Am I right in thinking that a pony that is good at dressage will be well schooled?

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billylula

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Or is it just another generalisation I've settled into? Looking for a pony for my daughter and although her love is jumping I do tend to favour ponies who've done a bit of dressage successfully as I think (irrationally??) that will mean that they will be well behaved in the arena and well schooled generally and perhaps an easier ride. Not sure how much truth there is in this!
 
I'd be inclined to say yes, generally. If a pony is doing well in the dressage phase, it at least will put on a good show of being well schooled and doing as it is told, even if it's not going totally correctly.

If I were buying a pony for a child, I'd want something that was obedient on the flat and genuine over fences, and willing to take a joke.
 
Short answer - NO!

I will put it into another scenario for you,,,,

Ballet perhaps?

Ballet dancers can impress judges and look scenic and gaceful at times - at home during practice they can throw just as big a tantrum as the next!

Really flashy dressage horses/ponies CAN be hot, sharp and hard to ride. Others can be absolute darlings that wont be sold for anything less than the price of your right arm ;)
 
If the pony is doing well at dressage then it will be well schooled - this however doesn't mean that it's a little angel - every pony has a different temperament and you will need to choose accordingly.

A pony with 68% or more scores on a regular basis will probably be a bit expensive
 
Interesting. Noone seems to put the words 'obedient' and 'well schooled' into ads anymore!! If I could find an ad that said obedient and willing on the flat and honest into fences I'd buy the pony straight away. Everyone selling children's ponies seems to be just listing their wins and placings which I don't find a great help as I try to go by temperament - hence seeing loads and not buying any as yet!
 
Well, yes of course a better rider will get more out of the pony but there are some ponies out there who are more forgiving than others!
 
Id say the very good dressage ponies would have a tendancy to be quite hot and forward, certainly not very forgiven. Being trained to respond very well to the most subtle of movements. And of course, highly schooled ;)
 
Seeing a pony on Sat who's done quite a bit of lowish level PC dressage with success, also low level SJ and XC, plus a WHP local win. Just trying to judge character before I get there! Stupid really but I've seen so many who just don't live up to their descriptions. We don't wnat a competition pony but a nice honest family pony who is happy to do most PC stuff.
 
Absolutely not my big horse was very well placed in eventing dressage - 2nd after dressage at a 4* (when ridden by a professional bloke!) but his general flatwork is terrible!!
Ponies may be a little different but a good rider can keep a pony in check for 6 mins of dressage test even if it's a PITA all the rest of the time !!
 
billylula said:
Well, yes of course a better rider will get more out of the pony but there are some ponies out there who are more forgiving than others!
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That really goes on temperament.

It depends what standard of dressage your on about. Generally, the more advanced, the less margin for tolerating mistakes - be that either from them being 'hot' or just from simply not schooling correctly from mis-aids/accidental aids. A regular solely pre-lim or novice 'school master' [ie, competes only at that level with no aim of moving on up] , *should* be more forgiving as really all that should be is a mannerly schooled walk trot canter and simple school movements.

To me, anyway :)
 
A horse who is turely good at dressage will well trained but it won't necessarily be tolerant that's any other thing all together.
 
Forgive me, but why would you buy a dressage pony for a child that loves to jump? Surely that would just lead to a mis matched pair and frustration on both parts? I would look for a good pc allrounder that has perhaps done rallies and teams - that should be well schooled..

The pc website is usually full of such types, or even better, ask your local DC if they know of anything..
 
I tend to find that horses / ponies that have been ridden to a good enough level in dressage are easier to place into a rythym and 'ride' in showjumping- they make have more of an idea about collecting etc.

Although it wouldn't mean they were an easier ride if the rider on top didn't know/understand which buttons to press.
 
I understand where the op is coming from looking for a dressage pony for her daughter who loves to jump. These jumping ponies can be so hot and fizzy and hardly know what an outline is. However, having said that some of these dressage ponies can be just as hot/ fizzy but normally when they behave they really have the wow factor and the scores to show it.
 
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