Is Percheron Too Big for Dressage?
So i am a fairly advanced rider and I am very interested in this big black percheron. He’s just under 17 hands and all black. He weighs approx. 1500 lbs and 10 years old. He also has very little training under saddle, but is naturally a very calm, gentle horse. I rode him for 2 weeks almost every day and in this time he began a nice little frame while backing up, at a halt, and walking (sometimes). I alspo got him going at a walk, trot and canter on cue. By this description, do you think he would be a suitable dressage horse for me to train, and bring to a program for college? Im very interested but cant decide whether it is the correct or incorrect thing for me to do. HELP!
Victoria, you have just offended me and my Belgian/TB cross, we’ve been showing at recognized shows at First Level and have beaten professionals on their fancy high priced warmbloods. You don’t need a naturally big moving horse to show.
I do think you would be doing the correct thing. Dressage horses can be of any size whether they be big (like the 18.2 hh Hanoverian ridden by Isabel Werth at International shows) or small (like the 14.2 hh Connemara/TB pony that nearly qualified for the Olympics.) Dressage is all about developing the horse beyond their natural capabilities which is what you would be doing with this Percheron. Dressage is dominated by big moving warmbloods today but if you go back about 20-30 years the dressage arena was a mix of warmbloods that looked like draft crosses and Thoroughbreds that got to the Grand Prix ring because of their training and not necessarily their talent.
I would take him to college if I were you. He sounds like he’ll be a fun project and it sounds like he is a quick learner already! Good luck!
Deffinatley not. Dressage horses can be up to 17.3 hands sometimes. My mare is part percheron and it gives her AMAZING movement. If you like him, I’d go for it. They are really athletic, a little bigger, but very nice!
He can probably do lower level dressage but if you plan on showing, you’ll most likely be laughed out of the ring with a beefy Percheron.
But if you just want to ride for fun, he should be okay. Just don’t expect him to look or move like a Warmblood.
i don’t think he’s too big. from the description he sounds VERY stunning. as long as he’s a good mover i think he can do dressage.
Size isn’t an issue with dressage horses, but typically Percherons, bred to be draft and carriage animals, simply don’t have the conformation and movement to do well in Dressage. You can take him on as a project if you like, but I’d guess 2nd or 3rd level MAX. When looking at a prospect, training doesn’t mean anything when compared to talent- If he doesn’t move like a legit warmblood, I’d move on.
Percherons are fine for lower level dressage (Training level, maybe 1st, and a huge maybe on 2nd) and if you are going to be in a program with a coach to help you work with him then this would be a fine thing to do.
YES!!! Any horse can do lower level dressage- once you get into 2nd level, and 3rd level, the horse needs to have the phsyical ability to perform the movements…for example, an old cow horse will probably not be able to do higher than 2nd level…
Heavy draft breeds- such as fresiens…etc. are acually getting pretty common in dressage, because of there huge haunches, and ability to do such movements- and what huge gorgeous necks they have O_O
Percherons are NOT too big for dressage. Many people are also moving to draft crosses for dressage. Percherons tend to be the best moving drafts for dressage. If you could email me a video, I could help you by analyzing his gaits (from a draft horse perspective).
I have a Gypsy Drum type mare, 17.2h, and currently show first level dressage (see us on YouTube- search for Chynna and dressage). We are competitive, and at our last show, got first place, ahead of two freisians. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_btQilLx-ow We are planning on second level next spring. What is holding us back is that I am a poor college student and can’t afford lessons often, and I only know to first level.
My mare’s full draft foal (who is now 5 and doing training level), has excellent movement, and we have been told by several Grand Prix trainers (including some on the list for the Olympics a few years ago) that she could easily do 4th level.
Will you get laughed at while showing? Probably. I have been laughed at, and people stopped after I kept beating their expensive warmblood horses with my cheap, full draft, one eyed mare
Will your Percheron have great suspension and an easy lengthening? Most likely not. However, draft builds tend to be suited well for collection, especially with the shorter back and steeper shoulder.
I want to suggest Thorowgood saddle brand for a well fitting, cheaper dressage saddle. They have fit draft horses the best out of many saddles I tried. Doversaddlery.com sells them, and they are about $600-$700. Get a broad back tree if your mare has no withers, and a normal back tree if she has. The extra wide size works well.