Iberian Horses and Dressage?
Why can these horses not compete at the same level as say Warmbloods etc. I mean the Classical dressage stems form these breeds, but in todays world of dressage, I have heard the term " circus dressage " used to describe Andalusian and Lusitano horses during competitions ? Your views please?
Good question, can’t wait to see others’ answers. To me, the most exciting, fluid dressage horses to watch in action are the Iberian horses…the others are nice, but the Andalusians and Lusitanos are in a field all by themselves.
I do know that the Spanish walk (which may be what you mean with the term "circus dressage") is thought of as an artificial gait by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. (They did teach it to their horses very briefly, very long ago, but I don’t recall the history of why they started and then stopped.)
One thought is that they may be too small (well, compared to Amazonian warmbloods, anyway!) The lipizzaners belonging to the Spanish Riding School were discriminated against in shows for many years, up until the late 1940s or early 1950s, because of their smaller size. Doesn’t make a lot of sense, and it was chalked up to judges’ prejudices…that could be what is happening now with the "bigger is better" mentality. Theoretically, a 17.2 warmblood has a bigger stride and therefore potentially more impulsion/movement, simply because he IS bigger. Just a stab in the dark…!
EDIT: A little OT, but just because some others who might not have seen this might love it as much as I did…an article and YouTube clips on the topic of "Non-Warmbloods in Dressage". The PMU foal (all grown up) is what amazed me the most:
http://behindthebit.blogspot.com/2008/04/non-warmbloods-in-dressage-breath-of.html
But wouldn’t you know it…there’s no Iberian horses.
i’m not really sure why but i think it might have to do with their gait. i think the iberian horses tend to have a higher action compared to the more flat kneed warmbloods which prevents them from being able to extend and have the movement required for upper levels. i’m sure there are other reasons, thats just what i’ve noticed.
Personally I lost all faith in dressage after I was told that a Welsh cob, who had fabulous conformation and paces, was "rushing" – he wasn’t, he was displaying his breed’s typical movement, and he proved just how good an example of his breed he was when he qualified for HOYS a few weeks later! I’ve also been told that my Highland (who also has beautiful movement and is extremely light in the hand and responsive off the leg) is "too hairy and clumsy for dressage".
Dressage judges are (for the most part) stuck in the dark ages. Unless your horse is a Warmblood they just don’t want to know. They want to see Warmblood legs and Warmblood movement, and are completely closed-minded about any other type of horse or pony being capable of being light, responsive, impulsive and collected, and having straight limbs and the ability to ride a circle!
Warmbloods are the ‘snob style’ these days. One day they’ll be passe and we’ll be left with a bunch of half draft horses and no one will know how to hitch them or plow them.
If not for Andalusians and Lippizaners (and other Iberian/Spanish breeds), how would one know about Dressage today? How many top level riders/trainers could even start a horse in the Airs Above the Ground, let alone ride them?
If gas prices continue to escalate, they’ll be the ‘horsepower’ of our carts, carriages, wagons and there won’t be any demand for them as show horses. (review the history of the U.S. in the early part of the last century)
The last time draft horses were in demand as riding stock was back during the crusades.