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Can Any Horse Breed Be Trained for Dressage?

I think dressage is such a beautiful sport and I takes so much work. I think one day learning dressage would be incredible and would be very useful for both me and my horse. The thing is, I have a mustang and usually when I hear about dressage horses they’re Thoroughbreds, Drafts, Warmbloods, and horses like that. But what about a mustang? Can any horse breed, with the right training, be taught dressage?
I would be just fine competing in lower levels of dressage. I don’t want to go to the olympics or anything, but simply enhance my horse’s training and take part in one of the most incredible and challenging horse sports there is.


Dressage Arena – Dressage Riding Arena

  1. Emi
    July 3rd, 2010 at 02:10 | #1
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    There is no reason at all that your mustang can’t do dressage. Don’t think of dressage as the over-primped, snobby sport it is today and instead a series of levels designed to enhance the suppleness, obedience, balance, and health of the horse. Dressage is good for any horse, even western horses, because all dressage is, literally, is training the horse. When trained correctly and classically dressage starts on the ground and the long-reins and moves up onto the horses back. There is so much to be gained from proper dressage training, if nothing else a deeper understanding between horse and rider.

    The best dressage is not done in a ring, but when you really need it. There is little more impressive than a horse half-passing down a trail to avoid trees or doing a one tempis through an open field. You see what I mean? How many "Dressage" thoroughbreds, warmblood, and draft crosses can do that? None that are competing.

    To conclude, never take no for an answer if someone says your horse can’t do something. No, a mustang will not be successful in the upper levels simply because he is not built as pretty as the other horses. However, your mustang can still be much more sane and easy to ride than all those horses and you can be satisfied knowing your horse is the most beautiful because he is happy and obedient. That’s how I feel when I even my walker anyways, we get so many compliments because my 3 year old is so well behaved when the 15-year eventers freak out in the cross country start box.

    Horses are all that you want them to be, I’d rather have a good relationship than lots of ribbons.

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