What problems would a tennessee walking horse have in training level dressage?
January 2, 2009 by English
Filed under Horse Sports
mestenio_lara asked:
I want to know what challenges I am going to face if I want to train a full-blooded walker for dressage, and what are the differences between gaited dressage and regular dressage? Do they move differently than the classic dressage horses? Do they still trot? Please don't tell me to consult an expert, already doing that but so far no one knows how to help though I'm still trying. Can't find any books or websites on it iether....I'm just curious if its physically possible for them to do. Just how versatile are they? And how true is it that any horse can do training level dressage?
Siena B. on Tue, 30th Dec 2008 2:38 am
Tennessee walking horses are very good in dressage. Some tend to have a bouncy trot but other than that they are normally naturals.
g_kira1 on Tue, 30th Dec 2008 12:30 pm
From what knowledge I know of Walkers is that they do not have what we consider a lope/canter. So if you get into upper levels that may require it, I would assume you would have problems. They are also gaited, and from my understanding in dressage they want a very flat knee trot, which you won’t be able to aquire with a Walker. I would however contact a Tennessee Walking Horse professional.
Amanda J on Tue, 30th Dec 2008 4:50 pm
Speaking from someone who is in TN with lots of gaited horses around, YES it is completely possible for them to do it and do it great! The question for you to ask yourself is if they need to do the gaited horse dressage tests or the trotting/regular dressage tests. If your horse trots in addition or instead of doing a running walk then you are fine with the regular dressage although you may not get too far in it unless your horse is very athletic and not built like a typical walker. Because walkers are built with a longer back, sloping croup, and usually with hind legs up under them, it is hard for them to do much more than first level in regular tests.
The differences between gaited and regular dressage is the test. Everything else is the same- same arena, same idea, same scoring system. Yes they move differently because the tests are different. No they do not trot, they do a flat walk, running walk, and canter. There are higher tests for them beyond second level. As more people get interested in it, there will be more tests.
As for challenges, you will not have that many if you are in the gaited dressage classes because all of the other horses are gaited too. If you choose to show in normal classes, then you will of course have the challenge of keeping them trotting instead of running walking, plus keeping them on the bit (since they like coming above it), keeping their hind end from getting too far under them, and keeping them in frame and moving forward. You will also have to face the challenge and discrimination that you will get from the other riders in regular classes because you are on a TWH. Most of them should be nice but quite a few of them have a lot to say if you are not riding a warmblood. Just take it all with a grain of salt, learn how to look at them and say thank you for your comments on my horse we are really trying our best to learn and have a good time, and even find a way to give them a nice comment on their horse (this is killing them with kindness). Never get upset, and never think that you cannot do it as you can do anything that you set your mind too.
The website to go to is the TN Walking Horse Website at. They do not have the tests listed online anymore, so you have to call them to get the tests from them.
You should find someone who does dressage with gaited horses in your area to have someone who does know what is going on with it. If you do not know how to find someone like that, ask the people at TWHBEA if they have a listing of people who do dressage in your area or any shows that are coming up.
Most horses can do training level dressage if they are ridden and conditioned for it by someone who knows what they are doing. They can even do first and most of second. They may not do it the greatest or get great scores (or even good ones) but it is possible. Practice, consistency, knowing what you are doing, and asking for help when you need it will give you the keys to success with dressage.
TWHs are very versatile, but most breeds are. There are always individual horses within any breed who are capable of only doing one thing and individuals who are capable of doing every discipline imaginable. It also has a lot to deal with who is riding and training them.
Good luck and I hope this all helps!
willard on Wed, 31st Dec 2008 5:57 am
Tennessee walking horses are very versatile and are often used in dressage. they are very competitive but tend to be hard to train.
Pam Santos on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 2:26 am
I have a TWH cross DUTCH Warmblood. He is not trained in the gaits – but loves a flat footed walk when hes showing off. I don’t know if they are born to do this, or trained to do so. His trot is amazing, floaty, smooth. He is forward and powerful in the hind end. I am working on the canter. Its quite big and we are working on collecting it. Any tips for the canter? And a bit for the walker dressage horse.
slc2 on Sat, 25th Apr 2009 3:04 am
It depends on how ‘Tennessee-Walkerish’ the horse is, as well as how serious you are about dressage and how competitive you want to be, and how far you want to go.
Some TW have very good gaits for dressage, some do not. Problems can be a walk that is pacey, a canter that is pacey, and no trot. In regular dressage classes at recognized dressasge shows (and at ‘schooling’ or club shows), dressage horses are expected to walk, trot and canter, and the judge wants to see a specific kind of gaits – a very trotty trot, a very stretchy, non pacey walk, and a canter with 3 distinct beats that does not look pacey.
Some gaited horse clubs and organizations write special classes for gaited horses where the gaited horses do whatever gait they do and do a pattern of circles, turns and it looks kind of like a dressage test.
Other than the regular dressage show judges looking for a 4 beat flat footed walk that is really slinky and stretchy, a really trotty trot, and a real 3 beat gait at a canter with no suggesting of pacing, trained, legit dressage judges have no ‘breed prejudices’. The horse does not need to be a warmblood to succeed in dressage, but he DOES need to have that 4 beat walk, trotty trot, and big 3 beat canter. The looks of the horse don’t matter, the breed doesn’t matter, the color, ears, much of the conformation, it just doesn’t matter. Within the rules it doesn’t matter what the rider wears, or how fancy his tack is.
Going up the levels is not something most dressage riders ever do. About 90% of dressage tests are at training level. Most people never get any higher and most people never go to big shows. If the horse has 3 gaits and is ridden well, is obedient, prompt, energetic and balanced, he will score well.
slc2 on Sat, 25th Apr 2009 3:09 am
PS – Tennessee Walkers are some of the nicest, easiest horses to train. There can be problems teaching them to change after when they’ve been trained to do the ‘big lick’ thing, pace, do a running walk, or go in a very harsh bit with their head really up and their neck and back tight and tense.
PSS – if you want to train a horse in dressage, and have never done it before and don’t know how, you WILL need to ‘find an expert’. There’s no way around that. It just isn’t possible when one doesn’t know how it’s supposed to feel or how to do it, and can’t be learned from books or videos.