Can Gaited Horses Be Trained to Do Dressage?
Ok, I know this is kinda a stupid question but whatever. I have noticed that almost all gaited horses are ridden wester, and I am curious as to why. I have a lot of back problems, so I have been thinking about getting a gaited horse, but I would hate to give up dressage. I don’t compete or anything but love to training in it. I doubt that gaited horses could compete as they do not have the traditional three gaits, but could they be trained with the same methods? Would a dressage trainer be willing to work with somebody who has a gaited horse? I know this is a bit odd, but if you could give me some guidance i would really appreciate it!
I had a friend once who was in pony club with me and she ended up getting into TWH’s but used them for eventing. The TWH association had actually put on an eventing clinic where they worked one day on dressage and one day on showjumping. That was about 15 years ago and I’m not sure where it’s gone from there. You might want to try contacting some of the gaited breed associations for some more info on what they are doing these days. Most breeds like to promote versatility and a lot of times there will be a chairperson on the board representing the horses as doing things aside from what they regularly do, such as promoting a breed as a sporthorse when you don’t seen them often doing sporthorse stuff. They can probably give you a better idea of what resources would be available for you.
Another way to stay connected to dressage would be to get involved with combined driving or driven dressage. There are a lot of top drivers who use very dressagey warmbloods for this.
There are actually some dressage shows just for gaited horses now. Usually, at most lower levels of dressage, gaited horses don’t have too much of a problem. It may be a little more difficult than usual to find a dressage trainer, but there’s going to be someone willing to work with a gaited horse.
Some gaited horses can also trot.
What you might want to do is find one who knows how to trot and gait. Then you do your dressage movements in the trot and your pleasure riding in the gait to help your back.
I don’t know if you can do gaited dressage- I have never heard of it but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I do know that for most dressage tests a horse must trot.
I found this video for you- certainly not "traditional" dressage but it looks fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF17umxd9-4
I would think you could do it. Gated horses a just clumsy and legs are going every where. They just look best going in a straight line. No offense intended. I think that’s just what they were breed for – to cover ground quickly and comfortably.
I have to agree with one other poster about finding someone to help train the horse in dressage, and I would have no worries about whether it CAN be done or not, I have seen a Draft horse do dressage. Quite well in fact. It just takes someone knowing the in’s and out’s and you should have some patience, as it will be a challenge.
I had a paint mare who would do all kinds of things, not sure where she picked them up at, but she would get into a rack that was as smooth as a pond on a quiet morning, and also had a gait that would rattle your teeth.
Best of luck
Wolfy
Absolutely
Dressage had it’s beginnings in the military. The Airs Above the Ground are grounded in warfare. It has evolved from there to what we know today.
In that time, Spanish horses, mostly gaited, were in vogue and were some of the first used. The Lippizaner traces back to Spanish/Iberian horses. Must be why it’s called The Spanish Riding School.
Horses don’t know they’re "supposed/not supposed to do Dressage". That’s a Stupid Human idea.