training level???

[keana]

How hard is it to get a horse to training level??

This is not a joke…

I just put 60 rides on my mare and I’ve found a dressage trainer, now the mare was a problem horse so she lacks a bit of confidence in new places or around unknown horses but her williness to learn makes up for it.

I am not a healthy person, my body only works part time and getting her going has been a problem, she can sit and pick up where we left off but her fitness is not where it was and it’s hard to gain ground.

She walks out real nice, you can adjust the trot some, and she is willing in the canter, but she is weak in it, this gets better when she is worked a lot but due to my health that has not happened.

Forward has been installed as she was a bit lazy and she understands move off the leg sideways not really a leg yield yet but my trainer was impressed with how easy I can push her around with out knowing what I’m doing and thought her Assistant trainer could really work well with her…

Horse is eight years old. So well done growing.

Assistant Trainer got on her and really likes her, said “you can’t buy a mind like this… And is willing to work throw her quarks on the ground”

My trainer says she really likes her, and thinks she has nice movement for a horse that is not a WB.

Horse does well for Assistant trainer and moves off the leg. Sense I’m not a dressage rider I have not really done anything but ride on a lose contact and out on trails, not really helpful but for the first 60 rides at least probably not a whole lot of harm done.

I know training level is basically just a broke horse, simple stuff…

Can most sound horses be competitive at training level?

Do most horses reach training level after 30 days? 60 days? 90 days with a dressage trainer?

A year?

I don’t know:confused:

If I put her into training, which she would be rode three days a week by a trainer, plus worked once or twice by me with lesson here and there when I feel good.

What is reasonable time to expect her to reach solid training level from where she is starting from??

I would talk to my trainer but she is out sick with the flu and my horse had to come home until she gets better.

She says after 30 days, which would be about 12 rides with her and x with me.

I should see a real difference and she should progress really fast and she should make a really good dressage prospect. And I could bring her along my self if I wanted with lessons but I don’t think she knows how sick and weak I am as I only see her on good days…

She don’t really list goals. she has rode her five times now, I’ve watched once and liked what I saw but missed out on the rest of the rides, when I asked how it went she replys “did good!” or something like that.

At what point would it be safe to ask for goals??

I just want some sort of time frame or at least goals for the new year… but i’m sort of clueless…

[Forte]

I usually show training level with my four year olds, and expect that they score in the high sixties or low seventies at recognized shows. That said, they are warmbloods, and bred to do the job. I usually start them at age 3 or even 3.5, then ride them 3-4 days a week, for working up to 20 or 30 minutes. I have done training level with older horses, even a six year old, but that was a mare that had a year off to have a baby. I believe that any sane, sound young horse should be able to show training level and be schooling some first level after a year under saddle. That said, if the horse is a “problem horse”, isn’t really built to do the job, or has bad training that must be undone, it can take MUCH longer. It is always easier to start with a blank slate, in my opinion.

[slc2]

How hard is it to get a horse to training level??

It really depends on what you mean by that. Ride around at home? Compete? Win? Big show or little? The trainer, or you?

Some horses do well with the owner and trainer riding, some are harder.

This is not a joke…

I just put 60 rides on my mare and I’ve found a dressage trainer, now the mare was a problem horse so she lacks a bit of confidence in new places or around unknown horses but her williness to learn makes up for it.

Sounds like simple disobedience, and needs to be treated as such.

I am not a healthy person, my body only works part time and getting her going has been a problem, she can sit and pick up where we left off but her fitness is not where it was and it’s hard to gain ground.

Poor health can make an active sport tough. And training horse takes more effort than riding a trained horse.

She walks out real nice, you can adjust the trot some, and she is willing in the canter, but she is weak in it, this gets better when she is worked a lot but due to my health that has not happened.

Can you be more specific.

Forward has been installed as she was a bit lazy and she understands move off the leg sideways not really a leg yield yet but my trainer was impressed with how easy I can push her around with out knowing what I’m doing and thought her Assistant trainer could really work well with her…

Sounds good!

Horse is eight years old. So well done growing.

Sounds good!

Assistant Trainer got on her and really likes her, said “you can’t buy a mind like this… And is willing to work throw her quarks on the ground”

A mind is everything.

My trainer says she really likes her, and thinks she has nice movement for a horse that is not a WB.

That’s great!

Horse does well for Assistant trainer and moves off the leg. Sense I’m not a dressage rider I have not really done anything but ride on a lose contact and out on trails, not really helpful but for the first 60 rides at least probably not a whole lot of harm done.

During training, if you and the trainer do two radically different types of riding, and expect radically different things from the horse, it will be tougher than if you and the trainer ride the same way.

I know training level is basically just a broke horse, simple stuff…

Depends. Many people ride a sort of ‘hunt seat in dressage tack’, or ‘western pleasure in dressage tack’. Others really get into dressage and do more with it. A training level horse can be really competitive and correct, or just kinda fun to go around on and have a pleasant time.

Can most sound horses be competitive at training level?

It just depends. Huge show, national championship, or local show?

Do most horses reach training level after 30 days? 60 days? 90 days with a dressage trainer?

You don’t know dressage, your horse needs retraining, and you are going to ride the horse about half the time and the trainer about half the time. You and the trainer may not ride the same way.

The positive pieces are the horse has a good mind and the trainer sure seems to too!

If I put her into training, which she would be rode three days a week by a trainer, plus worked once or twice by me with lesson here and there when I feel good.

IDEAL is that you and the trainer work really together, hand in glove, you watch what the trainer does, copy her.

Why the time urgency? Budget worries? Don’t we all?

What is reasonable time to expect her to reach solid training level from where she is starting from??

And a lot depends on you, on how well you can copy what the trainer does, how consistent you are.

She says after 30 days, which would be about 12 rides with her and x with me.

If trainer is saying THIRTY DAYS, that is really absolutely super. I assume that’s for HER to be working well in training level, is that right?

I should see a real difference and she should progress really fast and she should make a really good dressage prospect. And I could bring her along my self if I wanted with lessons but I don’t think she knows how sick and weak I am as I only see her on good days…

The trainer is there and can see the horse and you and feel how the horse rides, so the trainer is the best judge of the time frame.

She don’t really list goals. she has rode her five times now, I’ve watched once and liked what I saw but missed out on the rest of the rides, when I asked how it went she replys “did good!” or something like that.

As often as you can watch, the better, again so you and trainer are on same page.

At what point would it be safe to ask for goals??

‘Training level’ is a goal. To the trainer, she probably feels she’s already made a goal statement.

Obedient, safe and eager and responsive, to walk trot canter energetically, picking up both leads reliably when asked, do 20 meter circles, bend and respond to a little leg yield like movement. Great goals!

When the trainer can do that with the horse, then she can guide you in how to do the same things.

I just want some sort of time frame or at least goals for the new year… but i’m sort of clueless…

The goal and time frame for YOU may have to just simply develop as you go and see how much your health lets you do. Everyone progresses at their own rate.

[butlerfamilyzoo]

i agree here, most any horse that has had 60 days on it is probably capable of training level… Sure, it could be MUCH more polished and show worthy say more 6 months to a year of training (and schooling 1st or even 2nd level movements) and those horses are the ones typically winning training level and also (in my oppinion) look like they shouldnt be there anymore, but its all about that blue ribbon and making the owner happy. Most owners know they cant win at a higher level yet, so they stay where they can win.

What i see in the schooling shows, i dont bother wasting my money on rated shows as i get the same feedback from schooling shows, if not more as most judges are really out to help you at a schooling show. Anyway, its a LOT of hunt seat looking riders, and a lot of times, it is. They are there to help out their hunters with some dressage training. Nothing wrong with that. But the dressage riders are the ones that place unless their rides went badly.

I can personally tell you that i myself am showing Intro. While my instructor thinks training level will be a cake walk for us next year, i’m not comfortable with my seat in the canter yet, and dont want to make a public idiot of myself… At home, this mare is training 1st level movements.

Goals are great, but what the individual horse can do and how the rider hinders it is another thing altogether. So i agree with the above posters, are YOU wanting to show this horse? Are you wanting the trainer to show it? Are you shooting for rated shows? Training level is not difficult really, it just depends on if you are ok with not being perfect, or if you are a perfectionist and wont go in the ring with any part of that test looking bad. I’m the later… My goal for this particular mare i’m showing Intro was to be in 1st level THIS year… I’ve learned that my limitations on riding time (i have a 1yr old two legged kid and cant find a babysitter anywhere!) yeah, well, i’m not going to get where i want to be if “I” can only ride my horse 3-4 times a month. I dont feel it would make a difference if i had her in full training, it is still ME that wants to show her, and if my seat and body do not get worked, i’m going to look like crap and do a bad job of riding my mare. Now if i could manage riding 3 days a week, i think we would be to 1st no problem.

So i think that is what you need to figure out. Your goal of training level is not very specific.

Keep in mind too, if you are looking at working up the levels, with a health issue or financial issue, you’ll find you’ll be sitting in training/1st level possibly your whole dressage career. Its really tough to break past the lower levels without being very consistent and a lot of help from a good trainer.

I would be very open with your trainer too, let her know your goals, you are paying for her opinion/help, if you dont tell her where you want to go, she cant help you get there, or she may tell you that you can do better than that or that your goals are unrealistic at this point. Its really hard to put specific time frames on horses. For example, my other mare had a traumatic experience in the arena over the summer, she was coming along REALLY nice, but now she’s really reverted and taken MANY steps backwards. It would be very unrealistic for me to set a goal for her right now, i’ve just got to take it one day at a time with her. Otherwise, first of this year, i would have said my goal for her was possibly first level by the end of the year… But right now, she couldnt manage Intro without being tense.

Hope that helps.

[keana]

Ok, so lets forget what I’ve done on her, becuase it’s been here and there over four years, just out on the trails I’ve spent as much as four months in bed, I’m getting better now but still can’t ride everyday.

I’m not ready to give up horses, but I want more training on my mare then the mare has now so I can take lessons and it’s a little easyier for the horse sense I’m learning also.

So from what I’m hearing after 60 with a dressage trainer it’s not unreasonable for a horse to go from unstarted to being able to do a training level test at home some what smoothly with the trainer riding…

[pooh]

I think just about any trainer can get a horse to do a respectable training level test, but not any rider. My horse has awesome movements when the trainer rides him, and looks wonderful when I lunge him, but it’s a different story undersaddle. That being said - as a dressage newbie ( used to do hunters) I took my 4 y/o Mustang ( clueless about dressage) through Intro scoring in the mid to high 60’s last year. This year we did TR1 and TR 2 finishing with an average of 61.5 - not bad since we were having forward impulsion issues. Starting to school some 1st level moevments but will probably go out at TR3 and TR 4 next season to gain more confiedence.
So alot is dependent on you and your ability - if you are concerned about your training ability - then you have to look at your health issues as that would be the limiting factor. If you are looking at the horse’s ability - training should definitely be possible.

[keana]

Ok thanks,

thats great to hear you took a 4 year old mustang and got such good scores…

I guess there seems to be so much to dressage, I did not want to say something like …

Do you think she will reach training level by the end of 30-60 days with and have it be a totally unreasonable goal for the horse…

I think I will get there but I think the horse will be able to move at a much faster pace then I and I want to see what she can do.

[AnotherRound]

OP I know what you are talking about. You have a horse with a good mind, and a body which will perform well with some work. If her trainer is going to be riding her, and then showing her you can expect the following:

If you have a good trainer, she should do well in training level this season. She can easily do training level classes this spring. She will begin to look at the business of the show grounds, experience the bustle and distractions of the warm up ring, and get a few nice start-to-finish class experiences this spring. I predict she will see 50’s scores for the first three or four shows, because of odd quirks and blow outs and who knows what, and that will be the spring sessions. Her trainer will bring her along steadily, and ask consitently for what he has been asking all winter, and by summer you will begin to see her scores climb. She will be getting 60’s and by fall 70’s in the early training classes, in mostly schooling shows and two, three or four rated recognized shows throughout the season. It will give you and your trainer a good idea of what her potential truly is, and this winter, and next season you can begin to school 1st yet show her again training in the spring. Perhaps she will show a first class by the end of next season, schooling second and ready to show first by fall.

That is what has happend with the horses my trainer has taken on: Her big warmblood jumper with whom she won years of jumper shows, a warmblood tbx rescue with talent but fear and a penchant for acting out at any opportunity who is steady now and doing just as I described above; a pulling pony retiree who is moving beautifully and starting 1st, as above, and two boarder’s horses who are 1st and second with about the above mentioned progression.

Good luck. You sound like you have a lovely horse, and you should enjoy watching him progress and become more and more talented with the trainers who are so enthusiastic about him as you and those you describe are!!

If your trainer does this work with her, and you are taking lessons about 1x a week, or once every two weeks, I bet you can try her in some classes too. Her work and progress will come from her trainer, and if you are lessoning, you will get to experience her progress along with your own. that is extremely valuable, and a wonderful way to learn and grow, especially when you can’t be the primary rider for all the work the horse needs to progress.

Good luck, you will enjoy the process!!

[pooh]

keana- All of the judges that I showed in front of loved my Mustang( commented how cute he was, etc) - take it they were all schooling shows but in front of various levels of judges. I was quite worried about taking him at first - he does attract alot of attention, but I think the judges were more open to various breeds then I used to see in hunters. I think as long as the horse has the quality of movements the breed isn’t as much of a factor until you get up to the higher levels.

[keana]

![]('m so happy my trainer likes her…

She is a cute little mare.

[IMG]http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c64/redtrinitygirl/MOV07034MPG_000002080.jpg)

[keana]

[QUOTE=pooh;4569984]
keana- All of the judges that I showed in front of loved my Mustang( commented how cute he was, etc) - take it they were all schooling shows but in front of various levels of judges. I was quite worried about taking him at first - he does attract alot of attention, but I think the judges were more open to various breeds then I used to see in hunters. I think as long as the horse has the quality of movements the breed isn’t as much of a factor until you get up to the higher levels.[/QUOTE]

Your mustang is super cute!

He looks HUGE! but you look tiny also…

He looks like he is going well for you! I can see why they love him!

[J-Lu]

I agree with the idea that any good trainer can do a good training level test with a horse who knows the basic w-t-c and is reasonably fit to carry a rider.

On the flip side, any horse who is reasonable fit, can use their backs to do walk, trot and canter, and are forward can score well at training level. You may or may not win the class but you will score well. BTW, I have a friend who has a pinto mustang cross pony and she regularly wins and places over warmbloods in LARGE classes at training level. Judges want to see a nice, correct ride at training level. That’s it. in my experience as a rider and a scribe, non-warmbloods who don’t score well at Training level just aren’t ridden well.

Your horse should do fine. Don’t think about the time frame - think about your horse’s ability to do the test and go with that. Good luck!

[slc2]

Do you think she will reach training level by the end of 30-60 days with and have it be a totally unreasonable goal for the horse…

It just depends. You’re riding the horse too, so if you and the trainer are on the same page, it’s a good minded horse, you can get out and ride most of your days, even more ideally having lessons on your days, I would expect things to go along very well, I’d expect that in 60 days you and the horse and trainer would be doing training level. The trainer says 30 days, which is even better.

I honestly am really not sure what you want to hear. You want someone to agree with trainer that it will take 30 days, or insist it must take much longer? I can’t quite understand what you want.

The plain fact is, though, it is just going to take however long it takes. There might be ‘a lot to learning training level dressage’ if the horse was trained another way or is uncooperative, or there might not be!

The main thing for training level is going forward eagerly from the rider’s leg, and accepting the bit. They want the horse to take a hold of the bit, rather than tuck his neck in and go along without touching the bit. Sometimes that can take a week for trainer and student to get!

I think I will get there but I think the horse will be able to move at a much faster pace then I and I want to see what she can do.

In that situation many people might put the horse in full training with the trainer and take lessons on another horse, and let the trainer be the only one riding the horse. Some people wouldn’t - they would want to be participating - some people just can’t afford a horse in training plus lots of lessons!

I’ve tried different things. When as a beginner I got buying a bad horse I couldn’t ride, I did put the horse in full training and take lessons on another horse for some months.

Most of my friends when they have a training issue (health, difficulty doing something, horse is scaring them, or they don’t ride dressage and they want horse trained so they can learn it), put their horse in full training and go away, and either ride other horses at another barn, or take lessons elsewhere or don’t ride at all.

Not always because they don’t want to get involved - many do so because that’s all they can afford or have time for. In other cases, the trainer just doesn’t have any horses for them to ride while theirs is getting trained. In the last few years many trainers have changed their pricing structure. They no longer allow a student to pay a training rate if he’s taking all lessons, so today, far fewer students can afford 5 or 6 lessons a week.

A few friends and myself at different times, have done it a little differently. Some train themselves by taking lessons every time they get on. That’s pretty intense, expensive, too hard for many people. But what they do is ride, and if they run into a big problem, the trainer might get on for a few minutes, show him how it’s done, then put the student back on to have another go. The trainer might ride all of one ride, as a ‘monthly exam’, to spot errors the student is making. Most people can afford to do this for no more than three months.

When you’re ill, it just depends on what works best for you. For example, if you’re out for a whole block of time, just warming up the horse or finishing the ride, might get you back going again. If you’re actually not out completely, but able to ride a little, having the trainer warm up the horse for you might help, or you may want to warm up the horse and then watch while the trainer schools the horse.

If you ride during training without taking lessons, then the thing I mentioned before, having trainer and owner on same page, becomes more important.

[NCSue]

I have a different opinion. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect an unstarted horse to be able to have purpose and directives down in 60 days. There are exceptions and there are certainly short cuts which can look pretty but aren’t correct. They will come back to bite you in the future. There’s a lot more to a correctly ridden training level test than just walk, trot, and canter. The judge will be looking for a more finished horse performing a T-4 test than one performing a T-1 test. Yes, the rider has a great deal of influence but there’s also the emotional maturity of the horse, i.e, my mare who as a very young horse has taken awhile to develop her attention span. While she could do the movements I didn’t have the desired submission when it came to attention. I’ve been patient and she is now making very good progress. Instead of focusing on a time limit focus on the skill(s) needed to accomplish the goal intended.

Let’s take a peek at what should be happening in a training level test:

Purpose: to confirm the horse’s muscles are supple and loose and that it moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, accepting contact with the bit

calmness/relaxation/rhythmic
straightness
quality of up and down transitions (quietly)
square, straight halt
bending & changes of bend
accuracy of figures
stretchy circle – stretching over the back, forward and downwards lightly into contact while maintaining balance & quality of trot

Collective Marks:
gaits: quality of trot & canter (freedom, regularity, rhythmic, cadence, balance)
impulsion: suppleness of back, desire to move forward, elasticity of steps, engagement of hindquarters
submission: attention, confidence, lightness & ease of movements, acceptance of bridle, lightness of forehand
rider: position & seat, correctness & effect of aids

Almost all of us can take a horse who has the three gaits and some time under saddle and show training level and in some cases score decently but do we truly have the directives down?

Also keep in mind that you should be schooling at least one level higher at home than what you are showing. This is for the horse’s confidence and the rider’s relaxation.

[slc2]

Oh my gosh NCsue it ain’t that bad!

Lemme break er down.

Ideal situation: 2 months, one month, 2 weeks, a day (moving from pretty darn ideal to incredibly ideal)

Less ideal: 6 months. A year. Longer. Never (moving from less ideal to even less ideal situation).

HERE IS THE CHART!!! I have it tatooed on my…never mind.

What helps…What hinders
Cheaper…More expensive
Less time…More time
Willing horse…Less willing horse
Sound horse…Not so sound horse
Horse already some training…no training…conflicting training
Good facility…bad facility
Trainer rides often…trainer is a blow off
Owner is involved…owner does not participate
Owner knows dressage…owner not know dressage
Owner rides well…Owner does not ride well
Owner has MONEY!..owner has no money…LOL.

[J-Lu]

NCSue, You might be referring to my post, but don’t leave out the part where I said any horse who “can use its back”.

I hear what you are saying. But I think that lower training level tests can be performed just fine by an early 4 year old if the 4 year old is trained/ridden correctly. Even if they toss the head or lose focus here and there, the overall test can be very good. The most important part is to put on the basics and not get in the way. That that depends on if you have the skills. Sure, all horses have bad tests here and there but I good rider guides the horse through simple movements. Training level comprises of very simple movements. Patterns more than actual movements.

Retraining projects are another story because you need time to gain trust of the horse and teach him to relax. I think that’s harder than correctly starting a young horse.

You list the purpose of the test. I believe that is extremely achievable for any horse if the horse is ridden correctly.

Given the OP’s post, I can’t see where she or her trainer will have problems pulling off a decent training level test. In my opinion.

[meupatdoes]

Personally I think that getting to Training/First and getting it right is as difficult for a rider to learn as then going the rest of the way to GP. It is almost as if you have to ride at least Third to do TL well.

One of mine is quite talented but from the beginning he was very shy in the contact and had a strong preference for curling behind the contact. I spent at least six months encouraging him to seek the hand and get confident in the contact. Could he have shown Training Level? Sure, and probably gotten good scores because he’s naturally Pretty Fine. Would it have been a correct foundation for him? No.

Training Level is ALL ABOUT building a correct foundation to the aids and in the contact before moving on to ‘sideways’ in First+. Most horses aren’t as “shy” as mine was and can get there quicker than he did, but a great many horses get skipped past the essential basics because their riders -and even pro trainers- don’t know any better and just sally blindly forth.

A great many “Training Level” horses are just doing WTC, not Training Level.

I am glad to hear they put the stretchy circle in Test ONE in the new dressage tests. Good decision, imo. The stretchy circle is everyone’s big nemesis, but it is the Whole Point of the level.

[NCSue]

@slc2;4571539

Oh my gosh NCsue it ain’t that bad!

LOL! Of course it’s not that bad unless you ask my mare, who is certain that she’s working hard, very hard. If you don’t have the ability to laugh and enjoy this sport then it’s going to be a long, long road. As has often been said . . . enjoy the journey. There are so many individual factors which has been pointed out. I wasn’t trying to be negative. Actually just the opposite. For those who get bogged down trying to get through training level it can be disheartening. That’s when you break it down and realize that you are working on more than just a w/t/c.

[asb_own_me]

@keana;4568205

My trainer says she really likes her, and thinks she has nice movement for a horse that is not a WB.

Out of your entire post, this statement stopped me in my tracks. I don’t know in what tone she made this comment, or what she meant to infer, but if someone were to say that to me, I would take it as a backhanded compliment. WBs aren’t the be-all and end-all of attractive movement :sigh:

Best of luck with your horse. I agree with the other replies along the lines of a willing horse in consistent work who is sound and reasonably athletic should be able to complete a respectable Training Level test in 60 days. I think it’s a great goal, and I also think it’s a great goal for YOU, personally…looking ahead and being positive can only help you overcome your physical limitations, whatever they may be :yes:

[keana]

[QUOTE=asb_own_me;4572782]
Out of your entire post, this statement stopped me in my tracks. I don’t know in what tone she made this comment, or what she meant to infer, but if someone were to say that to me, I would take it as a backhanded compliment. WBs aren’t the be-all and end-all of attractive movement :sigh:

Best of luck with your horse. I agree with the other replies along the lines of a willing horse in consistent work who is sound and reasonably athletic should be able to complete a respectable Training Level test in 60 days. I think it’s a great goal, and I also think it’s a great goal for YOU, personally…looking ahead and being positive can only help you overcome your physical limitations, whatever they may be :yes:[/QUOTE]

Thanks me too.

As far as what she said…

I did not take it as that at all, In dressage I think WB’s are probably top level having been breed for the sport.

Sure there are other breed doing well in dressage, but I think they should get extra kudos for playing and beating a breed that was breed for it!

My trainer only buys imported dutch WB’s to compeate, so to have her compare my free rescuse horse to that standared, well I was beaming…:yes:

My horse was not breed for dressage. she is a paint arab cross. .

If my trainer took her heavy 17 hand dutch WB out on a cattle drive or a endurance ride and did well I would say hey that WB did nice considering its not your typical arab or cow horse…

Should she get all uptight?

now the first trainer I talked to said my mare was a total piece of shit with out even seeing her just becuase I told her she was a arab paint cross, and that made me mad:mad:

This new trainer seen how she moved, her fualts and seen she has a talent for learning piaffe probably and gave her a chance. she works with all breeds and has a high level haflinger pony training there.

Horses where breed for diffrent things I have no problem with owning a breed and having it built for the job, I got my mare becuase she would not look out of place in a endurance ride, nor the dressage ring I hoped.

If I could afford one I would buy a imported dutch WB in a heart beat for dressage, Just like I would shop for a QH if I wanted to cut, or a arab for endurance.

now would I take a crappy WB over a nice non WB if the non WB was better? nope:no:

This is what assiasatnet trainer wrote.

“I would be happy to ride your mare and help you with training, she looks very promising; head trainer has said she thinks the mare is very nice considering its not your typical dutch warmblood.”

I don’t feel it’s a backhanded compliment at all.