What Makes a Quality Dressage Horse?

To the casual observer, a dressage horse could be viewed as a horse that is made to elegantly dance around by its rider. But for anyone with a passion for horses, and especially dressage, these are horses that are top-class athletes that have had many years of dedicated training.

Whether you already live and work in the dressage world or are entirely new to the art, your success all starts with having a fit and healthy horse. Because horses cannot tell you if they are feeling ill or are experiencing pain, you need to check that all is well when looking at a dressage horse for sale.

You may be suspicious if you see a cheap dressage horse for sale, so it makes sense to ask the breeder or owner for a complete health history to make sure you will be buying a healthy young dressage horse.

Any responsible horse breeder or owner will ensure that their horses have full vet checkups and medical attention when they need it. It also makes sense to buy dressage horses from a reputable breeder with a strong history when buying a quality dressage horse for sale.

Grand Prix dressage horse

Grand Prix Level dressage is the highest level of dressage and is only achievable by horses and riders of the highest standards.

As this level of dressage is governed by the FEI, the horse and rider are judged on the correct execution of movements and the horse’s temperament and willingness and keenness to go through the motions.

This is why it is essential to choose well when buying a Grand Prix dressage horse. Learning dressage is not something that the horse and rider can just do. In most cases, it can take many years of training and competing before you can attempt to reach this level of dressage.

Because it can take many years for both the horse and rider to learn dressage, it is often common for dressage athletes to be older than those taking part in non-equestrian sports. For example, Great Britain’s oldest Olympian at the Tokyo 2020 games was Carl Hester, aged 52 and part of the medal-winning dressage team.

It is not only about the rider learning the dressage techniques. It also teaches the horse how to move in specific ways and use their body in ways that they don’t commonly do every day.

Dressage horse for sale

When looking for a dressage horse for sale, you have to feel comfortable with your choice. As you will be training together for years, you need to develop an invisible, trusting bond with your horse. You have to be of the same mind and completely understand each other to succeed in your dressage training.

This is why you should always take the time to meet and get to know your prospective choices before you buy a dressage horse. Purchasing a horse sight unseen is never wise because you don’t know what you are buying, and you may not instantly bond with your horse. Choosing the right horse is so much about the feel that you simply cannot buy just any dressage horse for sale.

At True Horses, we believe in honesty and integrity. With our many decades of experience and knowledge as both dressage riders and trainers, we make sure our customers feel delighted with their choice of horse.

If you are looking to buy a dressage horse, look no further than our friendly and dedicated team at True Horses!