Training in the Right Way: An Ode to the ‘Normal’ Horse

While those seeking international dressage careers will absolutely need freak-show levels of talent, most riders would enjoy the process — and likely realize more competitive success — working with a more average partner.

Dressage training is supposed to be the process of training ANY horse to be a better riding horse. The more the horse learns, in theory, the easier it is to communicate with and therefore complete more complex tasks with. Although competition dressage training often is more focused on training for the dressage test, that is not what the original intention (and original judging requirements) were for competitive dressage. Initially, it was designed to give riders and trainers a way to determine how their training measured up to the theoretical ideal of the training process. That said, it is critically important to understand the meanings and reasons for some of the terms we use to describe dressage training and what to look for when observing training and competition (and videos and photos), regardless of whether you intend to compete or just train your horse to be a better whatever you do with him. That, ultimately, is the main purpose of my articles. To provide education and knowledge for riders to understand and improve their eye and understanding of what dressage training is supposed to be. While there will always be some differences in practice and theory, good horse training is always recognizable to the educated eye. That said, it absolutely is necessary that we remember and understand that limited knowledge is limited judgment.

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Dressage competition was originally designed to test the training of the horse and rider while giving feedback about what needs improvement based on an agreed upon standard reflecting Classical training values. Of course, there have always been horses that are better suited to the job of being ridden (as opposed to driven, for example). Also, it has always been true that some riding horses have more athleticism– bigger, freer movement, more speed, or greater jumping ability. But in the origins of dressage competition, the playing field was more consistently level.

What I mean by this is that not so long ago (within my lifetime), the quality of horses used in dressage competition was more consistently average. Today, however, horses have sky-rocketed both in quality and, not shockingly, in price as well. This has most assuredly made a very unlevel playing field in that excellent training on a very normal horse will almost always be overshadowed by mediocre training on a fabulously talented horse. It is unfortunate, but currently the system does not have a consistent and obvious way to differentiate between training and talent. Because of this, most riders who want to compete are driven to find the most talented, purpose-bred, competitive dressage horse they can find. And, often these horses are too big, too hard to sit and too hard to manage for many riders. As a result, riders get discouraged or injured and stagnate at a level because their horse is not suitable to them, although he may be theoretically suitable to the sport.

The town that I live in in Florida has a venue that is easily visible from one of our main highways. It is a training venue. It also happens to be a church and is often referred to as “The Cowboy Church.” I drive by this venue regularly and I love seeing all the horses and riders who show up for training events. Most of the horses and riders appear to be equipped with western tack that lends itself to ranch work and non-competitive western riding pursuits (with maybe some barrel racers mixed in). Occasionally there are some horses in “not-western” tack, but not a discernibly specific English type. Anyway, I love looking at all these “normal” riding horses doing their jobs. Some are better built than others. Some are better trained than others. Most of them have arrived in open-air stock trailers, fully tacked up, and are standing quietly waiting for their turn in the training ring. Why do I bring this up? Because the reality is that most dressage riders would be happier (and arguably even more competitively successful) with a well-trained “normal horse,” than a highly talented, purpose-bred dressage horse. Of course, to many riders, breeders, and trainers, this is utter blasphemy.

If you aspire to compete internationally, and you have the trainer, the time, and the financial backing (we’re talking generational money here) to devote to chasing this dream, you absolutely fall into the category of needing a highly talented, big moving, hot, purpose-bred dressage horse. That being said, not everyone needs or enjoys this type of horse. These horses tend to be big and tall, powerful movers, and come with a great deal of athleticism, requiring careful management and almost daily training. And, as we know the higher the quality, the higher the price tag. Most riders interested in dressage cannot buy a horse to compete on that costs more than their house and car combined. True, not all dressage-bred warmbloods are like this, but most of them are still more athletic and harder to sit than the average dressage rider can handle. The good news is that it is, in fact, not always necessary to take out a second mortgage and devote all your assets to a fancy warmblood. This is where the normal horse comes into the discussion. A healthy, sound, well-tempered horse with three capable gaits, that is not too old and not too young, can be trained to be an exceptional dressage horse.

I would like to introduce you to some examples of what many people would consider “normal” horses, that are, in fact, exceptional dressage horses:

Candace Platz and Fynn competing at the USDF National Finals in the Grand Prix. Photo (c) Candace Platz.

Fynn, owned and ridden by Candace Platz, is a fantastic example of a horse that may have been overlooked as being too “normal” to be a competent competitive dressage horse. Fynn was born in Canada, out of a quarter horse PMU mare and by a quarter horse x Belgian stallion. He narrowly escaped slaughter as a youngster as he was a by-product of the Premarin industry. He competed in over 75 Grand Prix tests with Candace and attended the USDF National Finals at Grand Prix no less than three times, and was never less than third place. He also earned his owner her USDF Gold Medal in his first two center lines.

Fynn and Candace in a canter pirouette in competition. Photo (c) Candace Platz.

Dio and Gwyneth in piaffe. Photo (c) Gwyneth McPherson

Dio de la Guerra is a Paso x Friesian who is training all of the Prix St Georges movements with piaffe and passage. He came to me as a training project that was having trouble cantering and had a very “normal” (small and earthbound) trot. While he does not have an extensive competition record, he competed at Third Level successfully getting scores in the mid to high 60s and has taught many people Spanish Walk, Spanish Trot, piaffe and passage.

Dio and Gwyneth performing Spanish Walk. Photo (c) Gwyneth McPherson

Morgane Schmidt and Major Storm, USDF APHA Horse of the Year at Prix St Georges. Photo (c) Morgane Schmidt

Major Storm is a halter bred, APHA gelding, owned by Michele Ting, who competed through I-1 and was the USDF APHA All Breeds Champion at PSG. What he lacks in natural talent, he more than makes up for in intelligence and kindness. Stormy not only earned his rider her USDF Bronze, Silver, and half of her Gold medal, but he also taught numerous other riders passage and tempis. Stormy is a hot horse, but is still 100% trust worthy in any situation, making him exceptionally fun to work with.

Morgane Schmidt and Stormy competing at Prix St Georges. Photo (c) Morgane Schmidt

Kelly Hendrick and Queen’s Moody Blues in piaffe, competing at Grand Prix. Photo (c) Kelly Hendrick.

Queen’s Moody Blues (Puck) was bred and started as a Show Morgan, but his owner and rider, Kelly Hendrick decided to switch to dressage with him. Puck’s diminutive size and sensitive personality did not get in his way, and he took to dressage training with enthusiasm. Although it was a challenge to develop a bigger swinging trot from his naturally quick up-and-down trot, teaching him piaffe and passage made a huge difference in his collected and extended trot. Puck and Kelly successfully debuted at Grand Prix in 2023.

Kelly and Puck in extended trot, competing at Grand Prix. Photo (c) Kelly Hendrick.

The key here is training. A horse with normal gaits and a good brain will develop suppleness and bigger, loftier movement when he is trained properly. In fact, this is the whole point of dressage training, to make the horse a more athletic and confident version of himself. This is what the original competitions were about. Comparing training systems as they were applied to a group of horses that were of similar quality. Again, yes, there have always been more talented horses that stand out, but the majority were just “good riding horses” that had been trained to be better.

What is a “normal” horse:

For the purpose of this article, the term normal horse is simply a horse that has not been purposefully bred for competitive dressage or has a style of movement that is not usually considered talented. This generally means that there is a lack of the natural suppleness and suspension normally seen in talented dressage horses. It may also mean that the conformation is a little less than desirable and the breed may not usually be associated with competitive or classical dressage. However, a normal (dressage) horse can be found in all breeds that can walk, trot, and canter (being able to perform these three gaits is an absolute necessity for competition).

Why they are often a better option:

In order to be able to sit a talented competitive warmblood’s trot, sometimes his canter, and definitely any extra-curricular movements and airs above the ground, the rider must be an athlete. This often means riding multiple horses in training each day and/or going to the gym or some other cross-training. Most riders are not professional trainers or sponsored international competitors. Most riders have a job other than riding and going to the gym, and most riders do not have the time to spend on training their bodies to be ready to ride their horse. In this sense, a normal sized, normal moving horse with a willing but quiet temperament is a much better partner for the average dressage rider.

What to look for:

The term normal is a bit unfair. I am using it to describe a typical type of horse that most people would recognize as not fancy. By normal I mean a good riding horse as opposed to a fancy dressage horse. However, more often than not, these normal horses that succeed in training and competition are actually quite exceptional. Particularly in that they are very intelligent and people-oriented. Their normalness is in their breeding and movement. When you are looking for a good riding horse, you must take note of the conformation and movement, as well as the temperament. The are some very important things to look for when determining if a horse can be a good dressage horse. This applies to purpose-bred and non-purpose-bred animals since the fundamental requirements are the same for all riding horses. You can refer here to one of my earlier articles on choosing a dressage horse for more specifics. I go into detail about what to look for there, but here is a brief list of requirements.

• Temperament: The horse must be inquisitive and enjoy doing things with people and enjoy expending energy (working).
• Gaits: He has three clear, clean gaits. This includes a four beat walk, a two beat trot, and a clear three beat canter. While in motion, in all three gaits, the hind legs must be able to reach forward under the horse’s body to where the rider would sit, and the front legs must be able to reach forward from under the horse’s shoulders. The movement should appear effortless, with freedom in the shoulder and swinging in the haunches. Ideally, there should be a moment of suspension visible in the trot and canter.
• Conformation: He must be built for the job. This means that the horse has a strong, supple back, with an uphill, mildly arched neck that is proportionate to his back. The haunches should be larger but not taller than the shoulders. The front legs should meet the ground in a straight plumb line from the shoulders and the hind legs should similarly be under the haunches. The hocks should be appropriately angled and the feet should appear strong and firm under the horse’s weight. There’s a lot more that can be said of conformation, but this is a good place to start.

How does “normal” become “exceptional”?

What makes a normal horse exceptional is training. Read that again. The challenge is finding an educated professional that has the knowledge and willingness to train a horse that is not a purpose-bred warmblood. The main reason a good quality riding horse does not become a competent dressage horse is lack of timely, quality training, not the lack of talent. That being said, working with an educated trainer is key.

Assuming you have appropriate help, where these normal horses really shine in the training process is that they are often easier to ride (gait wise), more interested in playing the game with their human, and generally more tractable and fun. I am not saying that purpose-bred warmbloods are always lacking in those things (riding dragons *is* fun for some), simply that they are often hotter and more difficult for the average rider to manage. The term ‘purpose-bred’ itself would imply that they are fairly narrow in scope regarding their applicable talents—i.e. you are rather unlikely to see someone riding their Jazz/UB40 bred horse down the road or moving cattle. In contrast, the more tractable, normal horse lends itself to a variety of activities, which can be utilized to keep the training process fun and interesting for both horse and rider.

For many recreational dressage riders, that’s a much more enjoyable route to take and it does allow for a clearer focus on the actual training, as the horse’s progress isn’t clouded by his natural talent (which is one way of saying that often times, super talented horses make it easier for the rider to ‘cheat’ or skip over important aspects of the training process because they’re relying on the innate talent. While that may not be an issue initially, it will eventually be a hole that stalls or halts the training process). At the end of the day, every rider should look to honestly assess their riding, training, and showing goals along with their skills level, time constraints, and finances, and from there determine what sort of horse would best suit their situation. It may very well be the case that you need a baby dragon to charge down the centerline with you at Ermelo, but it also might just be that you would have a blast, and learn how to better ride and train, with your Heinz 57 cross bred who isn’t afraid of the soap bubbles as they stream off the wash rack.

And remember: limited knowledge is limited judgment.

Gwyneth and Flair in competition at Grand Prix. (c) flatlandsfoto.

Gwyneth McPherson has over 35 years experience competing, training, and teaching dressage.  She began her education in in the late 1970s, riding in her backyard on an 11 hh pony. Her first instructor introduced her to Lendon Gray (1980 and 1988 Olympian). who mentored Gwyneth for a decade during which she achieved her first National Championship in 1984, and her Team and Individual Young Rider Gold Medals in1987.

In 1990 Gwyneth began training with Carol Lavell (1992 Olympian) who further developed Gwyneth as an FEI rider and competitor. Gwyneth achieved a Team Bronze in 1991 and a Team Silver in 1992 in the North American Young Riders Championships, and trained her stallion G’Dur to do all the Grand Prix movements while riding with Carol.

In 2008, while Head Trainer at Pineland Farms, Gwyneth began training with Michael Poulin (Olympian 1992). Michael was trained by Franz Rochowansky (Chief Rider for the Spanish Riding School 1937-1955). Michael has shared much of Rochowansky’s knowledge and wisdom with Gwyneth, completing her education as a Grand Prix rider, trainer, and competitor.

Gwyneth’s teaching and training business, Forward Thinking Dressage,is based in Williston, FL. In addition to teaching riders and training, Gwyneth also loves sharing her knowledge of the sport and art of dressage as well as discussing relevant topics pertaining to the training itself and the current competitive landscape.