How to Choose a Discipline?

I bought my first horse six months ago. He's an OTTB, 6 yrs old and pretty green. I'm working with a trainer, and I'm trying to decide whether I want to pursue dressage or jumping. My trainer has extensive experience with both, so it's a matter of my preference.
I initially thought I wanted to jump with him, and he's shown a lot of natural ability out in the pasture (jumping fences he's not supposed to! Ha Ha!). He has no lameness issues and is sound for jumping.
On the other hand, the more I learn about dressage the more I think that might be the way to go, as far improving his paces and his balance. My only concern is that my horse is very green, like I said, and has a lot of energy. Trotting in precise circles might be a little boring for him!
Any advice on how to choose? Are there any traits I should be looking for that would make him a "natural" hunter or dressage horse?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on May 5, 2009 at 5:37pm

Hi, J:

I think that if he's pretty green you need (a) dressage (don't think top hat/tails, thinking systematic gymnastic training) and then (b) jumping. If you're up for either or both then I'd let him indicate his preference, and go with that. He will need dressage to improve his paces and his balance regardless of your future goals, so you need to address those issues first. The better his flatwork is the better he'll be at jumping, provided it's something he wants to do, and you won't have wasted time. Bear in mind that there's much more to dressage than trotting precise circles, and even if there weren't, how would you expect to get to fences in the right order and with the right stride/pace without being able to be precise?

If you'll forgive the expression, I think you're putting the cart before the horse (or perhaps the fence before the horse)...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Geoffrey Pannell on May 7, 2009 at 9:25am

This is very good advice, it's not so much about finding what discipline to do at this stage ,it's just about getting the horse's paces and balance improved as Jan says. Dressage is not just all about trotting in endless circles.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by J.Everheart on May 8, 2009 at 12:45pm

Yes, yes, I understand that dressage is more than trotting circles!
Everyone has given good advice. At this point in his training, especially after yesterday's lesson, I'm thinking dressage is the way to go initially. He needs a lot of work on balance and keeping a rhythmic pace. I would like to show him as a hunter/ jumper eventually, but the dressage training will hopefully transform him from a slightly spastic ex-racer into a calm, forward and straight hunter!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by IrishRider on May 8, 2009 at 1:05pm

Agreed. A lot of people just start jumping their horses first, without having a good solid base. You want a horse that is well balanced, that listens well and is responsive to aids before you start going over fences.

That being said, there is no harm in working over poles and/or cavaletti. These can really help with his balance, pace, rhythm, etc. And they can break up the monotony of day-to-day flatwork.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bernd on May 10, 2009 at 12:57pm

There is a lot to gain from both disciplines, especially at the beginning.

Actually all riders and horses should be able to do both until you get to the entry level of the professionals. Over here that would be jumping course of 1,20m or more and dressage with collected canter on both hands.

After that you can still decide which discipline you like best.

Dressage rider who cannot jump a horse over 1,20 are not good enough in balance for higher dressage and show jumpers who cannot ride a dressage test with collection and extended paces are not good enough to school a young horse - and are probably never good enough to get to e real pro level.

Racinet for example wrote that he wouldn't try to teach a student real dressage before the student could jump the horse over a 1.10m fence without holding the reins.

- my teacher would add, and without stirrups.

Cheers
Bernd

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Esther Wiebe on May 21, 2009 at 8:12pm

My advice on this is so: Take dressage lessons to improve your seat and balance for take-offs and landings, then jump on weekends for fun and cooling off after collecting during your dressage lessons. I read a book about a girl who's riding instructor made her do dressage to improve her seat for jumping. Hope this helps!