I’m in the search for a new dressage horse, (It’s extremely frusterating.) so from my experience looking at thousands of ads, I get to see many different dressage horse ‘types’ ; or ‘builds.’ I found this horse, and he is my favorite so far:
This is a medium - heavy build, I think. The neck really does me in.
So this is mine; what’s yours?
Edited because I didn’t realize how poorly written it was.
I am spellbound by the Spanish Horses…may be why I own and breed them! I love their compact baroque look also. I would say I prefer a more medium build though.
‘A’ and ‘W’ Line hanoverians such as A Jungle Prince, Alabaster http://landgestuetcelle.de/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=16&idart=170, Wie Weltmeyer http://www.yancey-farms.com/wieweltmeyer.html, Weltmeyer http://landgestuetcelle.de/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=16&idart=237. Another example of the type I like:http://www.pferdekauf-online.com/pferd_zeigen--pferd--94839.html
My favorite is any horse who is happy to do the work, and a light sensitive rider who can establish and maintain harmony. I really don’t want to see a horse struggling with the rider – this includes egos of talented/educated riders not tuned into their horses. So, I like many “looks” and breeds, and I especially enjoy being suprised!
Having said that: my personal favorites to work with and the horse I would put in my stall and pay the bills on will always be a thoroughbred.
MHO it does not matter unless the horse is not good to ride. Ridability is #1 in my book. It can look pretty much as four legs and a tail but if it moves well I’ll love it. 3 good gaits, easy to go and easy to whoa makes for a good ride. Pretty is as pretty does.
My 2 cents!
Quaterback–of course, this is because my horse looks just like him (or we aspire to, anyway.)
http://www.neda.org/index.html scroll down to see his pic under the Stallion Auction.
I am a Hanoverian lover at heart! But as I live on this side of the pond and I am lucky enough to ride what we breed, my horses are American Warmbloods (AWR)!
The first photo on the left is my darling boy Wally! He is my dream horse…absolutely my 100% soul mate and one of the hardest workers I have ever been lucky enough to sit upon. Here is his pedigree - http://www.paardenfokken.nl/pedigree.php?horseid=303181
The second is Wyatt. He is just 5 and my little rebel…like Linus (of Charlie Brown cartoons) with a bit of a naughty side! Here’s his pedigree - http://www.paardenfokken.nl/pedigree.php?horseid=303262 As he is a homebred, I blame various ancestors for his dark moments…there is a twisted sense of humor involved when I mutter, ‘stop being like your great Uncle!’ :lol:
Then there is Addie. She is a clients darling mare who I am lucky enough to ride…where Wyatt & Wally are raw power & strength, she is a lady with grace & elegance…totally a different ride & feel but very, very cool! http://www.paardenfokken.nl/pedigree.php?horseid=303242
Next is the little heir apparent, Oz. He is truly my dream youngster…he is Wally all over again! I will honestly admit that I even said, ‘hello Wally!’ the night I delivered him! And it has been like having a time machine to take Wally, shrinking him down a size and starting from the beginning…It is a great reason to get up each morning! http://www.paardenfokken.nl/pedigree.php?horseid=303193
Last of these photos is Dillon. He is a really cool stallion (photo is with my friend who rides at the track up) who is a dream to ride…you think it, he does it! His full brother is schooling GP now (5 years older) and they make me giggle as it is the smoothest, most comfortable ride in the barn… 
http://www.paardenfokken.nl/pedigree.php?horseid=302757
I love baroque or a heavier style
I love looking at this Irish guy, I hope to breed to him in the next couple of years.
http://www.adsagsona.com/oisin.htm
I’d have to say my Trakehners, especially my stallion, Happy Hour – he’s beautiful inside and out and without question, the absolute horse-of-a-lifetime… We are incredibly blessed to have Happy and our Trakehner boys – truly a privilege and great honor to be their human companions…
With regard to general type: I look for correct confirmation, 3 quality and pure gaits, excellent ridability and trainability; great character. Uphill, well-balanced, supple & elastic; solid feet - not necessarily in this order - ridability & trainability are definitely at the top of the list…
I’m with you SM, I love a Thoroughbred for whatever I want to do – I love the way they look and feel, their sensitivity and beauty and all that heart in such an athletic package! For me, personally, that’s what I’ll be riding. But I love and admire any good horse as well.
PennyG
Oh, I love the heavier Baroque style horses too, especially the ones that move with great power! Horsetales, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that RID - anytime you get tired of him, let me know, he can move in with me:D
Here is my boy - baroque with chrome:
http://www.mysticoakranch.com/ourstallions/lshcadenceincolor.html
I love any horse that shows harmony with their rider, but the old style Baroque horses have a special place in my heart…
Any of the old type large boned warmbloods or baroque horses. I really don’t like the modern types unless they have at least medium bone and large frames.
Juventis, Rampal, Contango and the like are my type of horse. And any Lipizzan I have seen fits what I like too.
I like a horse that is a “hunk”. Kinda of like my men…Charleston Heston and George Clooney types… no Brad Pitts please!
I like a horse that is more “square” than “rectangular” in shape. Built uphill and naturally moves from back to front in self-carriage. A very strong lower back/loin that connects properly to a powerful engine…with really good activity behind.
And, of course, a great set of legs and feet, set on that great body…won’t last too long without those (wink!). Not to mention, has the mind and good nature to stand up to the rigors of the sport.
I also like a more ‘square’ horse, with a large girth, strong neck and an attractive refined head. I don’t really care abour breed, but for me personally, I do like a more compact horse, and of course, I love the intelligence, heart, and personality of a thoroughbred.
This boy is my style: Kaiserkult
And this boy (Among others): Herzendieb
I love a good STRONG loin connection, a nice neck set and good feet. I want bone, but not MASSIVE bone. I don’t necessarily want bomb proof, I like expression, but I do not want difficult. I love a horse I can bond with and that is one of my attractions to Trakehners.
I also like a big boned horse, but not a baroque type. More like the old English TB’s.
High on the list of importance is a nice head and a big eye. I can’t have a horse with a large, unattractive head, no matter what other great things he has. Next he has to have a smooth topline with no dip in front of the withers. A neck with a natural arc, but not too thick. Weltmeyer, but in dark bay would do the trick.
I want an Arab head on a baroque body. Cobby. Cresty, uphill neck. ROUND haunch. Double back. I adore the round, baroque style Arabs. Morgans. Lipps. Iberians–as long as their head isn’t too… baroque. :lol: I’m fond of some of the newer baroque crosses like FX’s spotty guy. A Connie and a Welshie here and there turn my head.
One of the few horses I have truly coveted is a Morgan x Luso. Another was a Perch X Arab, and was what a draft X is at the ideal. I’m afraid to try that cross for myself… :lol: I’ve seen a Morgan X Friesian I would’ve sold my soul for too. Though the 1/2 sister to my NSH mare was also as baroque as they get and I did at times wish my mare resembled her more.
I crossbreed because I always want something I haven’t found yet in the purebreds. A prettier head. A longer shoulder. Calmer. Lighter. Whatever. Crossing allows me to get the best of both worlds–when done right, it truly does.
My long term goal is to compete & stand a homozygous tobi Azteca stallion. Will take a couple generations to get there. I might get it by the time I’m 70. :winkgrin: 
All types have strengths and weaknesses. I don’t like one type over another as long as the horse is a sport horse type. The basic requirements for a dressage horse are an uphill build, an ability to compress or extend the stride, balance, suppleness. Within that there is room for a lot of variety, and for slightly lighter, and slightly more solid, types. I don’t care for an extremely heavy horse is outside of the sport horse type and puts a lot of wear and tear on himself, or for a very narrow, weedy type that doesn’t have much strength.
well it sounded funny when I wrote it but never mind
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