The Natural Dressage Forum

Everyone specializes now adays... I am sure in germany plenty of riders have competed in GP in show jumping and dressage, but does anyone know of american riders that have done the same thing???

I know Romer (from Iron Spring Farms) competed in both. RIP Romer- I got to pet him when I was a kid, ahhh.

Speaking of crossing genres, I think I might try to take our stock QH mare to an ISR inspection so I can get her foal registered- WISH ME LUCK!!! We need a 90 to get in... I am not counting on it!

I take an unpopular view that at the highest, Grand Prix levels, there SHOULD be specialization. My reasoning is: the development of different parts of the body. Strength events, I believe, must involve some reinforcement of certain muscles, joints, whatever; while grace and flexibility needs more of the stretch and tiny mudcular control, rather than the brute strength to withstand stress.

But I admit, that nowadays, art, such as dance, say, HAS drifted towards athleticism, so that some of the modern dance I now see is so close to gymnastics, I am distracted. I'm wowing the feat; but I've lost my attention to the form.

For the masses of us below, though, the more the merrier. If we can't enjoy our horses, and our horses be happy too, what's the point?

Good luck with your QH! Does she have natural suspension? I saw a paint once, thought she was SO bouncy; now I'd probably love her.

Despite mentioning Romer, I was thinking more about riders that have done both. I can't imagine anyone, lets say, going to the olympics in Dressage and jumping in the same year simply because of the time factor... Making the selection trials for both would be seriously unrealistic.

But maybe a rider rode GP jumpers for awhile before swapping to dressage??? Heck, Anky rode in WEG in reining?!

As far as my QH mare going to inspection- no suspension whatsoever except the time my husband held her back in the roping box. She wanted to follow the steer out and he tried to make her walk- they comprimised and did a beautiful passage out of the box!!! I have gotten through to her to stay "on-the-bit" as we parade around the triangle, but I can very very easily out trot her!!! But Spit (her filly) has her daddy's legs and neck, so if Chassy can squeek into the books with a 90, that will be enough to get spit into the ISR Mare Book, and her foals could then be registered full Oldenburg. I talked to the secretary at ISR and she informed me that many Europeans LOVE QH's and that i should go in proud and just hope for the best. Ha,ha- Can I lay her down and crack a bullwhip over her instead of trot her on the triangle???!!!