How far in dressage can an ‘average’ amateur realistically get?

[HufflyPuffly]

A question if I may, What is the trigger that makes you more up a level it is consistently getting a certain score?

I have an ex racer excellent confirmation for TB . We have no medium trot. Various trainers over the year have tried I have utube and read everything tried every thing and still nothing. He is 12 in Feb. I am competing aff ele with scores around 62-65 he is accurate but can be behind the leg (very lazy). I believe ele is are ceiling but reading all this has encouraged me to not stop trying.

I also own a 3 yrs old WB that has been professional backed he will be hacked for the next year until he is 4 then will be sent away again for a few weeks professional schooling. I brought him as I thought my TB would stop at ele and I love schooling and want to try harder but didn't want to push the tb.

I work full time, horses on DIY can only afford a lesson once a month at them moment as paying for the WM backing. I ride at least 4 days a week. I love competing my boy even when he loses his little tb mind.

When we can comfortably do the moves and it feels 'easy' to run through the test at home we move up a level, sometimes it was winging it a bit, but horses are so fragile I'd prefer a poop score than never to have tried.

For the medium trot Topaz had zero lengthening until she learnt to passage, she needed to learn to sit, collect and then we used a whip to tap her front leg so she understood that had to move too! It's a work in progress still and shes at PSG...

To add she would have been about at elementary at 12 too, she's 16 now .

 

[NinjaPony]

A question if I may, What is the trigger that makes you more up a level it is consistently getting a certain score?

I have an ex racer excellent confirmation for TB . We have no medium trot. Various trainers over the year have tried I have utube and read everything tried every thing and still nothing. He is 12 in Feb. I am competing aff ele with scores around 62-65 he is accurate but can be behind the leg (very lazy). I believe ele is are ceiling but reading all this has encouraged me to not stop trying.

I also own a 3 yrs old WB that has been professional backed he will be hacked for the next year until he is 4 then will be sent away again for a few weeks professional schooling. I brought him as I thought my TB would stop at ele and I love schooling and want to try harder but didn't want to push the tb.

I work full time, horses on DIY can only afford a lesson once a month at them moment as paying for the WM backing. I ride at least 4 days a week. I love competing my boy even when he loses his little tb mind.

My connie barely has a medium trot.... He was schooling at medium at home, and had 68% scores at elementary BD, beating several warmbloods with big trots in the process. Had his breathing/hocks not played up, I would have taken him out at medium. You have to work with what you have... I always aimed for a few decent strides medium and a clear 'attempt', then picked up marks in other movements to compensate. He found some of the 'harder' movements easier, eg half pass, simple changes etc. if you can do the other movements, then don't worry too much about the medium trot. Focus on being as accurate as possible, and picking up as many marks for the simple things, like halts, rein back, circles etc. Consistency has given us plus 70% scores, not any particular talent!

 

[007Equestrian]

I work full time in the tech industry (often long hours) and have an Irish Sports Horse with not a drop of warmblood in her and we came 6th at the Nationals last August at Inter-1. All very doable, just have to be even better with your time than those who can ride full time. The upside for me is that I can afford to keep her because of my full time job!

 

[daffy44]

I really wouldnt get hung up on medium trot, or lack of it, its not important, amd it certainly should never be a reason to not move up a level. Of course keep quietly working at it, you never know when a horse will surprise you, but dont get stressed about it, or stress your horse over it.

When to move up a level depends on what you want to achieve, whether its a petplan/regional qualification etc, or if its to get a certain percentage locally, be sure what it is you want to achieve by moving up a level. I would say if you can comfortably and correctly school the new higher movements at home/in a lesson, then go out and give it a try, if you are nervous, go HC for the first one. Not every level suits every horse, my mare hated elem, I dont think we ever got more than 64% at this level, so I gave up trying, I didnt care if she was a superstar at this level, I wanted to progress, so we worked more at home, then came out and got 72% at medium, it simply was better for her, and she did get to GP, if I'd waited til we were good at elem, we'd probably still be there!

 

[Ouch05]

I really wouldnt get hung up on medium trot, or lack of it, its not important, amd it certainly should never be a reason to not move up a level. Of course keep quietly working at it, you never know when a horse will surprise you, but dont get stressed about it, or stress your horse over it.

When to move up a level depends on what you want to achieve, whether its a petplan/regional qualification etc, or if its to get a certain percentage locally, be sure what it is you want to achieve by moving up a level. I would say if you can comfortably and correctly school the new higher movements at home/in a lesson, then go out and give it a try, if you are nervous, go HC for the first one. Not every level suits every horse, my mare hated elem, I dont think we ever got more than 64% at this level, so I gave up trying, I didnt care if she was a superstar at this level, I wanted to progress, so we worked more at home, then came out and got 72% at medium, it simply was better for her, and she did get to GP, if I'd waited til we were good at elem, we'd probably still be there!

That is so good to hear. You guys have given me another reason to keep at it.

 

[maya2008]

Do different ‘types’ of horse move up to the higher levels more quickly (I would guess so for the more purpose bred types, but then again, a horse is a horse...?).

Also, how do you know if you are going too fast once beyond, say Elementary, so you avoid doing damage? With a very willing, athletic horse I guess you could very easily go too fast, so what would be the signs to slow down (before you do any detectable damage and beyond the obvious i.e. changes in behaviour).

 

[daffy44]

Do different ‘types’ of horse move up to the higher levels more quickly (I would guess so for the more purpose bred types, but then again, a horse is a horse...?).

Also, how do you know if you are going too fast once beyond, say Elementary, so you avoid doing damage? With a very willing, athletic horse I guess you could very easily go too fast, so what would be the signs to slow down (before you do any detectable damage and beyond the obvious i.e. changes in behaviour).

Its difficult, I dont think there is a simple answer. Generally A well bred horse with good conformation for dressage, and most importantly a good, willing, intelligent brain will progress quickest, but some horses are not amazing at lower levels, but really come into their own at the higher levels, and equally some that are superstars at the lower levels cant cope at the higher levels.

As to whether you are going to fast, again, impossible to say, as it really depends on the individual horse. Personally, I think you can also go way too fast to Elementary, I like to spend time on the basics, they have to have a really good, solid foundation, which you will have to return to all the time through all the levels. You have to know your horse well, and have a good, experienced help on the ground who you trust, I think one of the most damaging things is to expect a horse to be at a certain level at a certain age, its almost never that simple. One of mine did his first GP at the age of ten, and I know there are people who will think that is far too soon, its ruining him etc etc, but I know my horse, and it was as slow as I could go without boring him, he didnt work more than three times a week maximun until he was seven years old, and even then he still only works four days a week, and not all those days are hard work, it includes stretching, polework etc. That horse just finds things very easy mentally and physically, but having said that he didnt go elementary until he was well in his 6yr old year. But other horses take years longer, and thats fine too, my mare got to GP at the age of 13, that was what was right for her, you just have to listen to your horse, listen to your trainer, trust your instinct and hope for the best.

 

[LEC]

I think this mind set needs to change.
We are talking ‘average’ here not highly placed national championship material. The latter I agree helps if you have a purpose bred horse and the funds/ability to train it.

The former, id go as far to say, are probably better off not buying the Ferrari. They need a horse that’s reasonably well put together, is forward thinking and is trainable - one that fits into their lifestyle. Getting that type into the Medium-PSG bracket is simply riding/training and staying sound. Granted you might not be consistently on 70%+, but you can have a damn good stab at the level.

People I know/friends have got to Inter and GP on sport horses but average ones. One was an eventer - went fine at Novice but wasnt going to go further but did a fancy test so worked up the dressage levels. Did two GPs and has now been retired as 17/18. One was bred as a sjer and its taken years of training but he is sound and trainable and getting 62% at Inter 2. I know a fair few who go to Adv Medium/PSG on their eventers. I find the eventers tend to get stuck at PSG because the collection requirement for inter is so much greater. All these are amateurs.

 

[fredflop]

Like everything more money makes life easier. However I’d say it’s a lot easier to progress in dressage compared to sj/eventing.

any “normal” horse that likes it’s work and has a trainable brain should be able to go up the levels