TB for dressage

[LowenKi]

Last night I googled 'TBs for dressage?' and came across this old post:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=82988

What are peoples opinions on TBs specialising in dressage? My old mare was a warmblood, but her bloodline was heavily influenced by TB and she was a 'lighter' type than most warmbloods. She loved her dressage and worked up to Medium level before soundness issues plagued her health in her 20's.

Those with TBs, do you consider them successful at dressage careers or will they always play second fiddle to the warmbloods?

Interesting topic and sparked much heated debate around my dinner table last night!

Ready, steady... go!

 

[Kat]

Just read the thread in the link, think it needs the last post to be a picture of PS's CS and a tongue sticking out smiley!

 

[wench]

My old TB Henry, had he ever have been trained and ridden properly, not numpty me, would have made a fantastic dressage horse. He was increadibly clever, learnt stuff very quickly, and had really good paces and balance.

With me, he learnt how to rein back, turn on the forehand, turn on his hind quarters, some semblance of collected and extended paces, leg yielding, shoulder in (in w/t/c). Unfortunatly I did not have access to a trainer, so all of these were probably done wrong, as the only tool I had were reading books, and looking at videos.

On the couple of lessons I went to a dressage trainer, she got some very good work out of him. Unfortunatly the main problem with my horse was that the owner before me had let him get away with blue murder, and he could be absoluletly horredous at a show.

 

[Suziq77]

Give me a good TB over a warmblood any day - or a warmblood with a lot of TB in the line

OK maybe it makes a difference when you get up to PSG but for most riders a TB has plenty of movement, and PS's CS is starting PSG so there's at least one TB that's capable

Slight digression but IMO quite a lot of the 'problem horses' that I come across these days seem to be WBs that have found themselves in inexperienced hands - they seem to be wired to need to be instructed every step of the way and panic very quickly if they feel their rider isn't 100% on the ball. TBs can look after themselves

 

[Eventer96]

Give me a good TB over a warmblood any day - or a warmblood with a lot of TB in the line

OK maybe it makes a difference when you get up to PSG but for most riders a TB has plenty of movement, and PS's CS is starting PSG so there's at least one TB that's capable

Slight digression but IMO quite a lot of the 'problem horses' that I come across these days seem to be WBs that have found themselves in inexperienced hands - they seem to be wired to need to be instructed every step of the way and panic very quickly if they feel their rider isn't 100% on the ball. TBs can look after themselves

Agree totally with this. I've got a WB and he needs me to nurse him through everything. For example, jumping, if I get it wrong once (see a wrong stride) he won't jump. He'll fall to pieces and just say he can't do it. I have to be very sympathetic and get him through the little blip. Problem is that he doesn't give me an inch, if you make a mistake you hope your horse will sort it out for you or forgive you for your little mishap. He doesn't, get it wrong once you go back 3 steps! Obviously not even the best of riders see the best stride all the time so it's extremely to be 100% perfect 100% of the time.

He is a fabulous dressage horse though with lovely paces and incredibly good balance for a big WB. Eventing dressage he has only had once score above 30 this year (31.2). We've had scores from 19.6, 20.5, 24 and 28. He'd excel in pure dressage because of his paces and balance. I believe TB's can make the higher dressage levels, PS's CS a perfect example, but I don't think they have the ability to get the 'wow' marks because generally their paces aren't expressive enough. They are far more trainable though and they are super affectionate. Have both a WB and a TB so could structure an argument about both. But for dressage I'd pick my WB and the TB for eventing.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

Slight digression but IMO quite a lot of the 'problem horses' that I come across these days seem to be WBs that have found themselves in inexperienced hands - they seem to be wired to need to be instructed every step of the way and panic very quickly if they feel their rider isn't 100% on the ball. TBs can look after themselves

tend to agree, wont apply to all WB obv, but i dont like the nappy, all too easy give it up and chuck the towel in attitude some have. I know CS has driven me to tears in the past, but he's very confident, very clever and very brave and thus he CAN be pushed. Ive had WB in the past who as soon as they werent 100% sure, literally shrivelled up and stopped and refused to even try it again.

At national/average amateur level, a good TB (and by that i mean uphill, short, with good feet and a well set on neck, not some downhill tubular greyhound with lax fetlocks and pancake feet) will hold its own up to PSG as so much is about training. At premier league and above the WB with the movement AND the training will always beat them, so it really depends on what your goals are.
I very much intend to take CS as far as he can go, ive no doubt he'll reach GP as he has the grit and determination as well as the brain and body to do it, and I will enjoy trying to better our scores and milk every mark from correct training so that hopefully we will do well at premier league level (by well i mean get 60%+ and finish mid class, im under no illusions that we will win lol!!!).
If i wanted a potential world cup/team horse, it would have to be a WB though, the TB's just dont move in the now very fashionable, round knee/super snappy hock way, that is required, and most lack the lateral scope to show a half pass for a 8 or a 9, and of course the ability to REALLY sit in the piaffe is normally lacking too (and that will be CS weakest point).

for the average amateur aiming for elem/med regionals, a good TB is just as good as a WB.

 

[rowy]

I compete and train in dressage with a tb. But she is very like one person described on the other thread as she tries to predict what you are asking before you do and if she gets it wrong and I tell her she has got it wrong she can get stroppy. The thing holding her back from doing very well in dressage is the fact she gets very very tense and she is very highly strung and gets excited if you do too much canter with her though she has got tonnes better recently.
She actually has a very uphill canter and active hind end. Her walk is her weakest pace because of her tension.

If I were to buy another horse for dressage I would never choose a full warmblood. The ones I have come across match the "dumbblood" description and I think it's boring to always see the same type of horses doing dressage.
Funnily enough, the most talented horse brain wise I have ever taught is an exmoor. Mine has only had very limited schooling sessions as she is only 4 but her rate of learning is actually incredible. Even though she is not naturally built for dressage, she doesn't let that hold her back and still tries her heart out for you.