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Love my huge imported warmblood

Dressage
#141

love my hugh imported warmblood

I have 1 too and he is the most sweetist horse i have ever owned,i can imagine life with out him i have only had him for 1 year but he is the love of my life.He is very very giving and is teaching me everything.I think everyone who has horses should be able to dance with your horse,because you cant even explane how it feels to do passage even to other riders(who dont do that).I just glad i dont have to pick him or the hubby because boy i would miss my hubby loololo.
and he is 18 hands and im 5"1 amd he does what i ask and never puts up a fuss.he is truly a gift from god.

#142

But why do you (“you” generally, not just you personally) feel the need to remind people of “reality?” If they are happy chugging along at Training or 1st with their Shetland/Shire/Arab/Standardbred cross, why does anyone need to tell them their horse isn’t ideally suiting to UL movements? Don’t you think they will work that out on their own?

It IS “raining on someone’s parade” to make such statements gratuitously. (Now, clearly if I post pics of said cross trucking along dumped on his forehand asking if people think we’re ready for GP, honest answers should be provided - though they can still be provided kindly.) I can only imagine that people who make such comments (without being asked) need to put down others to feel important themselves.

I am reminded of a man that my family met once when visiting the Oregon coast in the summer. My mother was standing at an overlook with binoculars watching for whales, and, though it is rare to see such a thing (from land) at that time of year, she did indeed spot one. She was excited, and told my brothers, who were beside her. A man who was there handing out information on local wildlife for some club or other turned to her and informed her (not terribly kindly) that it was impossible for her to have seen a whale from that place at that time of year, and in a effort to prove that it was just a boat in the distance took his more powerful binoculars…and was ultimately forced to admit that it was, indeed, a whale. (Be careful with that word, “impossible”… :lol:)

The thing is, though, what possible difference would it have made if my family was mistaken, and it wasn’t a whale? Would it somehow have taken away from this stranger’s love of wildlife for someone to misidentify it? Isn’t it better, in fact, when teaching people to value the natural world for them to actually witness it? Who the hell CARES if it’s a whale or a boat or a mirage, so long as someone gets joy out of it? Again, I’m not saying the man should have lied if asked, but just jumping in for the sole fun of, yes, raining on someone’s parade was rude and smacks of a need to feel superior.

#143

Exactly.

The whole “they just think we’re being mean because they don’t like the truth” thing is a whole lot of rationalization. Anything that doesn’t jive with the “warmbloods rule, off breeds drool” version of reality is conveniently dismissed, so nothing impinges on the internet pundit’s belief in his own version of reality.

Eventually people just stop arguing and the pundit tells himself “it’s because they realized I’m right.” No, it’s because they realized that you’ll never admit you’re wrong and moved to another board.

#144

LOL, sounds like a wonderful boy!

#145

And what if he hadn’t been able to see the whale? Does that PROVE that it wasn’t a whale? It would have to him, right? And he would have gone home saying “that poor family just can’t handle reality.”

#146

being relatively new to this forum may I respectfully ask what an “off breed” means???

#147

To some people, anything that isn’t a warmblood.
To others, anything that isn’t a warmblood or one of the other breeds considered superior for upper level dressage- generally lusitano, andalusian, and lippizan.

#148

:yes:

Quite true!

(And do you suppose he would have posted on his whale-watching board about all those wanna-be whale watchers who clearly don’t have the skill to identify actual wildlife? :lol:)

#149

[QUOTE=Parrotnutz;3721881]
being relatively new to this forum may I respectfully ask what an “off breed” means???[/QUOTE]
Anything that isn’t a Morgan! :wink:

#150

What bothers me about pro or anti WB rants is that they are beside the point. Dressage is about training and the relationship that training affords with the horse–any horse. A well trained horse that loves his job is far more appealing to me than a warmblood “prospect” or any “prospect.” Dressage is about the relationship between the rider and the horse.

I think some horse owners put the status of their horse’s breed/price of their tack/facilities above this. I think alot of the anti-WB rants are really rants against that.

#151

Excellent question. I’ve been here a while and still wonder what all the fuss is about. I’m thinking people buy the horse(s) they want and/or can afford. And love and enjoy their equine companion…that’s what it’s all about.

Off breed? The people I know have many breeds and we are not discussing this all the time.

#152

More to the point, what qualifies her to comment on reality?

#153

Horses for Courses

As the proud owner of a Kentucky OTTB mare, now deceased, I have to add:

It’s not whether the horse is an “expensive imported WB” that makes the european WB so great.

Any horse imported into this country is going to cost an additional amt because he is imported and we have to pay shipping costs.

But it is the european breeding programs that make the european wb so special. The breeders breed the best to the best for performance and conformation, whether is it jumping or dressage. Just like U.S. racing used to breed horses for courses instead of speed alone.

I’ll buy another OTTB mare from Kentucky as soon as I sell some land in South Carolina. I love American TBs.

And I’ll also buy some of my Hessen’s relatives from the old country.:winkgrin:

#154

I love my 15.3 hand, decidedly NON-TRADITIONAL, loudly tobiano marked, obviously Baroque, bred-in-the-USA stallion. Wouldn’t trade him for anything or anybody. It is really all about finding a horse you love and enjoy riding. I participate in the “alternative-breed” discussions not to put down imported Warmbloods, but to point out they are NOT the end-all/be-all solution to dressage. They are ONE option. They are not the perfect horse. And for some people, they are the correct option. But for many people, they are NOT the correct option. And you can show (and be quite competitive) without that imported 17 hand warmblood.

To be competitive, you must be a good rider, and most likely, a good rider with a good trainer. Your horse must have 3 good gaits (which means you need to be able to recognize three good gaits when you pick your horse). Your horse must have the mind to enjoy dressage and handle the pressures of dressage training. You (or your trainer) must have the time and ability to put into dressage.

Many people don’t have access to the complete package - for whatever reason - lack of education, lack of money, lack of talent, lack of time, lack of access to good training. But - lack of a Warmblood does NOT make any difference - Warmblood is not a required part of the complete package. There are plenty of nice horses out there - Tbred, Morgan, Friesian, Paint, Saddlebred, Arabian, unregistered Warmblood, some cross of any of those various breeds. And, of course, I include a nice Warmblood in that mix - a nice horse is a nice horse, irregardless of the breed (or mix of breeds).

And THAT IS REALITY.

Bronte, enjoy your Warmblood. Be happy you own a horse you enjoy. Realize that the Warmblood is not the only path to successful competitive dressage - but it is the path that worked for you. Be glad you found that path, and could afford it. But realize, the day you say that is the ONLY PATH, is the day you will find people disagreeing with you. And also realize, you may, some day, be beaten by a non-Warmblood.

#155

[QUOTE=FriesianX;3722676]
I love my 15.3 hand, decidedly NON-TRADITIONAL, loudly tobiano marked, obviously Baroque, bred-in-the-USA stallion. Wouldn’t trade him for anything or anybody. It is really all about finding a horse you love and enjoy riding. I participate in the “alternative-breed” discussions not to put down imported Warmbloods, but to point out they are NOT the end-all/be-all solution to dressage. They are ONE option. They are not the perfect horse. And for some people, they are the correct option. But for many people, they are NOT the correct option. And you can show (and be quite competitive) without that imported 17 hand warmblood.

To be competitive, you must be a good rider, and most likely, a good rider with a good trainer. Your horse must have 3 good gaits (which means you need to be able to recognize three good gaits when you pick your horse). Your horse must have the mind to enjoy dressage and handle the pressures of dressage training. You (or your trainer) must have the time and ability to put into dressage.

Many people don’t have access to the complete package - for whatever reason - lack of education, lack of money, lack of talent, lack of time, lack of access to good training. But - lack of a Warmblood does NOT make any difference - Warmblood is not a required part of the complete package. There are plenty of nice horses out there - Tbred, Morgan, Friesian, Paint, Saddlebred, Arabian, unregistered Warmblood, some cross of any of those various breeds. And, of course, I include a nice Warmblood in that mix - a nice horse is a nice horse, irregardless of the breed (or mix of breeds).

And THAT IS REALITY.

Bronte, enjoy your Warmblood. Be happy you own a horse you enjoy. Realize that the Warmblood is not the only path to successful competitive dressage - but it is the path that worked for you. Be glad you found that path, and could afford it. But realize, the day you say that is the ONLY PATH, is the day you will find people disagreeing with you. And also realize, you may, some day, be beaten by a non-Warmblood.[/QUOTE]

FriesianX
I agree 100% with your post, AND BTW if you are Friesiansport on tob, your horse is tdf! This thread got off track. I started it because I was po’d at some of the sterotypical references to those enjoying their wbs.

Bronte is the 1st and only wb I have owned. Being as old as the hills, I have had many horses, grades, anglo arab, draftX, wbX, and several wonderful tbs. Once they arrive here, they stay for life! In our barn, the much loved King (xx), is always King.

Bronte actual is a Trakehner, which, I understand from some, does not even count as a wb!:wink:

Anyhoo, to all those, I offended ~ sorry. One thing though that I leave on the table. In my experience with this horse, being the most naturally gifted for dressage that I have owned to date (temperament & conformation), it does make things much easier on the horse. Now, does it have to be a wb for that, NO. Any horse with the right temperament & confirmation, will find the work easier.

#156

Bronte, enjoy your Warmblood. Be happy you own a horse you enjoy. Realize that the Warmblood is not the only path to successful competitive dressage - but it is the path that worked for you. Be glad you found that path, and could afford it. But realize, the day you say that is the ONLY PATH, is the day you will find people disagreeing with you. And also realize, you may, some day, be beaten by a non-Warmblood

Did you even read what the OP said or can’t you read with that massive chip on your shoulder? I don’t see the Op crapping on other breeds or crowing about beating other people or saying it’s the only path. Your choice of words suggest that you are the one who is obsessed with ‘beating’ others.

#157

I think that’s not as much about buying a warmblood as about buying a horse that is already proven in his ability. And, really, that’s where the big $$ starts to come in- when horses are already in training and showing talent and athleticism.

Once the ability is demonstrated and the training is done, no breed comes cheap. Even Pokey Smokey would likely sell for 2-3x what I paid for him now just because quite a bit of his “potential” has been realized and is no longer an “if.”

I don’t think you have to be a WB lover to recognize the value in going that direction- even if you’re into drafts, buying the horse already going well at 3rd level is going to be much different $-wise than buying the unbroke 2 year old (ask Lewin, she bought the latter and now has the former, LOL!).

#158

[QUOTE=Bronte;3722937]
FriesianX

Bronte is the 1st and only wb I have owned. Being as old as the hills, I have had many horses, grades, anglo arab, draftX, wbX, and several wonderful tbs. Once they arrive here, they stay for life! In our barn, the much loved King (xx), is always King.

Bronte actual is a Trakehner, which, I understand from some, does not even count as a wb!:wink:

Anyhoo, to all those, I offended ~ sorry. One thing though that I leave on the table. In my experience with this horse, being the most naturally gifted for dressage that I have owned to date (temperament & conformation), it does make things much easier on the horse. Now, does it have to be a wb for that, NO. Any horse with the right temperament & confirmation, will find the work easier.[/QUOTE]

Hi Bronte and congrats on finally owning the horse of your dreams. Being new here I will say what I found off putting was the title of the post. For me seeing “finally have the horse I dreamed of” would read better.

For me it’s all the talk of warmbloods and off breeds like off breeds are “mutts” and warmbloods are the ONLY breed do do dressage.
I don’t believe any breed is an “off breed”… I own 2 appendix quarter horses. I knowingly bought them because they are what I like. And for those still in the stone age about quarter horses…they are no longer all short and navicular <G> both mine are 17 hands and often mistaken as WBs. My mare has scored 72 to 74+ at intor with “R” judges and 68+ at training…will she be a grand prix horse…no…she actually was bred to do hunters but we did dressage when she was what I considered too young to jump.

My old hunter trainer<rest his soul> called his students “cross dressers” cause we did dressage flat work with our hunters. My old appendix could do canter half pass and 3 tempis…would he have scored well…probably not but he LOVED doing it and did it well for his conformation.

I guess what I am trying to say is: how many of us are grand prix riders that post here. Why can’t people just state I LOVE my horse. Does it really matter the breed if we love riding them??

Then again I am not a person who really cares what anyone thinks of my horses…as long as I love them and riding them that is what counts…I do not want or need approval for my choices…they make me happy.
I turly appreciate others horses regardless of “breed”…like others have said a nice horse is a nice horse.
I feel it is the people who are insecure who need to seek out approval and thos people will always get critized by someone…
Being I love my horses why ask…there is always someone to critize them…so who cares

End of this rant: To all love and enjoy whatever horse you have…the rest is all BS :slight_smile:

#159

Hi Bronte, yes, “we” are one and the same - when I signed up for this BB, Friesiansport was already taken (although I’ve NEVER seen a post by him or her).

And I do think of Trakehners as Warmbloods - in fact, they are probably one of the “purest” of the Warmbloods, and probably the only that is actually a BREED (since most of the others cross lines back and forth so much). And many are lovely horses.

I think you’ve heard from enough of us - it isn’t that we dislike Warmbloods - but the tone of the posts here got people’s dandruff up. A good horse is a good horse - there are good Warmbloods and not-so-good, and the same can be said for ANY other breed (or, in my case, cross breed ;)).

There are WBs that are not gifted at dressage, and there are other breeds where individual horses are gifted at it. For example, I have a Morgan who is a natural - he’d done hunters when I got him, and within a few months, he was doing 1st level and doing it WELL at big shows (with 8s on gaits). Just a gifted (and WOW moving) little horse. Unfortunately, he was also going blind, so his career was very short :no: I’ve had a few Friesian crosses that had natural talent in this area too - natural talent is not unique to the WB. I’ve also ridden a few of my friends’ WBs who were NOT easy rides (and some of them were plenty expensive and imported :eek:), not naturally able to do dressage well. So, it really goes back to a good horse is a good horse. And I’m really happy you found that good horse!

egontost, why don’t you go back and read the posts prior to mine and realize my post is in context to the posts before it - get rid of your own chip and go read. I’m not going to respond to your post beyond this - it was just too angry and antagonistic.

#160

[QUOTE=Bronte;3722937]
FriesianX
I agree 100% with your post, AND BTW if you are Friesiansport on tob, your horse is tdf! This thread got off track. I started it because I was po’d at some of the sterotypical references to those enjoying their wbs.

Bronte is the 1st and only wb I have owned. Being as old as the hills, I have had many horses, grades, anglo arab, draftX, wbX, and several wonderful tbs. Once they arrive here, they stay for life! In our barn, the much loved King (xx), is always King.

Bronte actual is a Trakehner, which, I understand from some, does not even count as a wb!:wink:

Anyhoo, to all those, I offended ~ sorry. One thing though that I leave on the table. In my experience with this horse, being the most naturally gifted for dressage that I have owned to date (temperament & conformation), it does make things much easier on the horse. Now, does it have to be a wb for that, NO. Any horse with the right temperament & confirmation, will find the work easier.[/QUOTE]

Hi Bronte- this was a really cool post on your part. I do know where you’re coming from and I’d like to throw out another idea…although we all learn over the many years what dressage is supposed to be and how it’s done and what is required and what is good, better or best- we still need that partner to dance with. I firmly believe that there is a horse that has the good dressage conformation and has a good mind and still has that special personality/feel/response/makeup/astrological match that makes him or her so very perfect for you as a rider.

We see the same a lot with top level riders- that they have one horse that was their star- and only few can repeat over and over with different horses, or they are so capable of choosing just the right candidate that they don’t waste their time on a bad match.
What I took mostly out of your posts were two things:

  1. the grand feel of sitting on a bigger, uphill built horse that finds the movements and the work easy
  2. the satisfaction of having finally found a partner that really confirms that you are not seeking this in vain, but that it is attainable and real and can be had…if not more mucho $$ than for great luck on the part of the searcher (i.e. buying a foal in utero etc…)

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