The Art of Natural Dressage

Working with the Horse's Initiative
It is currently Thu Apr 18, 2024 1:32 pm

All times are UTC+01:00




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: overbuilt horse...?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:14 am 
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:58 pm
Posts: 286
I don't know how you call it in English but I mean that the quarterhand is taller than the front hand.

My question is if someone has experience with it, if someone trains or thit train a horse like that?

_________________
Image
http://egeziezale.jimdo.com/


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: overbuilt horse...?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:46 pm 

Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:46 pm
Posts: 250
Location: Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
Hi,
I have experience with a few horses of this build. To me it means more then just croup higher then wither, it means the whole haunch seems bigger then the front end. Like if you are looking at a picture of the horse, and you cover a half of him with a piece of paper - you would expect to see something of different proportions under that paper, judging by the half of the horse that you are looking at...

As far as training implications: lots of these horses have the strength behind, but lack the mobility. They can achieve it, with patience and correctly geared exercises. Forcing the head down in any way for a lengthy amount of time is the fastest way to a really stuck horse... in my opinion.
As much as these horses seem to be frowned upon in conformation analysis circles, I don't mind. I enjoy the extra power once I get the lightness :)

Image


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: overbuilt horse...?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:07 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:58 pm
Posts: 286
Thank you for you answerd Zuzana

_________________
Image
http://egeziezale.jimdo.com/


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: overbuilt horse...?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:47 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:10 am
Posts: 3688
Location: Pacific Northwest U.S.
You are describing the conformation, and sought after conformation, of the American Quarter Horse.

This is, in slight variation, the most sought after and successful build for both reining stockhorse work, and actual cattle handling, as we see in Cutting Horse competition, and Penning, as well as roping events.

On the contrary, when you have a horse that seems disproportionately powerful behind and a bit less so in front you have great mobility of the forehand. If you google up "reining horse," and point to YouTube you can find many instances of videos of these horses doing almost miraculous movement over the haunches with quick and powerful forehand agility.

Compare, for instance, the American gaited breeds, the Saddlebred, the Tennesee Walker, and others, they are the opposite...very uphill with a feeling of a lot of horse in front of you when ridden. They are not well suited to some activities but very much so for others - that require more power over the forehand. I would not do cattle cutting with one, nor reining work.

The eventing horse is the horse that we think of as the most balanced end to end I believe. Our Warmbloods in all the variations. Probably the horse conformation most closely adhering to balance between forehand and hindquarters is the dressage horse, and Thoroughbred.

Continue to train your eye as you are doing. Your descriptions are very clear and quite accurate.

I rode QHs for many years, as well as TBs. Each had wonderful things to offer and wonderful potentials to develop. The first Spanish horse I rode, later in life, told me very clearly where the QH had come from, as the movement, at least for the more baroque physique Iberian horses, and the QH are extremely close.

Best wishes,

_________________
Love is Trust, trust is All
~~~~~~~~~
So say Don, Altea, and Bonnie the Wonder Filly.


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC+01:00


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited Color scheme created with Colorize It.