help me with zahara.

[BigStarLover]

so my sister works at dekalb animal hospital and there is a lady there who really would like if someone goes and excerscises9(sp?) her horse. It's an olympics arabian dressage horse. I've never done dressage but I'm willling to learn if it means I can come out and ride. Should i teach the horse the style I ride? English hunters/jumpers? or should I stick with dressage. I have rode a dressage horse before, satori, but he knew different riding styles. any tips on what to do ?

[horse_lover]

1. I think you will have a hard time getting a dressage horse to do H/J

2. I think its a pretty bad idea to try to ride a horse who is so well trined in something you don't know anything about

3. Higher level dressage horses are USUALLY very hard to ride

I suggest not riding it at all, unless you will be haveing lessons with a trainer VERY EXPIERIENCED IN DRESSAGE, NOT A H/J TRAINER

[DixieGirl]

1. I think you will have a hard time getting a dressage horse to do H/J

2. I think its a pretty bad idea to try to ride a horse who is so well trined in something you don't know anything about

3. Higher level dressage horses are USUALLY very hard to ride

I suggest not riding it at all, unless you will be haveing lessons with a trainer VERY EXPIERIENCED IN DRESSAGE, NOT A H/J TRAINER

Yeah I agree with you! Because that could result in something really bad. Like you giving the horse wrong signials (sp) and the horse getting frusrated and acting up. I don't think that is a good idea riding him. But maybe you could brush him or lunge him and do some little stuff one the ground. But I don't recommend you riding him with out a professional dressage trainer.

[Half&Half]

I agree with what the others have said. An experienced dressage horse needs an experienced rider in dressage. I think the lady is looking for a person who knows what they're doing with both the horse, and dressage. Plus, dressage and h/j are a world apart and it takes a lot of training to convert a dressage horse, who's most likely only ever known dressage, into a jumper. Not saying it can't be done, but if he's an olympic dressage horse like you say, than he will more than likely stay in dressage.

[BigStarLover]

well the lady who works at the hospital says that I will probably be able to control him so idk we'll see

[alliekk]

I kind of agree with the others. If the woman still plans to show him I don't think it would be a good idea. It would be an excellent experience for you though. Would she be willing to pay for lessons or give you lessons herself? It's kind of like Western Pleasure and rodeo, they shouldn't mix. Western Pleasure is meant for slow, but if you game them once they will enjoy if more and they will probably not perform to the best of their ability in WP, or in your case, dressage. Doing walking, trotting, cantering, might not be a bad idea, as long as you don't try and teach him anything. You shouldn't try and teach a horse something unless you have years of experience in that discipline. If you still need a trainer for yourself then it's probably not a good idea to be the trainer. Just a thought. Like I said though, it sounds like a great oportunity for you to advance in your riding skills.

[mandyicequeen14]

I suggest you dont ride that horse at all. Drassage is compeatly different from H/J. If I were the owner i wouldnt want my profssional Drassage horse to do sumthing other than what it was taught. You could undo the training it has done, or only confuse it. Sorry if im comming off hard but im just saying what id think would happen.

[horse_lover]

well the lady who works at the hospital says that I will probably be able to control him so idk we'll see

Control him, maybe, but ride him sucsessfully, I doubt it, I'm not saying you're a bad rider or anything, but you cannot be good at something that you know nothing about whe you have a tough horse, ESPECIALLY in dressage!

[HappyHorse13]

Star, go with what you think is best and what you feel comfortable with. Tell us how it goes if you do ride and have fun and be safe:].

[Half&Half]

I've read some of the posts and I hope you don't think it's harsh, because I don't think we're trying to put you down. Dressage is just very difficult and precise and it's a world away from hunter/jumper. If you were to ride him, than I think it should be in lessons with an instructor. Good Luck and let us know how it goes! :)

[BigStarLover]

Ok So before I can go into jumping, I need to learn the basics of dressage, so in exchange for tacking and grooming and cleaning at the barn I can have a lesson. Zahara hasn't been ridden in like 4 months ( before our last lesson) So I cannot go straight into jumping, so maybe after some dressage training I could go into it. Besides, dressage is pretty cool =]. It's just that zahara doesn't know how to respond to hunters/jumpers. YET.. Here are some pics .


http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii91/blahblah123ha/Horses013.jpg
[http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii91/blahblah123ha/Horses008.jpg IMGhttp://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii91/blahblah123ha/Horses012.jpg
]http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii91/blahblah123ha/Horses015.jpg[/IMG]


What do you guys think?

[BigStarLover]

oh and btw, i know those aren't the right boots. we are looking for new ones. and yes i know that my feet should be placed more behind the girth and turned in more. this was just my fist lesson!

[alliekk]

the first picture was pretty good except he didn't quite have the frame of an olympic level dressage horse and your shoulders were a little stiff. You look REALLY tense in the second picture. Dressage is more about how the horse and rider work as one rather than how pretty the horse can look. If you feel comfortable on him he will relax as well. Work on your posture and seat. Get the rhythm of his gaits, and have fun. You will never be relaxed unless you are having fun. Just some hints, please don't take them the wrong way.

[BigStarLover]

yeah i was on a lunge line, and the lady is very experienced in dressage so yeah im excited =] thanks for the tips.

[DixieGirl]

Good Luck in the future!

[Full of Flight]

Nice Pictures!!

[horse_lover]

That doesn't look like a Grand Prix Dressage horse...

[Full of Flight]

I think it looks like it is a horse that can really sit back on its honches (sp?). I think it would make a good little dressage horse. (This is just my opinion)

[horse_lover]

I think it looks like it is a horse that can really sit back on its honches (sp?). I think it would make a good little dressage horse. (This is just my opinion)

She said in the first post on this thread that the horse is an Olyimpc dressage horse.. I think it looks like a 2nd level Dressage horse....not really olympic...

[Full of Flight]

Yes I know. I think it could be a higher level dressage horse cause it of its build. (my opinion)

[horse_lover]

Okay, your certainly intitled to your own opinion, I have never seen a "Olympic" horse with that type of muscle tone, with all that muscle on the bottom of it's neck... that's from having it's neck inverted, wich is certainly not a characteristic of an olympic Dressage horse

[Full of Flight]

I'm sorry if I can across being mean. :o