Ann Romney = Animal Abuser

[riderinthestorm]

103. Oh I could wax rhapsodic about the perfect horse... However, for an upper level dressage horse?

Usually they are built uphill so its "easier" for them to collect. They have very powerful hindquarters and a strong back - this is the engine for a dressage horse and it must have the mechanical balance to perform well (I like big butts and I cannot lie). Their legs are solid and their hooves are usually large and tough. I like a neck that's proportional to a horse's back but some dressage riders like them shorter than I. Its imperative that the horse also have a very long shoulder angle to maximize that long extended trot and a powerful chest so they have adequate lung capacity to become a top athlete. We typically spend some time on a horse's poll, jaw and mouth to ensure they don't have any issues that might cause them pain down the road since those are important "levers" in helping a horse maximize their efforts. The Europeans have perfected these horses and guard their breeding operations closely. Americans don't have the extensive breed records and history that the European organizations have and we've never been able to field a very strong team because we don't have the horses really.

Rafalca won't do very well at the Olympics I'm sorry to say. She's lovely but hot, temperamental and not first quality by Olympic standards however she's built pretty well and is a good breeding candidate imho.

However, all that said, EVERY horse can do basic dressage however they're built. Its the foundation of all riding, western or english and virtually all riders practice it in some way or another - even if its just to get their horse more responsive to turning, stopping and moving on command.

As for a western vs english saddle - the weight isn't important. Its the fit that's most important. Most horses can carry the weight without a problem - but if it fits badly it will be a miserable ride for the horse and the owner. A western saddle is built to be a working part of a cowboy's daily routine. The horn is used for roping cattle and the latigoes hold ropes, blankets, tools etc. It needs to be tough to endure the abuse it gets in its daily routine. Kali, another DUer is a western rancher who still uses horses for her farm work and could explain it better (she mostly hangs in the lounge these days if you want to find her). I've ridden in western saddles and I know how to cinch up a western girth but I'm not an expert in that area.

Finally, I hate to continue harping on this but you can't make ANY horse do something, especially if you abuse it. They will rear up and fall over on you, lie down, kick the shit out of you, or bite... if a horse is doing its work, then its perfectly fine doing its work because they certainly let you know if they hate it. I've seen horses that LOVED galloping and jumping. I've seen fox hunters who actually run towards the hounds as they scent a fox like they are looking for it too. Dressage horses that appear to float as they move in time with the music. They love their work.

You know horses are flight animals and trail rides can be spooky things. One of our horses is a wreck on the trails even as he's competed through the Advanced level (the highest) of combined training. He's nervous out there and hates ambling - its like he's on sensory overload. But get him near a start box and his ears go up and he begins dancing in place he's so excited to get running. He'll gallop the course and eat up the jumps with relish without looking left nor right at the spooky judges, the umbrellas, the dogs, the strollers etc. etc. but if he were just out for a trail ride? He's a bowl of nervous jello.

Not everything is as black and white as you want to paint it.