Conformation stopping dressage ability?

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Charla

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A girl I know has a horse which has very odd conformation in my opinion. The horse has extremely upright pasterns (and I mean to extremes), with 4 very boxy feet. When standing it will stand with all 4 feet nearly touching one another if that makes sense? So it's front feet and back feet are all right underneath it's belly. The horse also has an extremely long back. It is very short strided for a horse (rides like a 13.2hh pony). Anyway, it is now 14 and she has been competing at dressage with the horse for the last couple of years, in the hope that she can work her way up to the top. Currently in her prelims she is scoring in the low 50s and this has been the same for the past couple of years.

Someone else made a comment how the horse doesn't enjoy it very much because it physically cannot do it due to it's poor conformation.

Do you think in this case the girl should just give up with dressage?
 
No need to give up, just accept that they aren't going to be troubling those at prix st george.
I must admit that I would be considering a chat with the farrier to see if the hoof angle could be improved so that the horse takes a more comfortable standing position. This may help him stride out comfortably and improve their scores?
 
A 14yo horse with poor conformation scoring 50's at prelim is, let's face it, never going to be a dressage star.

However, if the owner enjoy's riding him and taking him to competitions then I see no reason why she should give up dressage. All horses, irrespective of their shortcomings, can improve with the correct training.
 
I agree with FestiveNeighs - it sounds like the horse has no option but to stand like a "goat on a rock", which will affect it's whole way of going, very likely from undue stress that will be being applied to the back. I would suggest a second opinion from an experienced remedial farrier. Your friend might find this article of interest:

http://www.equinefootprotection.co.uk/natural-balance-front-limb-lamness-article.html
 
If the horse is sound and willing then I dont see what harm they could be doing- prelim is hardly taxing. Perhaps the girl is a little optimistic about it's potential but at least she's still doing prelims, not trying to push it up?
 
Its interesting you say boxy feet. This girl at my old yard bought a 5 year old "dressage horse" for a lot of money (prob around 10 000) Anyway they had it vetted and the vet failed it for having tiny feet. This horse has feet smaller than my tb which has very small feet for her size and she is 15hh and this horse is 16.2hh. so small it needs glue on shoes to keep the shoes on. She still persisted with this horse and got another vet which basically passes everything to vet it and low and behold it passed. She is hoping to get to PSG with it but not sure if the boxy feet will effect it. surely boxy feet puts a lot of strain on the fetlock and legs? making it more prone to lameness?

in reply to your thread. I dont think it hurts doing dressage at lower levels but she probably wont complete her aim of moving right up to the top.
 
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