Update: Riley has some early signs of a mild infection, a little discharge at the site of the wound. The vet at the surgical facility said just to watch it (he is on SMZs) but I'm having my local vet come out tomorrow too. She has not seen the wound yet and it's a chance to get her up to speed. Riley is bright, no fever, walking and eating well, etc. It's all precautionary. Oh, and my claims rep Gloria sent a message that my "medical coverage is exhausted." Exhausted, what a perfectly fitting word Gloria. I feel your message to the core of my being.
I get the Hilltop Farm Inc., newsletter (I recommend it, it's not just promo stuff) and they have a dressage QH listed for sale. What a doll, and what a catch for some petite rider getting started in the sport. From the looks of the pix he might be able to move up a level or two -- seems athletic. I'm hoping to go to the Oldenburg Inspection at Hilltop. Wonder if he's there...
clipped from www.hilltopfarminc.com
1994 Quarter Horse Gelding
Bay, 15 hands
A safe, reliable, and fun partner for a junior or amateur rider. Last year, Wellington showed at Training and First Level with his junior owner receiving scores consistently in the 60’s and up to 71%. Previously, he has evented to the Preliminary level and loves to jump. He would be an excellent mount for someone wanting to do some lower level eventing, local hunter/jumper shows, dressage – or all of the above.
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And then there are two
So then I started re-researching quarter horses in dressage -- things change ya know! I found this boy on Equine.com, another looker, and priced right...
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RESOURCES (new)
AQHA welcomes dressage from A Quarter's Worth blog
Patrick Marley's dreams are made of Honey from Chronicle of the Horse
Reschooling the western horse for dressage from Horse Previews Magazine May 2009
Quarter horses in dressage from Sunrise Farms blog
Mockingbird Hill Farm (specializing in dressage quarter horses)
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When I was giving the 4-H clinic at the fair, one of the girls was riding a lovely quarterhorse. He would make a really nice dressage horse.
ReplyDeleteIt's never really about the breed, but rather about the horse!
I disagree--it IS about the horse. QH's can do lower level dressage, but they will never (in general) be able to do dressage the way a warmblood can. There may be a few exceptionally exceptional QH's out there, but, as a breed, they are simply not built for the same type of sport as the warmbloods. At the same time, warmbloods generally make terrible cattle horses :)
ReplyDeleteGloria ... Great American insurance, right? They've always been good to me, but I've never hit the $7500 limit either. Just curious.
ReplyDeleteMy old horse quarter horse Noble (who is 29 and now retired) did lower level dressage and was a delight to ride.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! I know a few QH doing dressage. I always enjoy seeing a different breed from the usual. I saw a clinic at Equine Affaire a few years back, with an appy who was FEI.
ReplyDeleteYes, Gloria from GAI -- she has been great and it is SO WONDERFUL to have a claims rep be available via email -- I sent my stuff in via pdf attachment, SO convenient and easy to keep the online record.
ReplyDeleteI hear a lot of people complain about insurance co's but Great American has been a joy to work with every time I interact with them. I highly recommend them. OF course there's a good chance I'll get dropped after this year :-(
This is the first time for commenting on your "column". You do a great job and Riley is in my prayers- hang in there. From one horse woman to another, I understand. :>)
ReplyDeletemy coach has an amazing second level Qh for sale. A real nice guy.
ReplyDeleteGreat American has never dropped me due to high use (and they've paid out much more than I've paid them over the years!). More likely, particular conditions will be excluded at your next renewal. I'm pretty sure all four of my horse's legs are excluded by now :)
ReplyDeleteVeronica if you have pix that the owner would share, I'll add him here...
ReplyDeleteMy left hind and now my right front are probably excluded, but so long as they cover the tummy....
ReplyDeleteBut wow, 12K for a 15 year old Qt. horse showing training and 1st. That seems a lot.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite mare I learned to ride on was a Quarterhorse. Maude was amazing; her nickname was "Dressage Diva". She could pick up a perfect collected canter from a halt. Her gaits were so pretty; not quite the same level as a warmblood, but she was perfect as a learning-to-ride-the-movements horse, for she would do them without the rider having to work really hard to keep her doing them.
ReplyDeleteShe never competed on the dressage circuit. She could do the movements, but she wasn't into the whole "show thing". She would put up with it for the kids, helping them win ribbons and doing her honest best in the show ring, but you could tell she just didn't have fun out there. So we didn't take her to shows unless we really needed her (she was a "backup" in case another horse went lame right before a show.)
Sadly, she had cancer and is no longer alive. I will never forget her though - such an amazing horse! She even saved my life once.