I have ridden all my life, started in Montana where I grew up on great quarter horses, then went on to ride dressage on an Andalusian and now a Hanoverian. I am now 66 and the Hanoverian is just too big and athletic in the wrong ways for me. I need a bombproof ride and a quieter life. So I am going back to AQHA and plan to train for ranch classes and western dressage. I ride 2nd/3rd level dressage. When i look at show trained AQHA, they have these weird untrue gaits that are painful to me to watch (JMHO). Where in the northeastern US (New York) can I find a younger (under ten) well broke (nearly bombproof as possible) nice looking AQHA horse I can do this on?
We sound like we have similar backgrounds, and it’s nice to interact with another “mature” horsewoman who’s finding a new equestrian niche in life.
I’ve also done the “show trained” Paint and AQHA horses so I know what you’re referring to. Ironically, though, the best western dressage horse I’ve had (he scored well at level 3) was a former western show horse. Admittedly, it took me a couple of years to get a true canter out of him and convince him that it was okay to travel straight. But he was awesome in WD!
Anyway… in answer to your question, I found my ranch riding horse by joining several Facebook groups specifically for ranch riding, reining and ranch pleasure horses. I also did In Search of (ISO) posts on some of them, which got me numerous videos of prospects. In your ISO you can be specific about what you’re looking for and what region you want to shop. Even though I’m not a fan of FB, I found it a great way to network.
For what it’s worth, when I was horse shopping, I tried at least a dozen horses. They were all safe, well schooled, successful reiners and ranch riders. Some were high performance and felt like driving a Ferrari. Others were like a big ol’ SUV, but with an extra gear. Yet they all did flying lead changes and had excellent transitions and lateral movements. Any one of them, in my opinion, would’ve moved nicely into western dressage.
2 Likes
wow, thank you for this reply. I came off my lovely imported Hanoverian who is actually a really good boy but he is just so big and super athletic and he had a huge spook and as I was coming off, I thought, “Nope, under 15hh and quieter.” When I started looking, I realized I also want to ride trails and go to little shows and do something new. I am used to handy horses with good lateral movement and so it will be nice to know they are out there.
2 Likes
I grew up riding hunter jumpers- now I’m showing my Gypsy in the ranch riding and having a blast. It took awhile to get used to riding 1 handed and sitting in a different position. But we’re both loving it. I was lucky enough to keep my gelding with a reining/ranch trainer for a couple of years before I brought him back home a year and a half ago. So my trainer taught him to neck rein and kept him tuned up while I was learning to adjust my riding! We’ve shown in the ranch classes at a few reining shows and done some of the open classes at a local AQHA show and the Gypsy breed show and he’s been competitive and well rewarded when I ride well!
So much fun.
I’ll still throw a hunt saddle on him too- but I just told a friend this week I’m actually more comfortable riding him western now. Woohoo! So fun to brand into something different and see my goals and desires evolve and change.
8 Likes
That trot photo is so great 
2 Likes
What a lovely horse! I had no idea there were palomino Gypsy horses, thought they were all black and white. You guys look great!
Grey
2 Likes
personally I do not understand why the breed embraced such gaits as being desired
As for OP, my daughter rides about the same level of dressage and also uses her dressage horse in working western ranch national competitions. Horse just thinks this is a job it is supposed to be doing.
from this
to this
at the same show
5 Likes
Wow you two just look so stunning. Thanks for sharing the pictures. And for your comments and response.
1 Like
