The One Discipline Horse

[RugBug]

Honestly, I think it cross training is great, but it depends on the horse, the rider, the trainer and what you want to crosstrain in.

I had one friend with an advanced age hunter. He is lovely, but I recommended not taking dressage lessons except from someone who would keep in mind their primary focus.

I have another friend who isn’t the best match for her horse. The horse can get very hot and then VERY strong. There is a fragile grip on keeping the horse from racing around a course of jumps…so I don’t recommend that pair go for a full out gallop on the beach. W/T/C yes. Galloping hells bells. No.

[QUOTE=Ibex;7671177]
I do know one dressage horse who hated being anything but a dressage horse. Hated the trails. Didn’t want to jump. Didn’t like even being ridden out of something that could be considered a ring. Happy as a clam doing 20m circles all day. Weirdest horse I’ve ever met… :lol:[/QUOTE]

I have one of these types. He is in his niche and isn’t super suited for anything else. Trail riding sends his little heart up to his throat and I can’t honestly believe he’s having any fun when he’s that scared. He’d be miserable doing real dressage, so none of that or eventing.

My other one does a lot of different stuff. Except for stuff involving donkeys. She doesn’t like the donkeys. :lol:

[red_mares]

My ASB was happy enough doing saddleseat alone. The thought of trying to get her head down far enough to do sport stuff, or riding with little contact sends chills down my spine - the OMG I would have died kind. Besides, I bought her so I wouldn’t have to ride h/j or dressage (only local trainers) - cross training with it didn’t even remotely cross my mind.

Even when she was retired as a part time Amish horse, she looked like she was heading to a show ring not out for ice cream. It was kind of funny, because she thought her knees were coming up a lot higher than they actually were.

[Simbalism]

MY older TB mare was initially a show hunter,some local and some A’s. My trainer hated that I trail rode her, but I did it anyway. I now do whatever stikes my fancy. She has over the years foxhunted, some low level dressage, some low level combined training, parades, team penning, judged trail rides, camping, and tons of trail riding including some swimming. MY younger TB mare is also going to learn as many disciplines as she will tolerate.

[JenEM]

@Preposterous Ponies!;7667025

But I can’t bring myself to do it! My horse is being trained by an eventer,

Well, there’s the thing. Event folks cross train naturally, it’s built into the sport. I think everyone at my barn who identifies as an Eventer (myself included) goes to a mix of Events and the at least occasional dressage or jumper (or even hunter, in my case!) shows. Obviously there are times when horses have clear preferences, mine tolerates dressage but lights up when she sees a fence, and while she’ll go do a hunter round, is happier with a little more pace. It’s the second best part about eventing–you don’t have to choose just one thing! (The best part is obviously XC.)

[Paks]

There was an article I read a while back about someone who took their FEI horse to a cow work clinic. The rider said it was as if the horse went oh this is why we’ve been drilling all those move. It’s so we can move cows. The next day her horse showed a new spark when doing his dressage.

Personally I like cow work to improve a horse’s confidence. I’ve seen a timid jumper become much bolder once it learned cows will run from it.

[meupatdoes]

You are not crazy in the slightest.

My hunter did his baby year mostly trail riding, has dressage scores to 64% at Third (which could have been higher but he was stuck with me for a pilot), and is competitive at the A shows in a tough region. His program has been multi disciplinary since the first day I swung a leg over him to start him.

Interestingly none of the naysayers who have told me I “really should pick a discipline” would have a prayer of beating me and my horse in any of the disciplines he does. The people who can actually ride have no problems with his many pursuits.

Tell the naysayers to take a hike and come and get it.