henny1129
Crazy Livestock Gal
Yeah bu so?I've seen people use smaller horses for dressage, like morgans. And can you imagine how amazingly an arab would carry itself?!
True!
Drafts are the embodiment of what is meant by "cold-blooded" in horse terms. One of the reasons that the draft and draft crosses were preferred (beyond the simple ability to carry more) has to do with that stolid temperament. A cold blooded horse is more likely to deal with the chaotic conditions of war, take it in stride, and continue to do its job. Hot bloods are more reactive, and more likely to stress out, even to the point of nervous exhaustion.
I knew a stud that was 15/16ths Arabian, that was trained in dressage. He was supposed to have been really good at it, and to have been a fairly popular baby daddy in some part of New England. When the market for horses crashed a few years ago, he was put out of work; however talented his offspring may have been, they were always on the small side (he was barely 14 hh) and there is only so much call for mixed breeds. His owner surrendered him to a rescue, which in turn traced him back to his original breeder, who took him back when he was about 16 years old. Jazz was about as pleasant-natured a stallion as you'll ever meet; the breeder didn't know any dressage riders so we never got to see whether he was really as good as they say he was in the ring.
So I'm guessing Quarter Horses would be cold blooded then?
Arabs are VERY common in dressage, as well as Morgans. I know of lots of 16h+ Morgans and Arabs, they are not all tiny.
My daughter's 22yo Arab is a "retired" dressage horse, he has been ridden by many Grand Prix level riders, and has a USDF Lifetime # that shows all of his test scores and riders.
I guess I thought they weren't common since I don't see them too much doing dressage where I'm at! I always thought they stayed short too, but I guess not.

I have an Arabian gelding that I showed dressage with. I was a mostly self taught rider, on a horse that barely knew how to walk and trot under saddle when I got him, by the time it was all said and done, my Arabian and I were winning dressage classes against the kids of professional trainers on their warmbloods.... Wings is 15.1hh and wears the 2nd largest tree Wintek makes... he's got a huge body on him.
If I ever get the time to train him, my next dressage horse is my 3/4 walking horse 1/4 percheron stallion. He's around 16 hands and has a smaller body than Wings... lol but the MANE.... it hits his knees in places... beautiful... and I don't take care of it... imagine what it would be like if he was stalled and had his mane put up....
Wow, that's pretty cool!