Dressage horses with big paces. Please tell me about them!

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dozzie

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Been offered a horse with big paces today. I know I have never ridden a horse with big paces so just wondering what to expect really!
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She sounds in every way a nice horse. I would probably see if I can get her on trial if I like her. She would be for dressage as I have decided that is the way I want to go.

She is currently totally unfit. Genuine reason.

I wasnt particularly looking but think this one might be worth having a looksee!
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If the price is right.

How long does it take to get used to big paces? Any tips on how to get used to it? I know it would depend on the rider but just wondering what peoples experiences were. Just trying to gauge how long a trial I should ask for in order to give her the best chance. She is local and dozzie is off the road so i could try her at her current home. But TBH I think the lady will be happy for her to come here. It is nearer to her than the livery yard!
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I am used to riding a 16.2hh quirky TBxWB with average paces. This one is 16.1 with big paces! Just think it might be the next step up for me.
 
I have one - omg she took quite a while to get used to. The best thing i did was to spend hours just out hacking or riding round something like the Somerford Park farm ride, dont put yourself under any pressure and go with the flow. Have a mess and try not to ride too seriously when you try her. You'l know straight away if your going to like her or not but like i said mine took a while but wouldnt change her for anything. I have been showing her as a small riding horse and have decided to retire from that to have a go a dressage (she's by Dutch Gold so here's hoping!!) p.s. i have actually said in the past i might not have bought her had i tried her first but she had a fabulous track record and i liked the look of her.
 
I went from a short striding 15.1HH to a 16.1HH with huge paces. I really struggled at first if im being honest. Something that I would have laughed at with my previous horse felt really scary with the new one. It was so much easier to become unbalanced and as she is sensitive her reaction was normally to increase the size of the trot making me more unbalanced resulting in a big viscious circle. She actually managed to trot me off one day!
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Having said that i now enjoy her paces and many other horses now feel very short striding which I dont really enjoy. When she gets it right it feels fab but when it goes wrong it fells scary.
 
I think it will take me six months to a year before I got to grips with her tbh. Obviously I wouldnt ask to have her on trial for that long. I was thinking hacking and playing for a while! She was working at elementary before she was turned away (not through injury) Do you think I would know in a month? I am the sort of person who perseveres! A horse is difficult...you learn to ride it!
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Not that she sounds difficult, just has big paces and it has put others off.
 
It took me a good six months before I felt that I can really ride my mare. I was just a bit of a bouncy passanger with some influence on where she went for a good while. I do think shes worth it though but the power she can produce from her back end still kind of scares at times though. I nearly threw the towel in with her loads of times but I really wanted her and liked her so I persevered. I am glad I did now. I think a month would give you a good idea of how you would get on with horse.
 
LOL! I would hope I wouldnt be trotted off! I have survived bucking broncos! I only leave the saddle if absolutely necessary and as a last resort!
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Interesting what you say though. I am sort of thinking that maybe the transition wont be as hard as I think as I am riding a 16.2 at the moment. I dont think Dozzie has big paces personally but maybe she does!
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Nah...she doesnt! But they seemed big when I went from my 15,2hh! I think like you say it will be the loss of balance that will be a problem.
 
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LOL! I would hope I wouldnt be trotted off! I have survived bucking broncos! I only leave the saddle if absolutely necessary and as a last resort!
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Thats the thing I dont fall off either and I can sit a good buck/bronc on most horses so you can imagine my shame when my ned trotted me off!!!!! I didnt have a clue what i was letting myself in for I just thoughit would be like riding my previous mare but would look more flashy from the ground. How wrong was I? The fact that you are thinking about it sounds to me that you know what you are letting your self in for which will help. Dont think you are making quite as big a jump as I did either.
 
Have you ridden this horse? How old is she?

My german wb mare has big paces and stands 17hh at 4, but I also own a TB 15.3hh.

I call them the ferrari and the rolls royce! One thing you will find hard is the speed as you feel like you are going faster than you actually are you need to concentrate on balance as if they are not balanced its like riding a freight train round a corner.

Get her going forward first and get your balance before asking her to go into an outline as these big horses bunch up and if they do can get really stuffy and mechanical.

I like to school while hacking out as you have the space to get it wrong. But this depends on the horse. Good luck I haven't looked back as much as I like my nippy TB my charger awaits!
 
LOL:! I havent even seen her!
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Well I think I may have seen a photo! If the photo was her then I did a double take. Hence why I am thinking about it! It is a word of mouth one...My gut feeling is she may feel big and fast initially, and my balance and hers will be all over the place. But if i take it steady we should be ok. Just got to learn to ride her! I dont want to say no on the first trial as tbh it may take a while to get used to her
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Happy to do the forward and then the balance but would prefer forward and some balance! She is 8 and was working at elementary but has been turned away. So thinking some months hacking before she starts schooling again. I am not in any hurry tbh!
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The fact that you are thinking about it sounds to me that you know what you are letting your self in for which will help.

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Yep! Seen too many people buy a big moving warmblood having had a nice TB and come a cropper!
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I dont even know her breeding LOL! This seems crazy to me!
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Big paces are ok as long as the horse is quick off the floor, if the paces are big and slow then I wouldn't touch it as a gift as they are too difficult to ride and wont make it very far as a dressage horse and probably wont stay sound.

If the movement is big in a quick sharp off the floor way then fantastic but they are usually expensive.
 
If by 'big' you mean long strides be prepared to have really really sore leg/thigh muscles till you get used to sitting her stride!
Especially if she is fresh out of the field and not really carrying her self just, trundling along. While seriously uncomfortable when unbalanced / unschooled, they can turn into ground covering rolls royces that are a dream to ride.

Post some pics / video of her when you get them! =)
 
I have one with hu-ooooge paces. He's 16.1hh but when riding him he feels like he's at least 19hh - but he's very quick and very floaty - can't wait to start competing him BD. I've had him for 4 months, and I'm still not used to him - although my bum has got smaller and my stomach has started shrinking!
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