I have been thinking about this with my current horse. Just because you can move them up, does not mean you should…or do you just keep plugging away for results and more strength? At what point is it fair to the horse to drop them back or stop progressing? I am curious as to what others have done.
For mine it became clear that PSG was his max. We might have been able to improve at that level had he been younger, it’s hard to say. But he was always inconsistent and there were some things we just couldn’t quite confirm… Although interestingly he is more solid in some of those things now that he’s retired and the pressure had been removed… Of course :lol:
I dropped him back to 4th before retiring him and magically our scores increased 5 - 10 points and became consistent. That confirmed my feeling that PSG was really stretching his abilities. I will say, the pressure aspect is a lesson that I really took to heart thanks to that horse. I’m working really hard with my young horse to keep that from creeping in to our training. Even when we push ourselves I am conscious of keeping it fun and I do much more cross training to keep him interested and on his toes.
I knew it was time when my typically sweet, tries her heart out mare started acting out. We had been scoring Fourth & had just started schooling the half steps. When the pressure was on to really sit & collect she starting kicking out, spinning, and becoming really tense & upset. Dressage has never been easy for her, but she’s always been very willing. She’s a downhill, cow-bred, little Quarter Horse. It’s an accomplishment enough with how far she’s come & she doesn’t owe me anything more. We’re having fun now riding at the lower levels where she’s more comfortable. If she’s happy then I’m happy!
You have to listen to what they are telling you.
My old guy ALWAYS viewed new exercises / tricks as a big game. We had so much fun together learning new things and perfecting these. Even with the tremendously hard work. In the world of dressage he is not the most physically talented. But his heart that is bigger than he is made up for any physical limitations.
The only time he showed the least little resistence was when he was needing a chiro adjustment. Or joint relief. So we all listened to his tinyest resistence and checked it out immediately.
On the other hand, I have seen tremendously talented horses start to say NO to the advanced work, not because of physical limitations but because they just did not want to work that hard. If they don’t want to do the work, find something they enjoy.
Dealing with this now too, and we’re only at first level! We can technically do the moves for second level but he just doesn’t seem to have the drive to sit and carry himself like he has to for that level. I need to push and push and push him and feel he would be much happier staying at first or teaching kids training level or even being a lesson horse. A strong rider can get on him and force him to do it, but is that really fair to him? Is it just that he needs to get stronger? Do I just need to have more patience? I don’t have an answer yet.
I have a mare right now that will never pass third level for showing. She just doesn’t have the hock and rear strength. Some horses have physical limitations and you just can’t get passed that. I think as riders we sometimes forget getting to upper level dressage is very demanding on a horse both physically and mentally and it takes the right combination of heart, athleticism, and gymnastic training to get them there.
I am at a point with my horse, who is younger…that although she can do some of the work in the next level, I don’t think she is capable of doing all of it. I am really starting to see that the frame, engagement, and the ability to carry it, just might not be there for her. It’s tough, but I want to be fair to her. The step up from third is hard for a horse and I do not want to push her unfairly. My hopes were to get to PSG. I might just need to enjoy having a fun horse at her level, and focus on training the next one.
I remember one that loved the work, he would try and try, but his conformation would always limit his ability to do a good lofty flying change. So while he was capable of the changes, they would always be poor in quality.
But his attitude made him a lot of fun to work with.
I remember one that loved the work, he would try and try, but his conformation would always limit his ability to do a good lofty flying change. So while he was capable of the changes, they would always be poor in quality.
But his attitude made him a lot of fun to work with.
I am asking this very question right now. My gelding has a heart of gold and will never ever say “no.” On the one hand the work is clearly making his stronger and more capable, but it takes a long time and tons of strength. I love working with him and bringing out whatever sliver of talent that is hiding in there. I can even see the changes in him when he’s out in the pasture - he is definitely moving better as a result of the work, even when on his own.
On the other hand I wonder if I am just trying to force a square peg into a round hole, and if it is even a fair thing to be doing. He is about as far away from being purpose-bred as you can get.
At this point I’m backing off on my personal aspirations. We will keep chipping away at it, on his time. He’s 8, we have lots of time, or so I’d like to think. I fully realize that in order to satiate my competitive goals, that I may need to look elsewhere / find another option, at least for now.
i think you just know-when they no longer view it as a game and looked puffed up and proud after work.
i stopped at 3rd with one mare who although schooling GP at home, found producing the changes in the ring incredibly stressful and thus she went off to have babies.
again quit at 3rd on a very flashy WB who was schooling PSG but even at home would literally crumble and panic and become a tiny mouse when asked for tempi’s or piris. He went off to an all round home to do a bit of lower level everything and he loved that 
he had scored +70% up to 2nd but just didnt have the heart to go further.
sisters OTTB is competing PSG and schooling well towards GP now, he is proud as punch of everything he does and his expression is pure joy and determination every single session. he probably wont score much above 66% from now on up to GP but he is in no way maxed out.
a bit of a tangent, but I found that jumping/hacking out even at the expense of fewer “dressage rides” per week have increased my horses’ ease of collection and strength. As well as “mental freshness”.
So before I would retire a horse i would try some variety and revisit in 2 months. I think my horse was getting drilled more than I realized, it can really creep up on us!
I would also change trainers, sometimes a fresh view on the ground helps get through plateaus.
But yes, if none of this helps it’s probably time to listen to the horse.
I think there is also the difference between showing and schooling. I rarely show - just not interested (and cant afford it). I have a heavy draft cross mare who tries her heart out. We do a bit of everything but my goal is to be able to school the changes and p & p. As long as we take it slow and build her strength i don’t see why she can’t school it. I don’t expect her to be brilliant at it all either especially as really i’m the limiting factor not her.
Having said that the moment i even get an inkling there is a pain issue not just just strength i’ll stop the journey and re evaluate. Shes well and truly earn’t her way already and is a lovely horse to have around.
Yes, I think people forget that even a horse who isn’t competitive can teach the rider a lot. You have to ride the horse you have. If your horse has a meltdown mentally or cannot physically do some of then upper level movements there is no harm is schooling other movements they can do. It all improves you as a rider. If your goal is to show then you need another horse to do that one but in the meantime you can learn a lot.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8790708]
a bit of a tangent, but I found that jumping/hacking out even at the expense of fewer “dressage rides” per week have increased my horses’ ease of collection and strength. As well as “mental freshness”.
So before I would retire a horse i would try some variety and revisit in 2 months. I think my horse was getting drilled more than I realized, it can really creep up on us! [/QUOTE]
Yup, this! I find my horse and I BOTH get sour if we spend too much time schooling and not enough time on less taxing stuff. Our sweet spot is about 3 schooling rides a week, 2 low stretchy rides just to loosen up and use some different muscles, and 1 fun ride (trail riding, hacking around the farm, or jumping). We also do our warm up and cool down walks around the farm every ride we can. He’s 19, schooling 3rd/4th, and never been better physically or mentally. knocks wood
I agree with both of you as well! Funny enough, when I semi-retired my PSG horse we started playing with some reining stuff (cuz you know, it’s a natural progression for the 17hh Hanoverian :lol:)… Suddenly a lot of the dressage work that he struggled with came together. He’s older so we don’t do big crazy spins or stops but wowza, the modified sliding stops we do REALLY improved his halts, which we were ok but never great. He finally figured out ohhhhhhh, I have to SIT! Partly I think he has a lot of fun with it - he LOVES his run downs - so mentally he is happier… But it also kind of made some things click when it comes to how he uses his body.
Same with my youngster… We’re working with a hunter trainer about once a week. I’ve gotten a lot of side eye from fellow dressage people on that but it’s been SO helpful. We do lots of gymnastic exercises that have helped him learn how to use his body really well. Just the other day we were working on collecting the canter to the fences. While it’s not the same as dressage collection, there was a point in the ride where suddenly I felt it click in his brain. The next day his dressage work was incredible. Suddenly when I’d half halt his hind end would drop in a at I hadn’t gotten it to previously, his back came up, and we’d get a few strides of beautiful beginning collection (he’s 5 so that’s about as much as I’d ever ask from him). And I’ve taken him to a few hunter shows, which tend to have A LOT to see for a youngster. Let me tell you, after those experiences he’s like an old pro at the dressage shows.
There are just so many benefits to cross training. It’s something I believe should be a part of every horse’s program.
