Gaited Dressage Horse? Can They Compete?
i have a older (24 y/o) gaited Morgan, that i would like to teach dressage, hes in good shape, i cant afford another horse nor do i have the room, i don’t have a trainer. i just would like to know if he could compete if i could make his trot a little less saddle bred and more ill-elongated……… and if i could tech him to lengthen in his canter and walk.
ok- i should know what half- halts are, BUT… i have only read about them. Can someone explain? how-to and everything.
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Yes, yes and yes…LOL
you can definatley show that horse.
to help lengthen the strides work with him gradually…
i have found that by placing 4 or 5 gorund poles for initial work at the walk…gradually spacing them further and further apart, will help stretch the walk. start with a few passes through the cavelletti each time you ride…after a few weeks re space the cavelletii for his trot and repeat the process. also by swtiching bits to a snaffle, or french snaffle or dr. bristol you can encourage him to not be high headed as much as when ridden in a walking or saddlebred type bit with a high port and shanks. be realisitc in your goals for him, because his confirmation may not allow him to move quite the same way as lets say a hanoverian. by allowing him to work on a longer rein , he will naturally lower his neck which will allow for a longer stride, as long as you are asking him to allways be moving forward. if u watch dressage riders their legs are allways in contact to some degree with the horses side. there is a constant convrsation between the legs, seat and reins of the rider and the horse. it is never a stagnant flow of energy. beginning dressage into through training level can be very fun, even if you dont have the "best moving " dressage type horse. you can rack up alot of points by riding a harmonious and precise test…much more so than a "good" dressage moving type horse who is resentful to the aids and misses departures turns and transitions. the new rage in my area are cross breds with saddle breds, and dutch harness horses. check out this site, to see some…www.windholmefarm.com
ps. to give you a reasonable time frame..if u start now, working with him consistantly 4 or 5 times a week, it would probably take about 90 days to get him more elastic, and longer strided. …just in time to hit a few summer schooling shows! he may want some joint supplements to help him with all this , considering his age.