DressageArena.org

Some OTTB’s can do very well in dressage, have you ever heard of Keen? Keen was Hilda Gurney’s mount for the olympics, I don’t know if he ran or not but he was a thoroughbred who was competing grand prix and went/completed in the olympics winning a bronze medal.

Any horse who is reasonably well balanced, a reasonably good mover, reasonably sane, and can stay sound can do at least 2nd-3rd level and do pretty well if their rider takes them there. So yes a thoroughbred can do dressage and be successful. Really any horse can, it’s not about the breed, it’s about the horse.

I’m not sure if you’ve ridden or competed in dressage or not but understand that a lot of hotter/spooky types can improve drastically when ridden dressage. There are a lot of horses out there who aren’t nearly as hot or spooky when ridden and trained correctly. They always have the tendency with the right rider keeping them focused and teaching them to listen they move on quite well. There are also horses who are not especially talented (neither great movers or especially balanced) who can come to life and become beautiful when ridden properly and effectively. It’s amazing what correct riding can do so really any horse can do dressage.

Yes a lot of thoroughbreds do very well in dressage. They have long cannon bones which enable them to extend beautifully. They can go into the highest levels of dressage.

It all depends on the horse! I have ridden a ton of off the track horses and they are each different. Some of them are dead heads and you can barely get them out of a walk and then others you have no breaks on. Thoroughbreds as a whole are usually used in all disciplines in English.I see no reason for him not to be good at Dressage. Also you might not know that Dressage is the basic foundation that most English horses start out on. You don’t jump a horse until they know some basic Dressage moves such as leg yielding and getting on the bit. Even if he is not trained in Dressage it will not hurt to try it will only help you,him, and your seat.

It depends on the horse itself.
They can do well…and they cant.
But my friend has one and it is in the top level of dressage.
also they have long cannon bones so it allows them to extend really nicely!

Why not?

I’m taking dressage lessons right now on an off the track thorobred named Belle. she’s laid back….too laid back for racing…..and knows all the basic dressage moves.

It depends on the horse but more so, it depends on the rider and trainer if the horse makes it or not in any discipline.

The horse can only know what training a person puts into that horse….and how well….

Yes they are!

I am a firm believer that every horse can and should do a bit of dressage. TB’s are usually very capable and athletic. The fact that your mount was an ex-racehorse means that he has the athletic capability. I’ve seen a ton of TB and TB crosses in dressage — I am currently riding an Anglo-Arabian (TB/Arabian cross) I-I.

If anything, I suggest giving it a try. Dressage is great… I mean, GREAT, for re-training animals… especially ex-racers. It breaks down the horse and rider balance and relationship and utilizes the natural relationship between the two. You’ll learn how your body can affect the movement of your horse, effectively working your horse without intense aids (draw reins, etc.) which are often sought when retraining OTTB’s.

Yes, a lot of Thoroughbreds excel in Dressage.
But it really all depends on the Thoroughbred itself.
Because some don’t like to do Dressage, but them some Thoroughbred’s really enjoy it.

Any horse can and will benefit from correct "dressage" training – as for whether or not he’ll excel at the higher levels – - that all depends on his conformation and temperament. May OTTBs are fantastic dressage competitors.

yes they are awesome dressage horses, but all horses are different

I read the answers, and for the most part agree, but you need to be careful when you pick.

Thoroughbreds are started at a young age, and they can have many health or joint or muscular problems. Any unseen defect(for lack of a better word) caused by racing or injury can cause a problem for a horse. You should do a complete vet check. My mare can’t collect, although she is a full blood Trahkehner, she has an old injury that prevents her from being able to "sit." She is only 5.

I think that Thoroughbreds are great horses, but you need to be careful when you buy.

If the horse likes to work, has decent conformation (not too long back, uphill, nice sloping shoulder, good pasterns, etc.), and can stay sound, he/she has the potential to do well in dressage.

A retired dressage judge that I do lots of clinics with says that my now 9 year old OTTB could show successfully at 3rd level (after I ‘fix’ his show issues).

As someone else mentioned, Keen, a TB competed and placed in the olympics. While TBs tend to be a rare sight in the upper levels, there are a few!

It really depends on the individual horse, but yes, TBs can be great dressage horses.

they can do very well!
just this weekend me and my 17 year old off the track TB gelding took 2 firsts, a high percentage award, and 2 seconds- all of the classes were out of 10 people.

it depends on the personality, really. acception to contact, roundness, and just bonding.

here’s a couple pictures to prove my point :]
me and my thoroughbred gelding, Dupe.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/UnityChristianLV/4801_117047329223_566094223_2963926.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/UnityChristianLV/4801_117047344223_566094223_2963929.jpg