Dressage What does a £1.5million dressage 4 year old look like? This!

[shortstuff99]

Has anyone seen the dressage 4 year old stallion that has just made £1.5 million at auction? His video can be found here

While I think he is nice, that looks like some hypermobility to me and I dread to think how easy it will be to keep him sound.

 

[{97702}]

I watched 10 seconds of the video and thought that horse breeding has got just like dog breeding (or perhaps vice versa?) where exaggeration is considered desirable now

A lovely horse but just too much movement for me..... but then what do I know

 

[ycbm]

Passage at 4? How much work has he already done to work like that at 4?

The last horse I saw who moved anything like that at that age was Farouche. That went well.
.

 

[ihatework]

He’s beautiful.
But I do fear for the way dressage breeding is going.

 

[AmyMay]

Wow ?

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Passage at 4? How much work has he already done to work like that at 4?

The last horse I saw who moved anything like that at that age was Farouche. That went well.
.

I thought the same! It baffles me as I’ve already made the decision my rising 3yo won’t be backed until 4 and even then he’ll just be lightly backed and then turned away til spring so can’t imagine him being that established at such a young age.

 

[ester]

Yet the SRS article shared last weekend (?) mentioned doing movements like passage with them while they are young I think?

I'm not sure you can be a dressage horse without being hypermobile now?

 

[ihatework]

Those horses are so well ridden from the outset and so well bred for the job that it’s quite conceivable it actually hasn’t done excessive amounts of work under saddle, despite what it looks like.

 

[shortstuff99]

Yet the SRS article shared last weekend (?) mentioned doing movements like passage with them while they are young I think?

I'm not sure you can be a dressage horse without being hypermobile now?

He also said piaffe before passage, so I hope hes got a good piaffe ?. Him doing a tiny bit of piaffe bothers me less then the pretend collection.

 

[ester]

glad I wasn't imagining it without going back to check!

 

[shortstuff99]

Here is the eurodressage link about him too https://www.eurodressage.com/2020/08/15/165-million-about-you-2020-borgmann-hof-auction

 

[Kahlua]

I was lucky enough to sit on this horse (humble brag I guess ?). He felt amazing, connection to the bridle was so steady for a young horse and he was so balanced. He has a natural ability to collect so yes they do some short steps. If you watched the rider on the presentation it was literally 4 or 5 steps and away again. I trained in a stable where every single horse did short steps from 4yo or 5yo - some stayed sound, some didn’t. Personally I would not be doing a lot of this, but it’s what is expected of horses these days to make the big trot, get the big money and win the young horse classes ...

 

[Tiddlypom]

I see a very big moving horse. Can someone explain what hypermobility means - is that the huge paces?

 

[shortstuff99]

I was lucky enough to sit on this horse. He felt amazing, connection to the bridle was so steady for a young horse and he was so balanced. He has a natural ability to collect so yes they do some short steps. If you watched the rider on the presentation it was literally 4 or 5 steps and away again. I trained in a stable where every single horse did short steps from 4yo or 5yo - some stayed sound, some didn’t. Personally I would not be doing a lot of this, but it’s what is expected of horses these days to make the big trot, get the big money and win the young horse classes ...

When did you get to sit on him? That sounds exciting!

While it makes young horse winners it doesn't make for a good Grand Prix horse.

 

[shortstuff99]

I see a very big moving horse. Can someone explain what hypermobility means - is that the huge paces?

Basically the joints move more then they should (over flexing is another term used) due to laxity in the ligaments. It makes for spectacular movement but causes a lot of wear and tear on the joints and they end up breaking down very quickly/young.

 

[Kahlua]

When did you get to sit on him? That sounds exciting!

While it makes young horse winners it doesn't make for a good Grand Prix horse.

A few weeks ago and he was an angel. The rider who presented him is his normal rider and she does an amazing job with the young horses. He certainly didn’t feel like the kind of horse who needs to be or is hammered daily.

I completely agree. It’s kind of a shame what is expected of the very young horses these days, it doesn’t generally make for long term prospects, there are few who make an easy journey to FEI

 

[dogatemysalad]

Beautiful horse, beautiful rider. Some horses are not born for mediocrity.

 

[TheMule]

The horse is beautiful, and he is being ridden beautifully. He is clearly hugely talented and aimed at the young horse market. If he makes it to GP too, great. I'd say he has more chance than a lot of the 4year old dressage stallions I have seen presented

 

[milliepops]

Whit woo! ? I understand people's concerns about long term soundness.... but i wouldn't say no will be interesting to see how he progresses.

 

[scats]

Beautiful horse and love his big canter!

 

[oldie48]

I think he is absolutely beautiful and looks as if he finds it all so very easy. He is also beautifully ridden. What I love is that the front leg action matches the back, unlike so many of the more spidery horses eg Totilas

 

[meleeka]

I think it’s a shame that that’s what has to be achieved to succeed these days. I agree the horse is being beautifully ridden, but it’s a long way from natural movement.
I’m worried we are going the same way as America where it goes too far and gets grotesque.

 

[DiNozzo]

I think he is absolutely beautiful and looks as if he finds it all so very easy. He is also beautifully ridden. What I love is that the front leg action matches the back, unlike so many of the more spidery horses eg Totilas

I've watched very few pro horses, but I thought that too! Connected front and back legs.

Did anyone else think that there's something strange about his shoulder? Or is that where he's hyper mobile? Or am I imagining it? ?

 

[cobgoblin]

Gorgeous, but they could have let him mature a bit more before doing so much work!

 

[Nicnac]

Stunning - who bought him?

 

[tristar]

he looks like his hind movement has a stringhalt quality in walk, very exaggerated

 

[PapaverFollis]

I'd rather have Roman-nosed Eddie.

Not that this guy isn't impressive in a way but I don't like it. Doesn't look comfortable.

 

[shortstuff99]

Stunning - who bought him?

RS2 dressage, they are a dutch based yard.

 

[IrishMilo]

He’s lovely, and it’s nigh on impossible to say what soundness issues he may or may not get. You get 10 year olds who have done nothing crippled and 20 year olds who have hunted for season upon season and never take a lame step.

 

[SO1]

Yes I thought something looked not quite right about the hind in walk. Beautiful horse, incredible price.

he looks like his hind movement has a stringhalt quality in walk, very exaggerated