jump, even some big stuff, and for a whole course, but would never place well in Hunters because they don’t have the right form. Or they don’t the mental attitude that slower and more cadenced is fine.

What level of Dressage is he maxed out at, and why?

[Scribbler]

@NC001

I’ve seen posts about horses going from hunters to dressage but I haven’t come across much going the opposite direction.

The horse will be 11-12 yo and is basically maxing out in dressage. It can jump and has shown low level eventing. Is it realistic to think about moving over to hunters?

The main reason would be to join a club equestrian team in college. Hunters is much more common at the colleges the rider is interested in than dressage. The rider has done IEA hunters but this horse has never done hunters.
thanks

This is totally dependent on the horse. If he’s maxing out in dressage because he prefers a long loose posture, it might be a good fit. It’s not the previous training so much as the confirmation gait and natural posture of the horse. Also what level of hunters do they need to compete at? The big deal in hunters is having a big enough stride at a medium canter to “make the lines” in the given number of strides.

If he’s a big loose long TB that is having trouble collecting, it might be natural fit. But if he’s a muscle bound little cob or QH who is having trouble lengthening the stride, it’s not going to be a great fit

What level dressage has he stalled out at and why?

[NC001]

Sure I get he may not do well at hunters but I guess my question really is-is it likely he could get there enough to have fun competing in college?

I know very little about hunters. Horse is a good all arounder type, solid citizen- too slow for jumpers. He moves like a dressage horse.

He could potentially go further in dressage but it will take a lot more effort and training to get to the next level (and $$) and I don’t see that happening while in college especially if they aren’t on a team. Ideally they can stick with eventing but only 1 college in consideration has an eventing team.

Has anyone done this switch with a dressage horse that can give feedback?

[NC001]

I’m not sure what level they need to compete at. Most are club sports so likely they don’t have to be very competitive but I’m sure they don’t want to suck at it either.

They should have their bronze in dressage this year. He is not a particularly fancy dressage horse but he does okay. I wouldn’t say he’s stuck just we don’t want to keep pushing along for the next levels. It will require more than we want to do.and I think the horse will be happier not going up the levels anymore.

But mostly, not many dressage teams in the colleges under consideration.

[JB]

@NC001

is it likely he could get there enough to have fun competing in college?

It still all depends on how he moves. If he was purpose-bred for Dressage, he likely doesn’t move like a Hunter, so won’t do well in the u/s classes. But he could still jump really well, and since there are more o/f classes, could still generally do well

@NC001

He moves like a dressage horse.

Moves like one on his own, with higher knees and hocks? Or “moves like a dressage horse” because that’s how he’s ridden?

Feedback is hard without seeing him move and jump. LOTS of horses have done this switch, some do both at the same time just at a lower level of Dressage (like maybe up to 2nd level, which ANY sound horse should be able to do). Some do very well at both Hunters and Jumpers.

There are lots and lots of Dressage-bred horses who also have what it takes to be a pretty good Hunter, but whose owners were Dressage riders, and vice versa.

In the end, it’s all about the horse, because the generic answer to your direct question is yes, horses can and have done it.

[MHM]

I would think it depends a lot on the college program, if that’s the primary reason for the switch.

Lots of college programs consist largely of horses that would not win at bigger shows. But the kids can still have a lot of fun anyway.

[Highflyer1]

If it’s an IHSA program, they are looking for equitation horses that primarily show at 3’ and below. They need to be sensible, honest, reasonably quiet, and have okay movement, but a chunky QH or cob type can be very useful…

[Paint_Party]

@NC001

Has anyone done this switch with a dressage horse that can give feedback?

I did, but with the disclaimer that this was a couple of decades ago. Yet I guess horses are horses, right?

Anyway, this was in SoCalif., and the horse was a fancy TB that was solid at third level, schooling fourth. He had been shown by a pro in jumpers a little bit, but was not going to make a grand prix level jumper. Because he was older (I believe he was 13 or 14), he was fairly affordable, so my trainer friend bought him. He was a little too responsive and a bit intolerant of mistakes, so he was not for a novice or timid ammy. I ended up with him, and he was so athletic and so willing that it was easy to transition to the hunter ring. I showed him for three years. Because he was very much a “dressage mover” I rarely bothered to even show in hunters under saddle. But he was beautiful in the air over the jumps and had a very elastic, adjustable canter going around the course. He’d get beaten by a better “hunter mover” sometimes, but we were quite successful. Because of all of his dressage training, he was a great equitation and medal class horse, too.

Bottom line: It all depends on the horse, and how the horse and the rider can work together as a team over a course of fences. There’s a fluidity and softness required in hunters, a lighter contact and sometimes a Let Go and Let God mindset going down a line. Both horse and rider need to be okay with that.

[NC001]

Thanks this is helpful- I wasn’t sure if it was a crazy thought or not. I just need to know if it’s realistic!

I am going to ask the IEA coach what they think since they have since the horse in person before. But I don’t want to create any potential drama quite yet (horse people talk!). We are visiting a college and the equestrian team this week so I’m thinking ahead a bit.

[NC001]

Wow this is helpful. Willing is the number one word I’d use to describe him so maybe there is hope o/f.
Thanks!

[NoSuchPerson]

I show on a nice local circuit in a large urban area. Unless you’re in a really horsey area surrounded by a sea of rated shows, these shows are what I would envision a college club equestrian team showing at.

And yes, a decent dressage horse could show respectably at those shows, especially in the lower level classes. I mean, in the lower level classes, if the horse is obedient, accepting of the aids, almost always picks up the correct lead on the flat, and can do a lead change in the O/F classes, you’re already in the top tier. Earlier this year, someone I know won some nice ribbons in low level hunter classes by giving a restrained, tactful ride to a hony that might as well have a flashing neon sign that says “Jumper” over his stall door.

[fivestrideline]

Biggest stumbling blocks for dressage to hunters (besides movement and inherent jumping ability): changes, and traffic.

Luckily, IHSA and IEA horses don’t have to have flying changes, so that’s fine. Traffic, though, can be a problem. A lot of dressage horses are not ridden in groups the way a flat class goes (and warmup is different), so this can blow their minds a bit. If he’s fine in warmup rings or busy lesson arenas, he should be good.

[NC001]

Thats a good point- he’s used to being in the ring by himself! I think he’d be okay but if a big class he might not be thrilled by it. He is fine in warm ups but I’m guessing the warm up ring is still not as crowded as it is at hunter shows.

[fivestrideline]

It certainly isn’t. It’s the big group canter, with horses coming up behind and passing them that usually freaks them out, if anything.

Getting him used to being in a packed ring with horses going every which way (including jumping by) is very important. Also, if he can keep a lid on when something else inevitably decides to crowhop around or scoot past him by the rail, that’s valuable.

IHSA and IEA can be… a mishmash of rider and horse ability, and you never know what the other school will bring to the ring. Working at the “home” barn should be fine, it’s the shows that get hairy if a particular team is underprepared. Specifically the flat classes. Anyone at a school can start an IHSA club, it’s just paperwork and horse access.

If he’s a good egg, tolerant of mistakes, and generally quiet, he will be just fine, as long as he gets exposure and confidence and good training!

[Trekkie]

Most nice European warmbloods are started with nice “dressage” foundations. Many top American H/J trainers utilize the exact same dressage basics that dressage trainers do. A dressage foundation is excellent for any horse to have. All this means is that they understand and follow the training pyramid. This is good for any horse, and allows them to be relaxed and adjustable and go in any frame. In dressage they do not begin to teach some of the movements we expect in the hunters until the levels progress a bit–for example changes, walk to canter transitions, etc. Honestly most horses started with a solid base in dressage are well started and educated for any direction. The problem is many trainers in many disciplines are just not that good, so a “dressage” foundation that is really only a tense frame with the head cranked in is not really dressage. Dressage horses who have competed usually are in the ring alone so this can be an adjustment in the hack classes or crazy schooling rings. Any athletic, healthy willing horse can learn to jump.

[fivestrideline]

Follow up question for OP: is the rider planning a discipline switch with this horse in order to ride and practice the sport while also riding on the IHSA team, or is the plan to use this horse on the team as well?

As you know, riders do not use their own horses for IHSA - they are randomly assigned. This means the horses have to be generally tolerant of mistakes and uneducated riders, will usually wear communal tack that may not be perfectly fitted, and must know their job. They are little more than (well loved) machines, and no IHSA team is putting a great education on green horses. If the plan is to use him on the team, he should be restricted to flat only except for when ridden by his owner at home. Unfortunately this does put him in the realm of dead beginners, so he will need to be able to do the beginner wtc lesson horse gig.

If the rider was simply planning to ride IHSA and also bring the horse for practice and their own training, that will be a different matter!

Edited for clarity.

[Rumorhasit93]

My personal evidence of this was my junior hunter (back when there wasn’t a 3’3” option ). I got her when she was 12. A broodmare and precious dressage horse. I was the first one to jump her over a real course. She was a wonderful horse, for many reasons. But it certainly wouldn’t be unheard of!

[Ponyplusaninch]

I know a horse trainer/dealer who has had lots of success flipping dressage rejects into nice 3’ hunters.

Horses are pretty good at letting you know what job they enjoy if you listen. And these dressage horses, while absolutely lovely movers and well-trained, maxed out their enjoyment at a certain. Owner passed them to the h/j trainer, and they really clearly found their niche.

Have you tried to pop the horse over a fence or two yet to see what his opinion is on the matter?

[Equibrit]

If you are not expecting to light up hunter world, why would you not have fun trying ?