Have horses evolved to do Dressage?

C

carys220

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 April 2008
Messages
3,842
Visit site
Or do the movements play a part in their natural life?

The horse is predisposed to jump to escape from predators but would Dressage movements help wild horses?
 
All you have to do is look at certain breeds and how they move in the field - some are breathtaking.

Never underestimate the power of a halfpass against a hungry lion.

haa haa
 
They could stun the predator with their amazing collection and expressive trot. :P

And before anyone says anything, i love dressage. I just thought that was an interesting point to raise and couldnt resist. Teehee.
 
just look at one at liberty in the field passage piaffe etc all natrual moves!
 
I think they play apart in their natural life, like piouretts (sp?) when foals are playing, flying changes, I know my lad does a mean extended trot when playing in the fields.
Oh and I am sure the galloping comes in handy in the wild aswell as in the Bejing Olympic dressage test that some adopted
wink.gif
 
The extended trot, followed by a turn on the forehand, an off the ground movement (with his hind legs) all done by my 11-3 pony, were very impressive when daughter tried to catch him today.
 
I think it's more for play/showing off than for escaping predators. Don't forget either that dressage is just for showing off the training every horse should have - over the years humans bred for horses that were trainable in this respect. Ok not all to GP level i.e. trained for battle, but at least to Medium.
 
Classical dressage enthusiasts might say it is to develop movements found in nature, hence the whole controversial 1-time changes debate.

I very much doubt a GP horse is going to survive better in the wild! It is the other way round, the human taking what nature gave the horse and improving on it.
 
Dressage was designed to enhance the horse's natural movements and ability.

I was also further developed for war horses with airs above the ground and capriole to avoid the enemy and get a better aim on the enemy.

Both of these are the basis for modern dressage, but as dressager says, I very much doubt a GP horse is going to survive better in the wild. Its the human taking what nature gave the horse and my word would not be improving it, my word would be manipulating it.
 
This is all really interteresting....I've always been a shower and a showjumper and only had 1 dressage lesson in my life!

I have learnt quite a lot during the last week watching the Olympics and reading threads on here.
 
Dressage is really just schooling, and schooling is working with the horse's natural abilities. Some thing, like Rollkur, are over-exaggerated IMHO, but basically - no. They could always do it!
 
Have horses evolved to do Dressage?

Of course not - this is a fundamental misunderstanding of what evolution actually is. Evolution is survival of the fittest, where the horses best suited to the conditions prevalent are the ones that live longest, and most importantly, reproduce most effectively. This in turn means their genotype and phenotypes are the ones which continue on.

Whilst humans may have bred horses with the intention of doing dressage, to maximise those traits which are considered desirable, and these horses still have certain characteristics - like walk, trot, canter, gallop paces, and an alertness to predators, this is nothing to do with evolution.

So there.
S
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe not evoultion but manipulated adaption, its all semantics anyway. Just saw this add on here, shows the extra pictures defiantly so piaffe, possible passage, extended trot and i think the horse in water is performing spanish walk! lol
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/marketplace/classified/details.php?id=141641&category=4

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you mean 'artificial selection' rather than adaptation (I assume you meant adaptation, not 'adaption'). I am not convinced that the horse is 'defiantly' piaffing
wink.gif
...in the photos...but it is true that horses walk, trot, canter, gallop etc without training, and the length and elevation of the stride varies.
Pacifically, I find it uphauling that we don't rate Andalucians more highly in dressage; it seems to be Dutch and German warmbloods who are favoured.
Tis all semantics, anyway.
S
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
The horse is predisposed to jump to escape from predators but would Dressage movements help wild horses?

[/ QUOTE ]
They might help a wild stallion pull a particularly attractive mare
tongue.gif
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The horse is predisposed to jump to escape from predators but would Dressage movements help wild horses?

[/ QUOTE ]
They might help a wild stallion pull a particularly attractive mare
tongue.gif
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Damn fine point, all hail, DrWeevil!
I love the idea that the horse is 'predisposed to jump to escape from predators'. Strikes me we need a few wolves in unaffiliated showjumping.
grin.gif

S
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The horse is predisposed to jump to escape from predators but would Dressage movements help wild horses?

[/ QUOTE ]
They might help a wild stallion pull a particularly attractive mare
tongue.gif
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Damn fine point, all hail, DrWeevil!
I love the idea that the horse is 'predisposed to jump to escape from predators'. Strikes me we need a few wolves in unaffiliated showjumping.
grin.gif

S
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Horses aren't actually "predisposed to jump" though are they?? A horse can't actually jump very well in comparision to something like a cat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The horse is predisposed to jump to escape from predators but would Dressage movements help wild horses?

[/ QUOTE ]
They might help a wild stallion pull a particularly attractive mare
tongue.gif
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Damn fine point, all hail, DrWeevil!
I love the idea that the horse is 'predisposed to jump to escape from predators'. Strikes me we need a few wolves in unaffiliated showjumping.
grin.gif

S
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Horses aren't actually "predisposed to jump" though are they?? A horse can't actually jump very well in comparision to something like a cat.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hush! Why do you have to go and spoil it for DrWeevil and I.
mad.gif

Just because you have some poxy Equine Science degree
tongue.gif
....doesn't mean you know about adaptions, defiant piaffes, and predispositions to jump, does it?
I'm still looking for 'Wolves for sale', and I am sure many competitors with sticky jumpers will thank me.
S
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was pricing up Lions for sale - might add a bit more spice to proceedings
tongue.gif

Do you think it would be allowed though, under the terms of the hunting act
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Your Lions would be fine, not sure about the Wolves though! And if you went to America with the Lions you might have to have their claws removed!!
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was pricing up Lions for sale - might add a bit more spice to proceedings
tongue.gif

Do you think it would be allowed though, under the terms of the hunting act
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I thought the specific, sorry, pacific wording of the Act was 'hunting with dogs'....so lions and wolves should both be fine.
I'll bet money that there isn't a BSJA rule about it either
grin.gif

Ignore the_Henmeister, she's just one of those Health and Safety bores
tongue.gif
.
S
smile.gif
 
Well you should also put the two zerbra's I saw for sale under saddle and jump them and see who does best against the horses with the lions and wolves! Would attract more SJ viewers than girls in their white cotton M&S undies
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top