[QUOTE=Bronte;3707429]
Hey, thanks to all that wished me well with my horse. He is a Biotop out of a Caprimond mare.[/QUOTE]
When can I come pick him up? I think I am in love, no pics needed! :lol: :winkgrin: (Note my first siggy line)
I am sure I’d love your huge imported warmblood, too! I am glad you have exactly the horse you want 
So do I!
I can totally see why offhand “warmblood” comments would get old. We should all love the horses we have.
Some of the sweetest and most amazing horses I know are warmbloods. Sometimes we off-breed lovers get defensive because we hear so many really negative comments about our efforts, but in the end I hope we all recognize that warmblood lovers adore their horses too.
I also think sometimes we use the word “warmbloods” when really we’re talking about something specific. I know I’ve said “hot warmbloods” as a synonym for highly energetic upper level or upper level prospect horses (and I know a few of them, and you couldn’t pay me to get on one, although they sure are amazing with those who have the skill to ride them well! I appreciate how all of that energy transfers to their dressage movements, it would just scare the pants off of me!). I also know warmbloods who are just saints in every sense of the word. So don’t take the generalizations too seriously, warmblood appreciation is really not in short supply even if sometimes it sounds like it is!
[QUOTE=Equibrit;3707208]
What pi–es people off is that owners of “huge imported warmbloods” never just say “my horse” ![/QUOTE]
;):):):):):):)
Ah, come’on, tell us how you feel!
My warmblood is a loverly boy. I luv’s him!
I also have a QH paint, an Andi/TB cross, and a QH/Wb cross. Life is full of “my horse”!
Love’s’em if I can ride’em!
[QUOTE=Jazzy Lady;3707363]
I call mine my pony :p[/QUOTE]
Yeppers, Da’s ponies fur sur! Love’s’em to pieces. Da ponies.
[QUOTE=Kementari;3707671]
I think some people are missing the fundamental difference between comparing oneself to others and having others constantly bring up the comparison.
I can watch my trainer ride her WB, and they are lovely together. I’ve ridden him, too, and he is a fun ride. But I don’t want to own him. He’s not my type of horse. My TB and my Arab suit my personality and my equine preferences much better, and I don’t need to compare them to everyone else’s horses in order to enjoy them.
The problem is that other horse people feel the need to expound on why my horses (particularly the Arab - since I event, a TB is pretty much par for the course ;)) are not as good as their WBs. And while I don’t ultimately care what random strangers think, it is at the same time depressing to hear denigrating remarks over and over.
I’m not, mind you, complaining of any bias in judging. If it’s there, I haven’t experienced/noticed it, at least at the lowest of the low levels where I’m currently playing. (Heck, I’m far more irritated by the bias towards horses who have their faces on the vertical regardless of whether they are actually moving correctly - and heaven knows THAT transcends breed! ;)) And, like I said, I’m an eventer: whether or not the dressage judges have a breed bias, the fences sure as heck don’t! :winkgrin:
It would just be nice to hear once in awhile, “She’s a nice horse,” instead of, “She’s a nice horse…for an Arab.” :sigh:[/QUOTE]
I don’t think I’m missing any fundamental difference. I ride Arabians, too, and I’ve heard every insult and generalization you can imagine. And I just smile and nod.
I enjoy my horses. I do a lot of different things with them, including dressage, trails, breed shows and even gymkanas. If someone else thinks they’re too small or too crazy or I’d do better with another breed, that’s OK. But they really should tell someone who gives a sh!t what they think. Because I don’t. 
That is so sad! So your horse has the physical talent but isn’t the right color and doesn’t have the right letter on his ass?
I mean, not that you’d want to sell him or give him up but still, prejudices like that are so limiting to the sport. In the end, they hurt dressage in general as much as they hurt the individuals.
[QUOTE=Thomas_1;3707173]
Breedism??? 
:eek:Breedism!!! :no: Every breed that their is, someone doesn’t like, thinks another can do better… etc. etc. Heck, though it’s proven again and again that at the top Endurance rides in the world the Arabians are consistantly the highest placing of breeds (total number of top spots vs. what breeds are in the spots), people still think that their Shire or Miniature would make a better endurance horse, that the Appaloosas in the pasture are faster than the TBs at the KY Derby, and that thier Shetland would make a better eventer than any of the Big name horses. I know, personally, of about 20 people showing on the open circuit who, because of known breed bias won’t give the breed that thier horse is. I believe they use WBx. (most are Arabians or Anglo-Arabs). I must admit I respect Angelique for giving Russian Roulette’s true breed when she was showing him. He brought a lot of attention to Arabians (with his bedoin halter :)) on the open circuit in CA (Hunter). And Snooze Alarm ofcourse, is actually shown as an Anglo Arabian… it’s great. For many years, people wouldn’t give the other breed of horse (also common at Pinto shows when it’s an Arab/Paint or Arab/SBx. It’s just a Paintx not an Arabian/Paintx). But there is someone somewhere who doesn’t like something about just about every breed of horse. I think it fragments the equine world, and can be just as hurful to the equine community as breedism has been in the dog world.
I think you’re talking about personal preference and acknowldgement that centuries of breeding for purpose and type means that some breeds do better at some things than others.
WTF does that mean??
What does being a joy to ride have to do with a breed consistently performing well in a discipline. What does it matter if occassionally an owner enjoyes riding a quarter horse in a dressage competion.
Not so. The breeds that excel tend to be pretty much of a type.
What a load of anthropomorphic twaddle!
Erm I think you’ll find that its an elite group of people that have a narrow and common interest in a breed. That’s why they’ll tend not to disagree so much![/QUOTE] Actually, we disagree all the time. It’s probably the most heated (equine) forum on the internet. At least that’s what everyone tells me. I’ve never heard someone say a disparaging word about another breed on their. Sometimes the discipline topics can be heated (the breed is extremely diversified), but since many of the people compete in differnent areas within the breed (and with other breeds), everyone is careful to be respectful of everyone else. It’s a very eclectic group of people from back yard owners to breeders to Saddleseat to Reining to Endurance to Racing to Western Pleasure to Dressage to Jumping to Half-bred breeders on the board. Some breeders, some riders, some trainers, some who own and let others do the training and riding and showing, some who don’t even own any of the breed (or any horse) but have an interest.
[QUOTE=Ambrey;3708216]
That is so sad! So your horse has the physical talent but isn’t the right color and doesn’t have the right letter on his ass?
I mean, not that you’d want to sell him or give him up but still, prejudices like that are so limiting to the sport. In the end, they hurt dressage in general as much as they hurt the individuals.[/QUOTE]
You know, I took it as a HUGE compliment! Apparently he told someone last night that you could go look at a 1000 Grand Prix prospects and never find one this nice. I know my horse is a bit different - loudly marked tobiano, and very baroque looking. And to have a big name ANYBODY make such comments is a real thrill.
As for some of the other posts about judging - I’ll be honest, I see VERY little bias in judging, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it is most often an excuse, and I’ve heard that excuse used by Warmblood owners as well as non-Warmblood owners. We are never happy when our horses don’t do well, but most of the time, the fault lies in our own riding…
I agree, it IS a huge compliment! But from photos I’ve seen of your boy, he deserves it
Can’t wait to see him at GP!
It’s also interesting, because he is so baroque and has such a cresty neck. Apparently it doesn’t stop him any (which is good, because cresty necks make my knees weak!).
I bet that handsome boy with the engine gets loads of attention as he keeps moving up the levels - as it should be.
[QUOTE=mp;3707376]
And to anyone who has been insulted or looked down upon by snobs because you ride a non-WB – get over it. [/QUOTE]
So, the OPs points about bashing are valid, but other posters with off-breeds arent?
My QH does better in dressage than my WB/TB. I dont think the judges know he’s a QH, when he’s going, he sure looks like something. But standing in a field, lets just say no one would suspect that he is their competition. I think maybe, since monogrammed breed saddle pads are all the rage, Ill get him an AQHA one:D.
Quick funny story that kind of ties in with this topic…I had a dressage lesson this afternoon on my big, imported (from Canada) Appaloosa. I don’t board at my instructor’s barn…I trailer in for lessons. Anyway, one of her boarders who I haven’t met before came in and was riding during my lesson. On my walk breaks and when cooling out after my lesson, I was marveling at how beautiful the horse was that she was riding. A big warmblood with amazing gaits, that I ended up deciding were SO amazing, I probably wouldn’t be able to ride them. I tried to imagine what it would be like to have a horse like that, and then decided I’d never have enough money to find out.
Anyway, my instructor asked me tonight if that boarder had made an offer on my horse. I said no, and why do you ask? My instructor said the boarder couldn’t keep her eyes off my horse during my lesson and was remarking after I left how nice my horse was.
So…it turns out…while I was greatly admiring HER horse, she was doing exactly the same to MY horse. Only mine is no warmblood, for sure.
I have found nothing but welcome in the dressage community with my horse who really stands out, color-wise, in the warm up. There have been maybe 2 dressage tests out of many where I’ve been left puzzled by the scores, and those were at events, not dressage shows. Sometimes I think having a Appy has actually boosted my score by judges who perhaps don’t want to appear to have a breed-bias, because there have been some tests where I’ve left the ring thinking it was a “meh” test, only to find that it scored several points better than I thought it should have.
[QUOTE=Thomas_1;3707247]
I call mine dumb bloods. After all they aren’t exactly the quickest thinking breed of horse! I’d say it was a description not a criticism.
And trust me I bought and paid for mine because I wanted to own them and like them.
I also own shitland ponies and hairy boring black friesians though! so clearly have no taste.
Again I think you’re mistaking postings about draft crosses not necessarily being likely to be the best at certain disciplines for “bashing”.
I know, I know this is sacrilege and the majority of Warmblood owners and Draft cross owners believe that their horse is capable of anything and everything but… shock/horror… not true! … or at least not everyone agrees!!
I too have mutiple breeds but I won’t be entering my Dutch Warmbloods in a point to point and my thoroughbreds won’t be doing riding lessons for the disabled.
For goodness sakes it’s just called personal preferance and choice. If you don’t like my choice, don’t worry I’ll get over it and my horse won’t give a fig!
I’m seriously wondering whether some folks need to go have a chat about neurosis and paranoia with a health care professional.[/QUOTE]
I think you missed my point Thomas. I have seen people use the term “dumblood” with the intention to insult, not describe. I have seen people bash draft crosses. Not just saying they are not ideal but getting nasty about it. My point is that the OP is correct in that there have been lots of posts against different breeds/types of horse that are meant to be insulting, not just to discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of said horses for different disciplines. My point is that we should try to be nice and respect each other’s feelings here. For example, I know my draft cross is not going to be a grand prix dressage horse, but he is a source of great enjoyment for me and I have learned a lot from him. I know and accept his limitations. And when I see insulting (not just “draft crosses are not ideal for dressage”, which I realize) posts it gets my ire up a bit. I don’t know where in the hell you got paranoia or neurosis from my post when I was pretty much just telling people to try to be nice and respectful to each other. One can have a frank discussion without being insulting or nasty, a concept that many on this board do not seem to grasp. Your venomous response questioning my mental health to my quite benign post is a prime example.
Well, you do have a way-cool appy there Lisa.
I think the “breed bias” here on the BB is funny…not offensive.
I’d assume the perceived bias would be mid-levels in certain areas? Because I’ve seen plenty of higher level non WB horses doing just fine and the judges don’t seem to care. And I’ve seen plenty of WBs doing just fine too.
The talent is in the rider. Sure more WBs may be at the tops because they’ve been specifically bred for that one thing for generations upon generations. Which is why you also see mostly AQHAs winning in reining. But that’s not to say you won’t see Arabs doing just as well too in reining…just not as many.
It’s like any other “product”…more of one type are made for a specific purpose so more are seen and purchased for that specific purpose…but that doesn’t disqualify any breed from the same purpose and levels as long as that horse has the talent and the trainer and the rider to get him/her there.
A WB can’t automatically make the higher levels without the right trainer and rider and talent and temperament either.
The ones I see crabbing the most aren’t heading for certain levels yet they’re the most verbal about the judges at those levels not liking their horses.
WBs aren’t the end all/be all and they aren’t evil snob horses either. They’re horses…plain and simple. Nothing more, nothing less. Some are more talented than others, some aren’t. Both here in the states and overseas there are still plenty of culls. Consider AI breeding and how many are bred from great sires and how many of those we see competing well…it’s still a crapshoot even if it’s butt is branded.
Not what I said.
Just ride (and enjoy) your horse. No need to worry about what someone else thinks or even says to you.
Maybe they think he’s a knabstrupper!
Congratulations on your new horse, I am glad that you are proud of him and that he suits you and what you want to do in the future. That is always a plus no matter what the breed, the sex of the horse, or the size of the horse…
Thomas, that reference to shitland ponies just cracked me up…never thought of them that way, but the only one I was ever blessed to know was sure a mischievous rascal.
I have always dreamed of a dutch warmblood being in my barn. Just dreamed of it, because I know in my heart that I would likely not do such a horse justice but the elegant and beautiful one I had the personal priviledge to see was magnificent. I am sure his rider has much to do with that as well as the horse himself. He was just a joy to watch.
I didn’t know what type he was until I gathered up the courage to go as the the BNR about him…lol…I was a shy and wallflower type back in my youth so it took a lot for me to go up and ask a person who was “up there” about her horse. I always said if I could afford a warmblood, I would look first to the Dutch WBs because my first and lasting impression of meeting one in person was so positive. The horse was mannered and talented and much loved. He also placed first in his division that day…even more reason to covet such a horse - lol…
that said, I know I would not be able to ride a horse that had such huge gaits and required the tact that horse required to do his best. I am quite content to ride my paint mare on occasion even though she makes my back hurt and am in love with TWH mare that can be a nervous nellie at times. These horses suit me and my personality and my goals.
Isn’t that what is important? To have a horse, be it mutt or pure, WB or not, that suits the rider? A horse should be like a spouse…you should have enough “get along” to be able to get over the rough spots.
I am glad my horses and I have that “get along”. I will say that teaching a walking mare dressage is quite an experience in itself but one that has become very rewarding as the mare tries her heart out and my trainer called me to tell me “Tyranna was AWESOME today, I think she is getting it”. That made my day as my noodle is finally walking straight and learning to lift her back and carry herself. I know we aren’t ever going to be the next big thing…lol…in dressage…but I can doggone guarantee that dressage is making this horse into a pleasure to ride. That is what is important to me. Not her breed, nor her size or her color, but her willingness to try and her sweet disposition. Both suit me perfectly. She’s understanding her job now and it is HARD for her, but not impossible as we don’t expect piaffes, we expect what we know she can do…walk straight, carry herself, change leads (yes walkers do canter…lol) and be a lady under saddle.
I will be content to watch all the BNRs on their BN horses and go back to my small stable and revel in the fact that Miss Noodle is on her way to being Miss Straight and Narrow.
However if anyone wants to drop off their DWB due to lack of “get along”, pm me and I’ll send you my address.
I can dream, can’t I? :>)
[QUOTE=Bobthehorse;3708572]
So, the OPs points about bashing are valid, but other posters with off-breeds arent?
My QH does better in dressage than my WB/TB. I dont think the judges know he’s a QH, when he’s going, he sure looks like something. But standing in a field, lets just say no one would suspect that he is their competition. I think maybe, since monogrammed breed saddle pads are all the rage, Ill get him an AQHA one:D.[/QUOTE]
You could show in a cowboy hat too - wouldn’t that be funny! I’ve seen a few QHs and a Paint or too that cleaned up at the shows. Too bad people can’t all accept, a good horse is a good horse, no matter what breed or brand!
My horses, owned or just ridden, past and present. All have been American born.
OTTB Gelding, 16.2H
TB Mare, 16.1 hands
QH/Appy mare, 15.1 hands
Oldenburg mare, 16.1 hands
Oldenburg mare, 16.2 hands
QH/Appy and the Oldenburg mare, 16.1 hands have been the easiest to do dressage with. The QH/Appy, very willing, just not so physically able, but I plug along on her, not sure if I’ll do anymore licensed shows with her. Lengthenings are pretty non-existent if you are looking for visible. She is not as supple through her back either.
The Oldenburg is amazingly easy to ride. And smaller circles are surprisingly easy. She does not have world class movement, but the willingness and how comfortable her gaits are is what makes her so great.
I adore my TBs, but the one mare, it hurts my back to sit her trot. I can do it, to my detriment. The TB Gelding? Love him, have had him for nearly 20 years, but he missed out on the memo about “Submission”.
I don’t know that I’ll ever be a rider who warrants a fancy import, but I can see looking at WBs for dressage. My limited experience says it is easier so far.
[QUOTE=sidepasser;3710652]
Isn’t that what is important? To have a horse, be it mutt or pure, WB or not, that suits the rider? A horse should be like a spouse…you should have enough “get along” to be able to get over the rough spots.[/QUOTE]
That’s exactly the way I feel about it. Get a horse that suits your goals and you get along with. Good post.
