See The Land Man » dressage horse

What should I get for my new dressage horse?

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:01:46 +0000

I am buying a new dressage pony, and I was wondering what I needed. Grooming, Tack, Showing, etc.
I do not have any of the tack for anything, or grooming supplies, etc. I do have an instructor though.

Ask this in the horse section.
Also, do you have anything currently? Or were you looking for specific items you would need for a dressage horse that you might not need for another discipline?

Otherwise, the tack is different, but dressage doesn’t require you to purchase a whole new box of grooming supplies, etc. If you’ve done hunter/jumper, then you have what you need for lower-level dressage. You can use an all purpose saddle and regular bridle. You need a snaffle bit if you don’t already have one. For showing, you need light colored breaches and a dark coat. But you aren’t required to wear white breaches and the black dressage coat until much, much higher in the levels. Your tack can be brown or black. The biggest thing is just to have a clean, well turned out, look when you enter the ring. There is no need to go out and purchase all new tack, grooming supplies, etc in order to do well in dressage at the lower levels (assuming you already ride english).

The only thing you do need, and absolutely cannot do without, is a good dressage trainer. This is paramount for your enjoyment and showing success. A hunter/jumper instructor can do adequately in teaching some basics, but to really set yourself up for success for the long term, get a good dressage instructor and stick with her/him. If you’re in the US, you can find certified instructors on the USDF website. You can also go to dressage shows and talk to the riders who are winning. Ask them who their trainers are. Or ask in dressage forums for recommendations on trainers in your area. Always go watch the trainer give lessons a few times before choosing to train with them. Go watch a few trainers train, and then decide which one best suits your learning skills and personality.

Ride and have fun! That’s ultimately what it’s all about.

How old do you have to be to learn Dressage Horse Riding?

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:17:31 +0000

I am really wanting to learn dressage horse riding and I don’t know what age you have to be to learn it? I also don’t know where to learn? I am 13 and I don’t know if I am too young?:S
I’m from Scotland BTW

Hello,

I guess USDF doesn’t really help then:-) The British Dressage website gives a regional contact person for Scotland, see http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/your_regions/overview The site also contains information for those 25 and younger: http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/under_25s

Also of interest might be the Scottish Dressage Group. They offer a membership for junior riders too. http://www.scottishdressagegroup.org.uk/index.html

Good Luck

Anne, library school student

leg protection for a dressage horse help?

admin — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:48:55 +0000

Any recommendations for leg protection for everyday use for my mare that does dressage. What would be the best and cheapest?

Boots like these work very well for just general protection:
http://www.horseloverz.com/ThinLine-Schooling-Boots-pr-628878.html
Polo wraps also work, as well as just simple splint boots and bell boots. I find that protection on the front is often more necessary for dressage schooling than protection on the back, unless your horse is base-narrow and tends to clip himself on the back often.
Hope this helps!

Do dressage horse have to cost a fortune?

admin — Fri, 06 May 2011 08:01:55 +0000

Do higher level dressage horses have to cost you a fortune or could you get say and 8 year old and train him up ?

generally leasing and taking lessons on many dressage horses will teach you a TON. then when it comes time where you want to buy- you have enough experience to buy that 8 year old and train him for dressage.
If you are learning dressage- you DONT want to buy that 8 year old and train him. That would be extremely difficult and confusing for you and the horse. it would be a mess and confusing, frustrating, and NO fun. Your trying to learn on a horse thats trying to learn. your both trying to learn from each other- its like a teach trying to learn from the students, while the students are trying to learn from the teacher. no one learns anything!!! =P not good!

WHEN TO BUY THE EXPENSIVE HIGH LEVEL DRESSAGE HORSE- when you got the money and the 3-4 lessons a week trainer!! thats BIG bucks though.

How do i train my horse for dressage?!?

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:13:32 +0000

Untill my trainer is in town, i need help training my horse in dressage! He knows leg yeilds(most of the time), gaits, lead changes, and has great movement. But training him to piaffe or do fancy extended trot has been difficult. Please help thanks so much!!

First of all, your asking this in a section where most of the people are into racehorses. . . .(post it in the pets>horses section)

Anyway, what on earth are you doing attempting to teach your horse to piaffe? That is an upper level (Grand Prix) dressage movement which requires extreme collection, and immense muscular development – - it takes many years of correct training (by someone who knows what he or she is doing), systematically developing your horse through the levels and allowing him time to develop the correct muscles and to develop mentally in order to perform it correctly. It’s apparent from the wording and nature of your question that you are just getting started in the discipline of dressage. If your horse is sporadic in just correctly performing something as basic and simple as a leg yield, then obviously he’s not on the aids at all.

So, wait until your instructor returns, and concentrate in the meantime on applying the correct aids for the most basic and essential of movements. And get some good books and start learning about the classical training methods.

Oh, and of course many ignorant people wish to remain comfortably in their ignorance and not admit they have something to learn, and will thereby do things such as give a TD to a logical and informative answer. . . . . .

How do i train my horse for dressage?!?

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:55:56 +0000

What is the best for my dressage horse?

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:17:23 +0000

to be in all the time, out all the time, mixture of both, elaborate

a mix of both would be good, a few hours out each day will keep him calm and allow him some time to be a "horse"

How do i stop my horse from crossing her legs on the wall like they do in dressage?

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:07:50 +0000

My horse is a Trakainher and she used 2 do dressage w/ her previous owner but im a jumper and every time i walk her she feels like she needs 2 do that grape vine thing at first it was cool but know its annoying please help!

I don’t know what you mean by "grapevine thing," but odds are because you thought it was cool at first, you let her do it and didn’t get after her about it. Now, she thinks it’s what you want.

Make sure you’re not asking her to leg yield or do a shoulder in (which is what I think you’re talking about) when you ask her to walk. If you are asking accidentally, you can correct it by putting her on the track, sitting straight, keeping equal pressure on both legs, both seat bones and both reins. If you’re not asking for it and she’s still doing it, it’s time for a re-schooling by a professional to fix the mistake you made.

How much should i charge to show a clients dressage horse?

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:25:54 +0000

I’ve been training horses professionally since college. A new client wants me to show her young dressage horse as well. She’s interested in local one day shows as well as bigger weekend shows. I’m just not sure what to charge for something like this. l need to be able to make money since i can’t work a normal day, but i don’t want to discourage the owner because it’s good for me to get my name out at shows. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Hi there,

Unfortunately there is no cut and dry number out there. Research what others in your area and with your level of experience are charging. That will give you a great basis for your quote. Then go to your client and let them know what others are charging, let them know that you appreciate the opportunity to get your name out there and go from there. Every client has a different budget, and if the number you give them is too much, negotiate with them. Offer referral discounts, or training packages, or a percentage if she’s trying to sell the horse, etc. Also, what is your day worth to you? If you would normally make $100/day, take that into consideration, plus gas, food, etc. Figure out what you normally make per hour, and use that as a basis as well.

I hope this has helped.

how many braids do you put in the mane for a dressage horse?

admin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 07:57:18 +0000

that’s basically what i wanted to know
even or odds!
thanks

that depends on the mane…. a thinner mane will use less braids then a thicker mane. there’s no set number that you HAVE to have. not sure for dressage but in h/j we have an odd number in the mane and then if you count the forelock you have an even number.