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Post by Einstein on Mar 20, 2003 19:34:21 GMT -5
OK, all you eventers, I was wondering are most of the bigger event horses TBs? Are there any big warmbloods eventing Prelim and higher? Is there a "best size" for and event horse? Is a 17 hand horse at an advantage (longer stride) or disadvantage (not as agile as a 15'2 horse) or is it just like the jumpers, if the horse does his job, it doesn't matter?
That said most of the big jumpers are warmbloods and big.
OK, that's it for my dumb eventing questions~for now ;D
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Post by Amy on Mar 20, 2003 19:53:36 GMT -5
Coming from someone who has yet to event (so take it with a grain of salt)...it's my understanding that the higher levels are mostly warmbloods, too. You do see TB's but not as often. I believe it was David O'Connor quoted in an article that said something along the lines that TB's have the athletic ability and the heart, but unsually not the movement for dressage to be really competitive at the highest levels.
Not sure about the size question, but I'm guessing the average is about 16.2. Too small and they don't always have the "presence" in the dressage ring.
Again, given that I have NEVER evented (my new goal, BTW) I'll be interested to see what others have to say!
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Post by niaru on Mar 20, 2003 20:19:04 GMT -5
Hmmm Amy, I thought just the opposite! I might be wrong...  I think that there are a majority of Tbs and Tb crosses at the higher levels, because they ARE better runners and have more endurance than Wbs. And with proper training one can develop a horse's gaits for a decent dressage test. Actually, quite a few of the top US horses are... exracers! Of course the New Zealand team rides...NZ tbs, which are supposed to be the best eventers in the world(according to Mark Todd). The French compete on a few Selle français (which are technically warmbloods, but lots of the SF are light and thoroughbreddy), and Anglo-Arabs. |
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Post by ClaireLV on Mar 20, 2003 20:44:45 GMT -5
I do know Bruce Davidson is quoted as prefering former racehorses. They certainly have the heart.
As far as dressage goes I also know Anky likes a horse with a large percentage of TB in. They have a lot of presence in the ring.
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Post by Johnnie on Mar 20, 2003 20:45:24 GMT -5
Quite the opposite Amy. TBs rule upper level eventing. There are some Warmbloods, WB crosses, and other mixes thrown in, but most of the best horses are TB, TB crosses, or maybe registered as something else, but if you look at the lines, they are TB.
I don't think a 17 hand horse would necessarily have big problems, but just may not do as well in some of the smaller, twistier courses. There are quite a few event horses at or over the 17 hand mark. Yes, I believe that most are TBs. There are WBs that do upper level Eventing, but I think they are the more TB built warmbloods. The heavy horses pay for their size in the endurance phases, it seems.
If you see Rusti on COTH, ask about Winston. He is a Hann stallion that Ralph Hill evented for them. I think he rode him through Advanced. Gorgeous horse, but again, not really heavy.
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Post by Amy on Mar 20, 2003 20:52:20 GMT -5
Well, I'm not surprised if I'm wrong...in fact, I'm glad I am! My frame of reference is very small, and I could certainly be misquoting David O'Connor. I did think there is alot of TB influence, just not a large majority of reg. TB's. I also knew there were some exracers, just didn't know if it was a significant percentage of all those competing at the higher levels. I'm hoping when Tango and I start cleaning up at the local hunter shows this Spring that the TB wll again become fashionable! Does this mean I can't come to Rolex next month?  |
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Post by Einstein on Mar 20, 2003 22:01:20 GMT -5
What kills me about the whole warmblood craze, it look at what's winning the hunters, WBs that look just like TBs but are branded!!
I loff my exracers, I wuldn't trade them for anything, but I also wish TB breeders WOULD breed for hunters or jumpers. Not sport horses, but specific lines for hunters. I still think a tb hunter is better in the ring then a wb hunter. I just wish we, in the US, bred for it.
Good to know about the TBs and WBs in eventing, I figured TBs ruled at higher levels. Thanks everyone ;D
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Post by Vida on Mar 20, 2003 22:38:01 GMT -5
Besides having better stamina, speed and agility, the one thing that is so special about the tb's and why they work so well at the upper levels of eventing is their heart. They'll give it until they keel over and die. That's the main reason I have tb's - the way they give to you under saddle is unlike any other breed that I've come across.
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Post by Einstein on Mar 20, 2003 23:19:08 GMT -5
Vida, I think you would love riding an Irish horse ;D
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Post by relativecolor on Mar 20, 2003 23:20:45 GMT -5
When we went to look at Zane, then Dixie, my trainer didn't think he'd do so well as a Dressage mount. But she took it back once she saw him under saddle. All of a sudden, he rounded out and looked so handsome.
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Post by Johnnie on Mar 20, 2003 23:34:45 GMT -5
Ok, just for comparison I went through a program for the most recent 3-day we went to. This was a CCI* and **. Some of the competitors were Kim Severson-Vinoski, Mike Huber, Mike Winter, Werner Geven, Rebecca Howard, etc. Ralph didn't ride, but was there with students. Anyway, here is the breakdown of horses.
61 TBs
5 TB cross with the cross not identified
2 TB/QH
3 TB/Clydesdale
5 TB/WB
1 TB/SB
2 QH
3 Warmblood Breeds (Oldenburg, Han, and WP)
1 ISH
1 Anglo/Arab
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Post by Einstein on Mar 20, 2003 23:49:40 GMT -5
Yeah for the ISH :horsie: For a CT event, at the novice or training level, on average, do you do alot of road/hill work? I used to do about 6 miles a day on Nate~had to be super fit to jump and show all summer, the stifle thing ;D It is no fun to ride Nate when he's super fit, and coming off a 18 hour trailer ride! He bucked at the KHP and I was a human lawn dart There is 1 very good eventing barn near me, but it is $750/month, and part of what I like about eventing is that you don't HAVE to own the $100,000 WB or ride at the "in" barns. |
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Post by Katie Jo on Mar 21, 2003 0:13:53 GMT -5
Michelle- Just thought I'd let you know, my TB stallion is going to be bred for hunter babies... He is a hunter through and through (i've got to show him this summer to prove that, but he is ;D!), but when I'm promoting him it will be as a race sire and a hunter sire.
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Post by niaru on Mar 21, 2003 8:09:03 GMT -5
AMY are you going to Rolex, too? You'll get to sleep in Smay's Winnebago (or whatever those humongous things are called...)? Lucky you!!!
Michelle, hills are good. Hills are very good! Actually, lots of trailriding at all gaits. I used to go to hunter paces as preparation for events. Novice level really isn't that demanding on a horse. If he's fit, he'll do ok.
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Post by Amy on Mar 21, 2003 9:19:55 GMT -5
Niaru, no I'm not planning on Rolex, I was just teasing. All the chat made me very jealous, though! I don't think I'll be able to swing it. I could drive, I think I'm about 8 hours, but that would be a pretty long drive for a long weekend. I'm not above camping in a tent, though! Maybe I can make it next year. |
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