Do /would a show hack make a good dressage horse?

H

Halfpint2

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 August 2009
Messages
109
Visit site
Question in the title really, I've seen a light weight show hack for sale who looks lovely and has won plenty of competitions.

I'm wondering if they would make a good dressage horse, or is their way of going different to the requirements of a dressage test.

Sorry if its a daft question.
 
My friend has a dressage horse and was in the british u21 dressage team with her, once she reached the end of her dresssage career she was told to show her as a show hack. her first show was a search for a star HOYS qualifier, she won. then her second show was HOYS where she Won the Hack section and won the search for a star final overall. So I cant see a reason why it wouldnt work the other way around!
 
Not a daft question. Hacks have a wonderful movement and are by nature very flashy. Dressage horses need to take the bit where as a show horse will sit up off it a bit more and not lower and engage behind in the same way (don't shoot just there is a difference) the differences are there but any good show horse will have its basis in dressage on the flat so easily turned that way.
 
Thanks guys, in that case I'll post a link to the horse that I'm interested in, albeit you can't see all that much and ask them if they could send me via email some video footage of him on the flat.
 
Can't really see from photos, but I ended up turning to dressage a bit when my old hack went through a fence and left herself with some pretty severe blemishes. Due to circumstances it was never with any major sucess, but the judges often commented that she had lots of potential. At the end of the day, a show hack is just a lightweight tb type under a different name.

You may find that he is a little behind where you would expect your average 7 year old dressage horse to be, as that isn't where his training has been focused.
 
A show hack will have a flatter action and not the cadence required in a top level dressage horse, but no reason why they cant cross over to a certain extent. the novice large hack I am schooling at the moment would go out and do a perfectly decent novice test now, but he doesnt have the elevation, cadence or natural ability to collect that i would look for in a pure dressage horse
 
Thanks Volatis, but I doubt very much I would make a top class anything, I doubt very much If I'll surpass Elementary and that is aiming high.

I was tempted to look at him because he was local and looked a nice sort, everything I've seen is miles and miles away.
 
Definitely worth a look if its local.

If the flatwork is well established and you're only looking at the lower levels then I don't see why not. The only issue I would have is how well the horse works through his back and if its really engaged, but again, correct training and riding will help with this, but you may have to put in more work than you expected. Some show horses have a very toe flicky action (again due to lack of power/engagement) which is pretty but again a no no in dressage.

But hey, even the horses which you think will do well in dressage rarely make it to the top levels for one reason or another so I would keep an open mind.
 
Jemmy Loriston Clark did it many years ago with a mare called Dessert Storm so I think that there is no reason why you shouldn't give it a try
 
My instructor says nearly any horse can be trained up to medium (including hairy ponies!) so it would depend how far you want to go and how hard you want to work with the training.

One thing I would check out is how well the hack goes in a snaffle especially if you are hoping to start at the lower levels. Show horses are often shown in pelhams or double bridles and do not necessarily always work well in a snaffle.
 
Thanks Sol, I hadn't thought of that , will certainly ask the question, I am taking my instructor so will take on board her views and comments.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top