Choosing the right young dressage horse is so much about feel rather than pedigree. Bonding with a potential new dressage horse is something that you can feel instantly – you get the feeling that this is the right horse for you.
Because a subtle aide from the rider triggers every movement you make in dressage, the horse needs to be in tune with the rider and can perfectly pick up on and understand the signals being given.
It can be a bit overwhelming for new dressage riders to realise that you will have to train with your horse for a very long time before you both can become proficient at dressage. Your horse will need to know precisely what you are asking them to do – and do it immediately without hesitation.
This also means that you and your horse need to be syncopated in both mind and body. If any movement feels forced or inharmonious between horse and rider, the dressage judges will pick up on this and mark your efforts down.
Training with more horses
While most dressage riders will have their favourite horse to compete with, many will also train with other horses that can be used as a backup if needed on competition day.
It doesn’t happen often, but if your dressage horse isn’t feeling up to par on the day of your competition, having another horse ready to take over can be very reassuring.
Why buy a young dressage horse? Because dressage horses cannot start competing until age eight, buying a young horse to train in dressage makes a lot of sense because it will give you plenty of time to learn and grow together.
This doesn’t mean that your horse will only have a short dressage career. Many horses go on competing until the age of 20 as long as their health permits. This means you can spend many exciting years competing in dressage events and enjoying the pleasure of thrilling the crowd.
Are you looking for a quality dressage horse for sale?
In most cases, quality dressage horse bloodlines are primarily Dutch and German, which are also popular countries where dressage is. But apart from breeding, how do you assess the potential talent in a young dressage horse?
It can be difficult to judge on first appearances whether or not a horse will be successful for dressage in the future, so it can be useful to seek help and guidance from a professional team that has been living and working in the dressage world for decades.
At True Horses, you will be working with a highly experienced team with decades of knowledge and a good eye for choosing winning horses. It helps to know what to look for in a young dressage horse, so buying from True Horses can be a great start.
What we look for in a dressage horse
Our dedicated team at True Horses will look at how they move around the paddock and under the saddle. Watching them as they are relaxed allows us to see the fluidity of their movement and the ease of their step.
We also look at their attitude and check that they have the right temperament for dressage. Ideally, a dressage horse will have plenty of energy and a willingness to learn new things. We will see how they react to pressure and direction changes.
Our team at True Horses always have your best interests at heart. Whether you are a seasoned dressage rider or you are new to the sport, we will take care of you from the moment we talk.
Why not contact us to find out more about our dressage horses for sale. We are here to help!