What are the thoughts on DHH for eventing? I am considering going to look at a 6 yo prospect. I see posts on them being used in dressage, but not much on them jumping.
I know of at least three in the Southern Pines, NC area that do well at the lower levels. They are big for the most part -big movers, big jumpers. The ones I see here are honest and straight forward.
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I own one and compete her at training level. My biggest struggle comes in the dressage as the higher neck placement makes them more difficult to get to stretch and get into a lower frame they prefer to see horses in at the lower levels. Mine also gets tight in the neck. But she’s brave and scopey for the jumping!
I own one and compete her at training level. My biggest struggle comes in the dressage as the higher neck placement makes them more difficult to get to stretch and get into a lower frame they prefer to see horses in at the lower levels. Mine also gets tight in the neck. But she’s brave and scopey for the jumping!
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@kcmel has a really nice DHH cross. He is a fabulous jumper. Scroll down to post 12 for a picture of him jumping.
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/dressage/9987293-amish-bred-dhh-warmblood-in-the-dressage-ring
We have a DHH-cross as the barn and she runs Prelim with the potential of Intermediate. Her rider has to ride her very correctly but she does very well and is quite fancy.
I know one that is successfully running Prelim with potential for more.
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Thanks @SonnysMom . Yes my guy is DHH x hackney/Clydesdale. He’s amazing. He’s only competed at training level but he definitely has the scope for more. I sometimes wish his dressage wasn’t so good so I could just jump him:lol:.
Here is a picture from yesterday schooling a small jump. It was supposed to be small anyway.
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I compete on a DHH/Belgian cross. He has very nice, fancy movement and scores very well in dressage. He can be a little hot sometimes which I attribute to the DHH; however he has a wonderful brain and is soooo brave. I wouldn’t say he’s the best jumper in the world, likely due to the high neck and somewhat tight back. But plenty of scope for Training.
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Horses do not come in to the world knowing what we call them, nor what they are capable of doing. That’s up to you to discover.
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So what does that even mean? A horse may not know what breed we call them. But most breeds have been bred to have certain breed characteristics. Many of those characteristics make them better at certain disciplines than others.
That Percheron likely won’t excel at endurance. I wouldn’t ask my Arab to go plow a field.
Yes you could barrel race a Warmblood but you are likely going to be beat by a QH. Most TBs run faster than most WBs.
Why waste time going to look at horses that based on their breeding likely will not do well at the discipline you like to ride? Maybe you will find the diamond in the rough but personally I don’t have that kind of luck. I figure it is better to stack the deck in your favor and start with a horse that is likely to do well.
I have owned a few Arabians over the years. If I want to do well at A or AA Show Hunters I would not go look at an Arabian or even most Arabian crosses- especially if they aren’t already showing high level hunters and doing well. Yes, my Arabian cross could jump. He did not jump like an A show hunter. Most Arabians don’t jump like A show hunters. I love my Arab. He was a great all around horse. I did some low level local hunters, I foxhunted, I took him eventing, I trail rode, I did dressage, I did a competive trail ride. He was a great jack of all trades but master of none. Now he is a great retired pasture puff.
Wasn’t there a thread recently about why people ride horses that are unsuitable for their chosen discipline?
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Before you knock the Percheron… I went on trip to South Africa run by a top endurance trainer in the country. She had begun breeding in Perch to her endurance lines to get a bigger horse that still had a deep bottom. Would you pick a full bred Perch for endurance, no. But they can add bone and weight without too much drag…I have a Perch Tb cross who has NO bottom. I have never found his limit. He can hunt first flight and come home half as beat as the rest of the field, event that next day, and still be raring to go the day after that. Maybe he’s just a freak, but the experience of the South African endurance breeder suggests not.
If you like the temperament and looks, great, go for it. However, the ones I’ve seen are heavy in the front, and therefore jumping is extra hard on the front feet. They have a hard time galloping. Make sure you have a comfortable conformation especially if you want to go past Novice, I just think it is hard enough on horses to jump in the first place.
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From what i understand, they can be real spicy. So just be aware if thats not your thing
My cross is not exactly an amateur’s dream. He’s opinionated, spooky, and can be quite naughty. His first year competing his dressage warm-ups were their own spectator sport. I left him to the pros to compete his first few years (although I probably wouldn’t have been as patient had I not been bringing along another horse).
My first time competing him in an HT he deposited me nicely on a table in front of the water (we were winning too!). That was the first time he had gotten me off of him though. However, I wouldn’t trade him for the world–he has a big personality and makes me laugh every day!
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It’s somewhat akin to selecting a Saddlebred as an eventer. Saddlebred stallions have been exported to The Netherlands and used to breed DHH’s, and there are many conformational similarities, though modern Saddlebreds don’t usually have as much bone as the modern DHH. Neither breed is purpose-bred for jumping sports, but many individuals can jump and like to do it. Just realize they’re not built to do it and adjust training and expectations accordingly.
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Jumping is all about the good canter/gallop. Harness horse is bred to pull a load, not carry it, and to trot. There are many variations in individuals of any purpose bred breed so you can’t really generalize. However, their purpose bred conformation for something else makes it more challenging to find a good canter in a horse bredfor harness work, it’s not impossible but you need to be careful to get one that can physically do a different job then it was bred for.
Not everybody likes spicey, quirky horses, particularly older Adults with limited barn time and a skimpy training budget . Be sure you honestly evaluate your needs when shopping and don’t get seduced by a breed du jour.
Had a barnmate who bought a 6 year import ( dont remember well the specific source or what studbook it was in but it was bred in Belgium.) started as a driving horse but converted to Hunter and Eq mount. The seller jumped it around impressively, buyer rode it well, her trainer at that time approved. Price was right due to the off type breeding and basic training, it had been on the market for some time. They made an expensive mistake. Horse just couldn’t consistently do the job and was not happy doing it. When they switched trainers to mine, they had some success but the horse ultimately just didn’t have the style to pin well in the Hunters. They tried Eq and Jumpers but horse was erratic, not quick enough and had issues with spreads out of a deep spot… Just not built for the job, seemed to hate it. After two years they sold it at a big loss as a driving horse where it was happy and successful.
By all means, try any horse, you never know. But be sure it has the physical structure to do the intended job and the temperament to enjoy it.
