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While most dressage (a French term meaning "training") horses are warm bloods - Holsteiners, Trahkeners, Dutch Warmbloods, and Oldenburgs - some American Quarter Horses have also been very successful in dressage competitions. Whether the intent is to participate in basic dressage competitions with your horse or you have goals of reaching international competitions or even the Olympic games, selecting the right horse for the job is important.

In the search for a good competitive dressage horse, the horse must be trained in terms of rhythm and regularity. The horse should be able to maintain a steady and regular gait whether in a pure walk, a pure trot or a pure canter, down a straight path or a winding trail.

Pay close attention to that definition and note that dressage competitions are all about the horses and not the rider; the same is the case with other elements of dressage as well. When it comes to the judge's decisions about how to score dressage horses, it is up to the horse to perform well against its competitors.

Another factor that judges score is the relaxed and confident behavior of the horse. The evenness of the horse's gait, a lack of tension and soft chewing of the bit, smooth transitions and a swinging of the tail demonstrate these important factors of the horse's performance in the dressage competition.

Judges in these events also look at the contact that the riders have with their horses; dressage horses should not pull the hands of the rider and the reins should be held evenly - in other words, the horse should be able to come up into the bridle and should be carried forward in a natural motion.

Just as the pull of the dressage horse is measured, so is its push - the thrusting power that propels a horse forward with correct muscle and joint use. Part of the horse's push is measured in the straightness of the dressage horses gait, the horse's ability to move forward with its hind legs following the same path as its front legs.

If you are looking to acquire a dressage horse for future competition, you will want to consider the abilities and traits of the person for whom the horse is intended. While the judges critique dressage horses in competition more than the rider, it is equally important for the rider to be able to guide the horse and to lead it through the judged events. If you are naturally uneasy atop a horse, then you will want to find a horse that is very intuitive and calm. If you were really tall and lanky, you would not want to get a shorter horse, no matter how successful the horse has been in previous competitions.

If a horse being considered is champion dressage horse, then perhaps the horse will not be a good choice for little Suzie to ride, even if little Suzie wants to compete. Little Suzie is still quite young and a champion dressage horse is very expensive. Perhaps more to the point, a champion should compete regularly, rather than occasionally. Another thing to consider is the bond that will develop between little Suzie and her horse, and how Suzie's participation in the dressage training of the horse will only add to the experience for Suzie.

In other words, when you look at dressage horses, it's important to recognize that all breeds of horses that are used as riding horses can be trained in the techniques and principles of dressage. If you are an experienced rider who does not have a great deal of experience with dressage - or any experience within the dressage ring for that matter - you're likely to find that the same American Quarter Horse that you've been riding in pasture or on the trail can learn the basics of dressage. Perhaps more importantly, you'll find that a bit of training as a dressage horse will lead you to a more enjoyable, everyday ride.

Dressage horses are less likely to refuse to do as the rider asks and is comfortable with bit contact. The flow of motion between riders and dressage horses tends to be consistent and will exhibit a constant communication between the two. Dressage horses are balanced and better able to draw on the strength of their hind legs, and have experience keeping a steady pace whether walking, trotting or cantering.

When, as a rider, you are able to focus more on the ride than on controlling your horse, you'll take more pleasure in each outing that you make. Dressage horses - or, at the very least, horses that have had some experience with dressage - make great horses for kids and less experienced riders: while the rider remains in control, dressage horses are responsive, and that can have a huge impact on the pleasure of riding a horse.

Source: http://www.horseclicks.com/

Ivy is a gorgeous little girl with lots of chrome. A deposit will old her until she is weaned. She will be reg. WCMHR. Dad is 33", mom 35"

Source: http://www.horseclicks.com/

Quarter Horse seems like a strange name for an animal, but only until you understand that Quarter horses are able to run a quarter mile faster than any other horse can run the same distance (in some situations, a Quarter Horse has been recorded at over 50 miles per hour while running at full speed), then its given name makes good sense. In part, that is a testament to the horse's athletic ability, along with its strong, well-muscled hind legs.

Combine versatility and an even temper with those characteristics (athleticism and muscle structure) and you can see why Quarter Horses are some of the most popular choices among those who are buying from a list of horses for sale. Not only is the American Quarter Horse common with a lot of general buyers, but the breed is popular overall; the majority of horses registered worldwide are registered with the American Quarter Horse Association.

Of the registered Quarter Horses, many run races thanks to their speed. Many others are participants in horse shows. Others work on ranches around the world. Still others - thanks to the Quarter Horse's compact body - are used in working with cows, calf roping, barrel racing, reining, cutting as well as other riding events. But don't think of the Quarter Horse as merely a workhorse: the Quarter Horse is equally at home in other equestrian events.

Sport and speed both create environments in which the American Quarter Horse feels at home. With Thoroughbred, Arabian and Morgan bloodlines all contributing to the genetic pool of the American Quarter Horse, it's not difficult to see why the Quarter Horse excels in most situations.

Because of this, the American Quarter Horse is often seen in show environments, in racing events, in rodeos as well as on the ranch, and even in stables that are home to horses that are owned by individuals and families, who just want a horse that they can take out for enjoyable rides on trails. It's important to note, however that just because Quarter Horses are used for ranch working purposes as well as for trail riding doesn't mean that they don't serve other purposes as well; for example, many quarter horses have been used for dressage and for jumping competitions.

As with anything else in life, not all Quarter Horses are created equal. Most grow to between 14 and 16 hands high with some growing to 17 hands. Stock Quarter Horses are agile and muscled, however they appear to be compact and a bit stocky. Halter Quarter Horses, on the other hand tend to be taller and have similar smooth muscling to the Thoroughbred.

Regardless of whether or not the horses are of the stock or halter variety, you're likely to discover that Quarter Horses are available in a wide variety of colors. Most commonly, you'll find them listed as sorrel - a brownish-red, chestnut brown shade. That, however, doesn't mean that you won't find Quarter Horses listed that are described as black, bay, gray, dun, palomino, red roan or a number of other shades. All of these colors - along with spotted or pinto colors - are found to be acceptable when it comes time to register a horse with the American Quarter Horse Association, provided the horse's parents were registered as well.

If you are looking for a family horse, lineage and registration with the American Quarter Horse Association may not be among your top priorities when you're looking through listings of horses for sale. Instead, you may be focused on a child's request for "a brown one," or on finding a Quarter Horse that is closer to 14 hands rather than 16 or 17, which will make it easier for even the youngest members of your family to ride.

On the other hand, if you are looking for an American Quarter Horse because you are looking for the right animal to help you around the ranch, when it comes to reigning in cattle, you may actually want to know whether or not the Quarter Horse is from a working line.

In other words, when you're making an effort to research Quarter Horses for any purpose, focus on your needs first and foremost. You will be more likely to find a Quarter Horse that will meet your expectations if you know what your expectations really are. This way you are sure to find exactly the Quarter Horse you need and want.

Source: http://www.horseclicks.com/

Max is a very nice, very quiet horse. He's got the softest eye I've ever seen, and he doesn't have a mean bone is his body. He's broke to ride, the only thing I've used him for is trail riding. He was fine when I took him out by himself but he was a bit antsy about it, he's good with a group also. He's good with the farrier and leads and loads very well, he is kinda stand-offish with the clippers but he's gotten better about it since we'd gotten him. Has a negativ coggins. He's a big sweetie the only reason we are selling him is we need to downsize on the herd, plus I like my horse to have a bit of get up and go and he's definately not that horse. He's a very slow walker which for someone else who wants to plot along and enjoy the trail he's definately it. He is not a dominant horse he's at the bottom of the pecking order at our place.

Source: http://www.horseclicks.com/