How hard (or easy) is it to retrain a drassage horse to western?

Question

my wife just got a 10 yr old tb gelding for her b-day. he has been rode and trained for drassage but we ride western pleasure. he is a BIG teddy bear(17+ hands) but very gentle. i have seen him under saddle and he is VERY GOOD(barking dogs and cars don't bother him at all). i need advice on retraining him for western and the best and gentlest way to do this. this is her first horse and she is nervous (i have 2 others that i ride but she doesn't) so i want to make sure this is done right.

Answer 1

If he's a calm and relaxed horse, just put a western saddle on him. It might take him a few days to adjust himself, but English and Western are not so different that a dressage horse would have difficulty doing western pleasure.

The only thing that might give you a little trouble would be if you want him to neck rein. It's possible that he might already know how to neck rein, but many dressage horses haven't been trained for that. So work him into neck reining by helping him out with leg cues and body language.

And, of course, remember to reward him when he does what you ask him to do! Your horse sounds like he'll have very little trouble switching to western. If dogs and cars don't bother him, a western saddle shouldn't cause him any trouble.

Answer 2

I think your wife is in for a real treat!  This sounds like a wonderful horse for her.  

As others have said, the difference in saddle weight might take a little getting used to for the horse, but he should adapt readily.  

You haven't said what level of Dressage he was at.  The one thing he might not know how to do, which was also pointed out, is to neck rein.  But this should not be difficult to teach him.  

If he was ridden in a ring snaffle for Dressage, I would use that and just get him accustomed to traveling in a relaxed frame on a loose rein.  If he works well in this kind of bit, I would not change it, I would continue to use it; you can always put it in a western bridle.  

If he was ridden in a regulation curb (FEI) Dressage bit, I would also suggest, keep the same bit and just change the headstall, because if you stick with the bit the horse is accustomed to, then all you need to do is add indirect/neck rein cues; if you change the bit, you could confuse the horse more and cause communication-based issues.  

If he was ridden in another type of bit than those described; a double bridle, or if you don't know what bit he was in before,  I would go with a loose ring snaffle first to teach neck reining because you can use it to transition him from a direct ("plow" or leading rein) to an indirect or neck-rein.  Once he understands this concept, you can try a curb bit with a short shank to help turn him (if he isn't already working in a Dressage curb).  

He may do best in an English bit; or you may find a hybrid bit like a mullen Pelham works well for you.  If you can live with a hybrid bit, a medium shank mullen Pelham with a slot for both snaffle and curb reins, can be used with rein connector straps letting you have a single pair of reins that attach to short vertical straps going to both top and lower rein positions, this can really help the horse learn to turn and to take a different way of going.  

The problem with getting a traditional western curb and going straight into that, is that the horse is accustomed to collecting and turning on a direct rein, which should not be done in a western curb bit.  You would lose the controls the horse is familiar with.  The options I described give the horse a point of recognition so that he can better understand what you're now asking of him.  

He sounds like a fantastic trail horse.  I would work him in an arena until you find a bit that he likes and goes the way you want him to in, then try trails in it.  I would try to change one thing at a time rather than all at once.  

Good luck!

Answer 3

I've heard western and dressage are pretty similar. The main difference is the amount of rein contact. But with patience and time plus with the great nature you say this horse has, you should be in luck!

Answer 4

I had a warmblood who was a dressage horse almost all his life...I got him threw a western saddle on him and he did wonderful...One thing he was such a showoff...If someone walked out side their house as we were riding by the dressage horse came out in him, he danced really pretty.  I just gave him his head and let him do his thing.

Answer 5

The major difference is not the saddle...the longer leg used in dressage is the same as in western, but he will be used to more feel of the leg...not that big of a deal.  I worked with a dressage trainer in both my dressage saddle and western saddle alternating and had no problem, and my horse had no problem with either saddle.

He will be used to bit contact and will have to be taught to neck rein...he sounds like the willing type and should do fine.  Your wife should be thrilled.

Answer 6

If hes real quiet and sweet, just throw a western saddle on him, making sure you have a proper fitting one, lunge first, then  ride him in his dressage bridle or a plain snaffle, something hes used to.  Ride in a round pen or ring for a few days to see how he does. As much as possible keep your English reins relaxed and looser getting him to respond to your legs and seat, do direct rein circles, figure eights, leg yielding, working on the rail doing diagonals across the arena and just see how he does. I dont think its gonna be a huge leap for him to get it and he might totally love the more relaxed nature of it all. also if your sitting for western, deap in your saddle he might just relax and go slow for you, if so great reward him, if he wants to extend out do a few circles, sit deep and when he relaxes, reward him. I think you will find it will be easier than you think....Good luck!

Answer 7

Unfortunately, I don't think he'll ever make a really competitive western pleasure show horse if thats what you're looking to do.  I think his size, and the more upright carriage and animation you see in dressage will make it difficult to really get a slow, western pleasure frame.

However, if you're just looking for trail-riding type western pleasure, its easy (I've had some off-track TB's that I re-trained for western events).

The western saddle will feel different for him, but if he's quiet and seasoned, you should be able to just throw it up on him.  I recommend not using one with a rear cinch rigging though.  Longe him a few times with just the saddle until you can tell he's really relaxed with it.  If he's used to be ridden direct rein, make sure you keep him in a similar bit (d-ring snaffle, etc), and your wife can just ride him two handed.

If he's really "on" the bit all the time, its just a matter of rewarding him for slowing down by relaxing the rein, and he'll learn to move on a looser rein than before.  You can start with this by just doing a bunch of walking exercises (doing patterns, obstacle courses, etc at the walk and doing little half halts to get him off the bit).

It sounds like he's really quiet and fun, so he should be able to take to a new riding style very quickly.  Good luck, I wish my hubby would get me a horse for my bday!