Comments on: Can a dressage horse do dual duty as a pleasure/trail horse? http://www.riding-for-sport-dressage.com/dressage-dual-duty-pleasuretrail/ Horse Riding, Sport & Dressage Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:20:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: karen v http://www.riding-for-sport-dressage.com/dressage-dual-duty-pleasuretrail/comment-page-1/#comment-502 karen v Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:50:04 +0000 http://www.riding-for-sport-dressage.com/dressage-dual-duty-pleasuretrail/#comment-502 The entire point of dressage is to train the horse so that he is willing and able to perform any task asked of him in a calm and relaxed manner. If the horse is going to be "ruined" by a nice relaxing trail ride, then the horse has been very badly trained, and is NOT a good dressage horse. Most horses NEED to get outside the arena and relax and do something different to keep them sane. Just like we need to get away from work and do something else to relax. I worked for some time at a barn that had several upper level horse of the years(one being short listed for the olympics, but didn't make the final cut). They took their horses on regular trail rides. And even jumped them over a few small jumps now and again to give them some variety and keep them fresh. The entire point of dressage is to train the horse so that he is willing and able to perform any task asked of him in a calm and relaxed manner.

If the horse is going to be “ruined” by a nice relaxing trail ride, then the horse has been very badly trained, and is NOT a good dressage horse.

Most horses NEED to get outside the arena and relax and do something different to keep them sane. Just like we need to get away from work and do something else to relax.

I worked for some time at a barn that had several upper level horse of the years(one being short listed for the olympics, but didn’t make the final cut). They took their horses on regular trail rides. And even jumped them over a few small jumps now and again to give them some variety and keep them fresh.

]]> By: mister 2 cents http://www.riding-for-sport-dressage.com/dressage-dual-duty-pleasuretrail/comment-page-1/#comment-501 mister 2 cents Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:48:15 +0000 http://www.riding-for-sport-dressage.com/dressage-dual-duty-pleasuretrail/#comment-501 why not. Obviously the individual horse has much to do with this. why not. Obviously the individual horse has much to do with this.

]]> By: Elizabeth B http://www.riding-for-sport-dressage.com/dressage-dual-duty-pleasuretrail/comment-page-1/#comment-500 Elizabeth B Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:19:30 +0000 http://www.riding-for-sport-dressage.com/dressage-dual-duty-pleasuretrail/#comment-500 I don't thing so a it did not when did that with my horses as long as you can gather him up again when you are in the area but i also depends on the type of horses he is so only you now wether it will or not thanks bitz I don’t thing so a it did not when did that with my horses as long as you can gather him up again when you are in the area but i also depends on the type of horses he is so only you now wether it will or not

thanks bitz

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