I’m just curious. I have a lovely AQHA mare and because of her conformation (long back, built slightly downhill) and my limited aspirations, we won’t move much past Training or First Level. But it got me wondering. Have any purebred quarter horses ever made it to the highest levels of dressage and competed successfully against horses more built for the job? i.e. warmbloods and warmblood crosses?
I’m pretty sure that Rugged Lark competed at GP dressage. Whether or not he was actually “competitive” is another discussion. But he could definitely do all the movements. 
There have been several GP horses that are AQHA registered…off top of my head, Sherry van t’Riet in California ,Color Magic. USDF All Breeds should list them…actually–they were mentioned in an earlier COTH thread:
<< Regardless of the weight dispersion, the Quarter Horse is able to excel in dressage. Horses that prove this are Color Magic ridden by Sherry van’t Riet, who placed second in USDF All-Breeds Awards at Grand Prix, and The Challenger ridden by Darcy Drije, who placed first. Brown About Town is an Appendix Quarter Horse successfully competing at Prix St. Georges and Intermediare I with Glenda Needles. >>
Check out this thread: "NC Rider earns USDF Gold Medal on “Stock Bred” QH
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=175170
Gives me hope for me & my QH 
There is a nice QH mare here in MT by the name of Holotta that was competing at GP a few years back. Very nice mare. Don’t let anyone tell you they can’t do it. You will have challenges, of course. They weren’t bred to do high level dressage. Your horse may not go to GP, but enjoy taking her as far as you can.
There’s a lady that does dressage demos at the MN horse expo on her QH. Really nice moving gelding. I don’t remember how high she went with him, but it was definitely over 4th.
Darcy Drije competed The Challenger at GP.
Can’t remember rider or horse, but one USET member rode a an AQH. It was a few years back-at least that’s my excuse for remembering neither name:D
[QUOTE=merrygoround;3913001]
Can’t remember rider or horse, but one USET member rode a an AQH. It was a few years back-at least that’s my excuse for remembering neither name:D :D[/QUOTE]
Are you thinking of Blue Jay? I have a fuzzy recollection of a gray GP horse possibly ridden by Linda Zang…looooong time ago!
I once took lessons on a QH gelding who had shown GP. Also rode an appendix that went 3rd.
The right stock bred horse can be quite baroque.
When you then factor in the mind and work ethic, a good QH (or paint) can go as far as you want to go.
Sure, conformation might limit the competitiveness of upper level work, but that doesn’t mean the horse can’t learn some or most of it, and teach you along the way.
I deliberately use APHA in my breeding program. Some of the purists poo-poo it, but a 1/2 APHA (cutting/reining bred, more than 90% foundation QH lines) colt I bred beat some very nice WBs at his inspections. He was a very awkward long yearling and would’ve done even better at a different age. As it was he was bronze medal to his 1/2 brother’s (same dam) silver medal. Just a point or two difference. The silver medalist was 3rd in the country that year.
Don’t ever underestimate how far a good mind and a great work ethic can take you. And it’s the rare QH/paint who doesn’t have both.
Kaiser’s Realm with Sharon Rowe was 13th USDF horse of the Year at the Grand Prix Level, all breeds (he was a QH)
http://www.rowestables.com/horses/kaiser.jpg
Sharon also had Crescendo, an Appy/Lip cross that was 1989 USDF Grand Prix Champion against all breeds.
Back in the early-mid nineties Merrie Velden showed a QH Too the Maxx in Southern CA and won several big grand prixs in very good company. I tried to google, but it must’ve been before everything was published on the WWW.
My trainer took her short, downhill, long-backed PMU baby (Belgian Draft/TB/QH) to GP, and was able to get the scores needed to declare for the Canadian Olympic team last year.
This all makes me happy. I am just beginning to work with my new very green 6 y.o. AQHA (racing bred) and I have high hopes for him. He’s not very big - 15.3 and short backed but I think he’s just a little bit fancy so I am looking forward for the weather to break so we can get to work.
Blue Jay was a quarter horse ridden by Kay Meredith who was AHSA Dressage horse of the year, mid to late 70’s. I believe that was pre USDF.
[QUOTE=horsepix76;3912509]
I’m pretty sure that Rugged Lark competed at GP dressage. Whether or not he was actually “competitive” is another discussion. But he could definitely do all the movements. :)[/QUOTE]
I was a big, big fan of Rugged Lark, and I am pretty sure he never competed in dressage and I’m doubtful he did “all the Grand Prix movements”. However, I bet he could have if they had gone that route with him. I just wanted to set that straight… He was a fabulous and amazingly talented horse, but not a Grand Prix dressage horse.
Regal Lark, a son of Rugged Lark, competed in dressage.
[QUOTE=LJStarkey;3913673]
Regal Lark, a son of Rugged Lark, competed in dressage.[/QUOTE]
I don’t know if Rugged Lark competed all the way to GP, but I am pretty sure that this son did.
My bad. Actually, it was another son of Rugged Lark named The Lark Ascending who competed to the GP level.
Well, it’s great to hear about these successful quarter horses. I just love my girl–she’s a beautiful 15 hand, 6 year old palomino with nice movement, a fantastic mind, and a heart of gold. I’m having so much fun on her. She has a lot of foundation quarter horse in her bloodlines and was initially broke as a reining horse, so she came to me at aged three with great brakes and a pretty good knowledge of seat and leg aids. And easily does flying changes. She also loves to jump and does it calmly.
We have some beautiful warmbloods and thoroughbreds at our barn and some of them take my breath away when I see them move. I truly appreciate their talent and physique. It just made me curious to see if any quarter horses were ever able to successfully compete against these breeds that are built for dressage. Hey, now that makes me wonder if any warmbloods ever succesfully competed in reining or other western events!!!
