The Dressage Horse

A dressage horse is defined by function rather than breed: an uphill frame, an active hind leg, three correct gaits, a visible aptitude for collection and, the quality professionals rank first, rideability. Most horses that fit the profile today are European warmbloods, because the studbooks have bred for these traits for two generations, but horses of many breeds and sizes have done the job.

The work shapes the body. Dressage loads the hindquarters and back repetitively rather than in the high-impact peaks of jumping, so the conditions that recur in working dressage horses are suspensory ligament injuries, arthritis in the hock, back soreness and front-foot pain. Most are managed rather than cured, and many horses keep working with maintenance.

At the top of the sport, a few horses have defined their eras. Valegro holds all three world records at Grand Prix level, set between 2012 and 2014 and still unbeaten. Totilas was the first horse to score above 90%. TSF Dalera BB and Glamourdale lead the current generation. This section covers the athlete profile, the health of the working horse and the horses whose records defined the sport.

The athlete

• What makes a dressage horse — the modern sport horse profile: build, gaits, collection aptitude and the rideability premium.
• Common injuries and conditions — what dressage work loads and what tends to go wrong: suspensories, hocks, backs, and what management careers look like.

The great horses

• The great dressage horses — the era guide: from the post-war classics to the current champions, and how “greatest ever” is honestly answered.
• Valegro — the record holder: London and Rio Olympic champion, and the world records that still stand.
• Totilas — the horse that broke the 90% barrier, and a breeding story as consequential as his sport career.
• TSF Dalera BB — the Trakehner mare behind the Tokyo double and the harmony era.
• Glamourdale — the reigning World Champion stallion and his parallel breeding career.

Profiles of further era-defining horses, and articles on the horse’s management, career arc and the schoolmaster years, are planned. The production side — how these horses are trained from backing to Grand Prix — is covered in the training section.

Corrections and proposals are welcome via the contribute page.