Appaloosa Dressage Horses

Appaloosa News July 1979

APPALOOSAS FIND NEW HORIZONS IN DRESSAGE by Arthur E. Wible

Competitive dressage is a 20th century development, whereas exhibition dressage dates from the publication, 1552, of Grisone's pioneer work "Ordini de Cavaleare."

Charles D. "Chuck" Grant is one of few trainer/riders in the United States to have marked success in both fields. He performed in exhibitions before World War Two; judged the first U.S. civilian dressage show in 1948; was one of the founders of the Midwest Dressage Association. Chuck Grant has trained many horses and riders in international dressage. He also has trained seven horses to the Grand Prix level - a feat unmatched in the United States.

Early in the morning after driving down highway 23, a busy freeway, and moving onto congested construction on M-59 near Hartland Michigan, we headed south through the farm land north of Brighton. On a gravel road south, in the calm of the countryside and almost hidden from the road, there appeared Chuck Grant's Shine-A-Bit Farm and training facility with a sign "Whoa" placed at the end of the drive.

There was much activity - horses being washed and groomed, tack being cleaned, horses lunged and ridden in the field, and a group class under instruction in the indoor arena. Amid all this we saw a tall, distinguished man, quiet in his movements and patient of voice. We saw Chuck Grant at work.

The following interview evolved from our meeting.

A.W. : We were surprised to learn the Appaloosa stallion Billie Joe Frecklesl was in your hands for dressage training. Does the standing of a stallion to mares in any way interfere with his necessary daily training.
C.G.: From my experience in training stallions while standing at stud, my answer would be no. However, this would depend, to some degree, on the disposition of the horse and his past training. While you are training this stallion you, the trainer, will have to spend some additional time on teaching manners so he will not be preoccupied with mares working in the same vicinity. With most stallions, you will have to take additional warm-up time before entering the show ring so his entire concentration will be on his anticipated ring entrance and not on any mares in the area.
A.W.: What breed, or breeds, have been most successful in training and dressage competition?
C.G.: The most successful horses I have had in dressage competition have been Thoroughbreds, or have had a good infusion of Thoroughbred blood. Trakehners and Hanoverians, or a mixture of these breeds, have been most successful in dressage competition. In my opinion, these are the most popular breeds. However, it is not the breed, but the individual that makes the great competitor.
The word dressage comes from the French. It means training, and training is what counts. No matter what the breed - the individual that is impressive to look at, moves with true gaits that are very free, and has the proper psychological attitude is the one to go forward with.
A.W.: Have European bloodlines been more successful in competition? Have American-bred horses been coming along in status?
C.G.: Yes, the European bloodlines have been much more successful in competition than the American-bred horses. I do not think this is due to the type of horses they have in Europe. It is because Europeans have been engaged in this type of training for many more years than we have in the United States. American-bred horses have not come along in status as they should. I believe this is because we have so few dedicated trainers in this country. We must develop an American style, and this can't be done the way we are going. All three of the horse disciplines in the Olympic games are now, and have been, coached and trained by Europeans. We have had three or four American coaches for our Olympic teams, and these for only a short period of time. Most of the horses used on our dressage team have been European-bred and trained. However, American-bred horses are now begining to come along to higher levels of dressage.
A.W.: What basic characteristics do you look for in judging that a horse is a candidate for dressage training?
C.G. I enjoy training any horse as long as he is sound, a fairly good mover, and mentally normal. I have trained just about every breed of horse we have in America for competitive dressage.
If you were to ask me to find a horse that would be a candidate for the Olympic team, I would have to look for the individual that I feel would be appealing to the dressage judges. This would be a fairly good size horse, perhaps 16 hands or better. He would have to be a long-moving horse. That is, at the walk he would have to have an overstep of at least eight inches. This is measured from where the toe of the fore was to where the toe of the hind foot lands past the toe of the forefoot on the same side. At the trot he also would have to overstep the forefoot.
I would look for a normal temperment in the horse. This is something one cannot change in the horse. It is the manner in which the mind of the horse works. He must not be the kind of horse that resents normal handling. He should not be the kind of horse that is always looking for something to be afraid of.
He must show some natural elasticity in his strides and he should move with a little more rounded action than the average horse. I like a young horse to start, say 2 or 3, but I also have had great success with horses much older.
As for breed, I would have to say the horse I would pick would have to have a good infusion of Thoroughbred. This could be a Quarter Horse. The top ten sires of the Quarter Horses in this country are Thoroughbreds. I have had a number of great horses that were half Thoroughbred and half Saddlebred. I have had two great competitive horses that were registered Arabians, one a mare and one a stallion. I have had Morgan horses that have done well, especially the ones that looked more like Saddlebreds than the old true Morgan. Appaloosa's are on the way to becoming more popular in the dressage show ring. No matter what the breed, they must have to some degree, the qualities I have mentioned.
A.W.: In dressage training for the competition, does each horse have limitations as to the level of achievement from training level to Grand Prix level?
C.G.: If the horse is sound, physically and mentally, I would think there would be no limit to his training to Grand Prix. Each horse may move differently. One may not be able to reach as far forward as another horse. But each horse is capable of doing all the movements of the Grand Prix horse.
There is nothing new you are going to teach the horse. Our problem is being able to communicate with the horse so he will do something he already knows how to do. He knows how to do the extended trot, for we often see him do this when he is in the pasture. He knows how to do the piaffe and the passage, for we often see the horse do this when he feels good or wants to show off. He knows how to lay down and sit up, but the problem is how do we communicate with him so he will respond with the movements we want. We may find a horse that has a shorter time span for concentration, and this horse will more time to get to the Grand Prix level.
A.W.: How long does it take to move a horse that is athletically capable through the various levels of training and competition?
C.G.: The answer to this question, by most European trainers, would be about four years. However, this is really not the true answer when one considers the thousands of horses that are started in dressage training, and the very few that reach the Grand Prix level used in the Olympic games.
Assuming the horse started in training is normal physically and mentally, and the trainer has spent a lifetime training dressage horses, the answer would be two to three years In my opinion, it takes many years for the trainer to learn how to go about training the horse. I have known only two American trainers that have trained more than one horse to the Grand Prix level of dressage competition. You can count the fingers of both hands and you have the number of American trainers that have trained one horse to the Grand Prix level.
I have trained seven horses to the Grand Prix level, and each has competed in national dressage trials in this country. I was over 45 years old before I was able to train my first horse to this top level. After training my next three horses to the top level, I was able to train the last three horses to this level in about two years.
When one knows the theory of training very well, he knows very little - for this theory then has to be applied to a live animal. It is the training and experience of the trainer that takes time. Once this is accomplished, the ability to communicate with the horse can be practiced.
A.W.: How different or alike are some of the training procedures used in dressage as compared to English and Western pleasure and reining?
C.G.: The training procedures all over the world, regardless what the horses are used for, are about the same. With the dressage horses all over the world, they are the same. This comes about through the Federation Equestrian International, which sets up the rule for international competition. This federation recognizes just three disciplines used in international competition. They are dressage, the three day competition, and the Prize of Nations jumping contest.
Through the exchange of army officers before the second World War, American officers would spend years learning the training methods used by the Italians in Palermo, Italy; the French in Saumur, France; the Germans in Hannover, Germany; the English in Weedon, England, ect. This exchange of training methods, breeds of horses, and the competitions led to a similarity of training methods used to produce some of the top trained horses in the world.
The Western trainer does not have a counterpart in any part of the world. The English pleasure horse would use the exact training of the dressage horse for the ordinary walk, trot and extended trot, as well as the collected gallop.
The dressage horse is the ballerina. The Western horse, properly trained, is the most efficient horse, For instance, to do the rein-back, the dressage horse has to back a prescribed number of steps. The cadence has to be the same as the cadence for the walk forward. The back movement must be in exact two-time, the left forefoot and the right hind must leave the ground together and land together. On the last step back the horse must not hesitate, but move that foot forward which was the last to move back.
On the other hand, the Western horse must move to the rear fast; his form may change; and normally he is not penalized if he takes more steps then required.
The half-pirouette at the canter and the rollback are just about the same as far as the aids used. But, again, the dressage horse has to do the half pirouette in three strides. His inside hind foot should make a circle about three feet in diameter, and the cadence must be the same as the collected canter. The bend of the horse must be around the riders inside leg, and the horse well flexed to the inside of the turn, with the head staying the same.
The western horse, on the other hand, has to spin around fast. He does not have to keep his head in any one position, nor does he have to keep the canter behind. The aids for the dressage horse and the Western horse, for these two movements, should be the same.
It is not for me to say which method is best to use for training the horse. I do know the Western horse can do more spins in a given time than the well schooled dressage horse. The well schooled dressage horse has to do each spin in six strides, and the inside hind foot must keep the same three-beat gait in which the spin was started. The Western horse does not have to keep this same beat.
A.W.: Many Appaloosa owners are not interested in competitive dressage. Can this training help them in their Western or English performance classes?
C.G.: The owners of Appaloosa horses interested in Western or English performance classes have to be interested in dressage. Dressage is training of the horse for any purpose. Learning the theory of training can only help the rider or trainer turn out better performing horses, no matter what their use.
The average rider knows how to perform about nine different movements with the horse. The horse is capable of doing about 135 movements.
I would think the Appaloosa rider would have a much better performing horse if he would give some thought as to how the horse learns to obey the aids when properly used. Unfortunately, the horse learns the bad as well as the good.
A.W.: Other than horses you have trained in dressage, have you trained some Western performance horses?
C.G.: Yes, I have trained Western performance horses. I also have judged Western performance classes in the he Chicago area. I have used the same training methods for both the dressage horses and the Western horses.
Just as an experiment, I used a Western saddle on all my dressage horses a few summers ago. It was most interesting to find that the horses go equally well in either saddle once they become accustomed to the extra weight and feel of the Western saddle.
A very good friend of mine shows his dressage horse in both Western classes and competitive dressage. He attributes placing consistently higher in Western classes to the dressage schooling of his horse.
A.W.: How important is hunting-jumping ability to dressage training?
C.G.: Hunting-jumping ability is not necessary in training the dressage horse. However, I have found if the horse is already a good hunter or jumper, his training in dressage may go a little faster.
A good performing horse generally is a well-schooled horse. The more schooling the horse has, providing it is good schooling, the easier it is to bring him on to higher levels.The power of concentration in the unschooled horse is very short. As schooling goes on, this power of concentration becomes longer. In order to learn, the horse must concentrate well. The jumping horses used in the Olympic games all receive a great deal of dressage training.
A.W.: When Billie Joe Freckles was brought to you for the first time in November 1977, what special characteristics did he have?
C.G.: First of all, he was a very pleasing horse to look at. He has kind eyes, he was alert, well-muscled and an exceptionally good mover with long strides. His manners were excellent. His previous training had been very good, and he was able to concentrate for longer periods of time than most stallions. Billie Joe Freckles was a halter champion. The training he received as a halter horse had to be good. His manners, both in the stall and under saddle were perfect. His dressage training did not really start until January 1978.
A.W.: Since Billie Joe Freckles had no performance show training, did this affect your initial training procedures with him?
C.G.: I was very pleased Billie Joe Freckles had had not training under saddle, for I then had no bad habits to undo. We were able to go straight forward with the snaffle bridle. He accepted training as if he liked it, and he was able to come along very fast as is evident by his going so far in competitive showing in such a short time.
So often horses come here for training in advanced dressage that have had a good deal of schooling. Often, horses sent here have a head problem, or want to lean into the bridle. These faults have to be eradicated before one can go on with the higher levels of dressage training.
A.W.: How long did it take to ready Billie Joe Freckles for his first show competition, and how did he perform? C.G.: After three months of training he was first shown in the first and second levels. He was not in the ribbons at this show, but did gain in his training by being in new surroundings. His rider for all shows was Mari Zdunic, and this was her second year showing in competitive dressage.
His second show, after four months of training, was at the second and third levels. He placed high in both classes, that is, in the ribbons
. After five months of training, he was again shown at the second and third levels. The first place score for the third level class was 67.95 percent. Billie Joe Freckles was third, with a score of 67.75 percent - only 20/100ths of a point out of first place.
After six months of training, he was shown at the third and fourth levels. And, in the Michigan Dressage Team competition, Billie Joe Freckles was a member of the winning team for the state championship, scoring highest of the four-horse team.
All of these shows were very large in entries, and he was competing against some of the best horses in the country.
A.W.: From these first show experiences, were you encouraged that Billie Joe Freckles could go on?
C.G.: Yes, Billie Joe Freckles should be able to go on to the Grand Prix level of dressage. By the time this horse has about two years of training he should be able to do the Grand Prix test. It may take a little more time to smooth out the passage and piaffe, but he will be trained to the degree of dressage that is required for Olympic dressage. Of course, some of this success will be due to the rider/trainer combination.
A.W.: How is he progressing in further training?
C.G.: Further training is coming along in an excellent manner. We have started flying changes of lead at every four strides and his progress is better than we hoped for. His ground training for the passage is well started, and this winter we will be doing some of the passage work from the saddle.
A.W.: Is there a time when readying a horse for dressage competition should be stopped in order to pursue a more deliberate training period not interrupted by show competition?
C.G.: Yes, there does come a time, in training and showing, when the trainer has to back off the training of more advanced movements in order to show well at the lower level.
If we have a horse training well at the third level, and this horse is ready for showing at the third level, we could confuse him by rigid training of more advanced movements.
For instance, in this third level, the horse is required to make a 66 foot circle at the counter-canter. For the fourth level test, the horse is required to perform the flying change of lead at the canter. The next movement, after the counter canter is confirmed, would be the the flying change of lead. If we are teaching the flying change of lead, and also showing at the third level, it is possible the horse, while doing the counter-canter, will do the flying change of lead on his own. If this should happen, the horse would be scored down - and rightly so.
Unless the horse is really confirmed at the counter-canter to the point where he will not make the flying change of lead on his own, the best bet would be to back off, and not practice the flying changes.
I continue to practice the flying change of lead at least two weeks before the next show where the horse will be shown at the third level. I use the expression, "one has to tear down to build up." By that I mean, if one is to go forward with the training of the horse, there comes a time when the horse will escape into a movement the horse may think we want. If this should take place, the trainer has to back off the new movement until the one the horse escapes into has been confirmed.
A.W.: Does Billie Joe Freckles command unusual attention as a competitive performer?
C.G.:Yes, he does command unusual attention as a competitive horse. I attribute this to his color, his build, his way of going and his general expression.
A.W.: At what age should a horse be brought to dressage training?
C.G.: The young foal, having the halter put on, is receiving training, or being "dressaged", and the training goes on from here until the horse finishes his work at whatever he is to be used for. The actual mounted training starts at about 2 years of age.
A.W.: Do you prefer that a horse be brought to you without any prior training - either ground training or under saddle?
C.G.: I like to receive a horse that has been broke to walk, trot and canter with a long frame.
A.W.: What special equipment do you use, if any, for ground and saddle training?
C.G.: When starting the ground training one needs a snaffle bridle, side reins, a saddle and a whip that is at least six feet long.
After the horse has had some work in collection from the saddle with the snaffle bridle, one must then go to full bridle. The time to introduce the full bridle will depend on the trainer and the horse. In dressage competition one must use the snaffle bridle up to the third level. Third level tests may be done in either the snaffle or full bridle. Fourth level and tests above that level must be done in the full bridle.
A.W.: How much time is spent in ground training before a horse goes under saddle?
C.G.: Again, this depends on the horse and the trainer doing the work. Generally, I like to spend at least a week of work on the lunge, leading, and teaching the horse to stand. During this time I introduce the saddle without stirrups to the horse. After a day or two of lunging without stirrups, I then attach the stirrups and lunge the horse this way for another day or so. Then, after the ground work for that day, I mount the horse. I do not ask him to move. I like to just sit on his back. I dismount and then mount in order to let the horse know he will not get hurt. One of the things that frightens the horse is seeing a person on his back for the first time. A couple more days of work from the ground and I will get on the horse and let him walk around. I do little in trying to guide him at this time.
A.W.: While we have talked much about the horse in dressage training and competition, does not the rider have much to do with the horse's performance?
C.G.: The rider/trainer has just about everything to do with the performance of the horse. The rider is the one that tells the horse what to do and when to do it. A well-schooled horse waits for the rider, depends on the rider, and cooperates with the rider.
A good trainer is not always a good competitive rider. A trainer is always training his horse. There are many good competitive riders that know little about training. But, the rider is the one that has to use the aids to talk to the horse. The more the rider knows about the use and the accord of the aids, the better the performance will be.
A.W.: In dressage, do you feel it is better to train the horse first and then the rider, or vice versa? Does it help to have horse and rider trained together?
C.G.: I have found it best to train the horse and the rider together. This is good, however, only if the rider will let the trainer keep the horse schooled a level ahead of the rider. The trainer should do most of the work on the horse. Gradually, the rider must learn to use the same aids as the trainer.
In dressage, the aids are pretty much standard the world over. Influence is difficult to define, but the rider that understands influence will have a much better performance than the one using the aids alone. There must be great feel in using the aids, and we do not all have this feel.
A.W.: What do you look for in a rider interested in dressage riding instruction?
C.G.: A rider interested in dressage instruction must first of all have a deep love for training the horse. Training must never be work; it must always be enjoyable. The rider must have great patience. He must also have a desire to learn the theory of training, for without that, he will never master the art of training. Every time the rider puts leg up, he is teaching the horse - even when standing still. The rider could be of any age from 16 to 60. Most serious dressage riders are older people.
A.W.: How long does it take in riding instruction to move through the steps from novice, junior, etc.?
C.G.: Again, this will depend on the student and the teacher. Time is another important factor. I have known many Olympic riders who put in at least four hours a day working with their instructor.
A serious rider with a good teacher/trainer should be able to ride a Grand Prix horse at the end of three years of schooling. But, to do this, the rider must have a horse that is well confirmed in all the movements of the Grand Prix. I have had riders that have been able to do the Grand Prix test after two years of riding under good instruction.
A.W.: Is it all work and no play .... or are dressage horses really sounder when stretched and trained to their full athletic potential?
C.G.: In my opinion, the dressage horse is the soundest of all horses. He is supple, relaxed, flexible and never does the hard work of polo, jumping, eventing, reining work, cutting, hunting, or racing.
One could go on and on talking about the easy life of the dressage horse. His fastest gallop is for about 200 feet and at 16 miles an hour. almost always he is on very soft footing. I would say the dressage horse is the soundest horse in the world. Of course, there are exceptions. A dressage horse could develop a splint - but then who knows what causes a splint.
A.W.: What advice would you give to those interested in dressage?
C.G.: If you are interested in dressage, then "go for it." Read dressage books. Watch trainers of any horses. Talk to them. If you have access to a horse, school the horse in something .... anything. You must understand the mind of the horse. You are not going to teach him anything he does not already know. All you have to do is learn the method of communication between you and the horse. He is a very willing animal and loves to work.
A.W.: I believe you have written many articles on dressage and have recently written a book. Is this true?
C.G.: Yes. I not only enjoy riding, training and instructing, I also enjoy writing and talking dressage. Over the years I have accumulated copious notes, references and recorded experiences for my files. More than four years ago I assembled materials for my second book. It is now being readied for print and should be published by Christmas. It will be titled "An Essay of Dressage" and I hope it will be helpful and interesting to all riders and trainers.
A.W.: What advice do you have for someone selecting or buying a horse for dressage training?
C.G.: In selecting a horse for dressage training, the buyer should first determine whether he wants to win ribbons or to learn how to train and ride a dressage horse.
If you want to learn the art of training, then almost any horse that is sound and mentally normal will do. If you are learning to train the horse, and you find the best dressage prospect in the world, you may end up with a horse that is fairly well-schooled, but never a top competition horse, for you are going to make your mistakes on this horse.
If, on the other hand, you start with almost any horse, then as you become a better trainer and rider you will be way ahead if you wait to find the good horse.
Almost all trainers go through a number of horses before they come out with a good horse, one that is well schooled. Make your mistakes on a horse that you don't have to put a lot of money in. Remember, very few trainers, with a lifetime of training experience, have been able to train a horse to the top level, which is the Grand Prix horse.
A.W.: Would you like to see more Appaloosa horses and owners in dressage?
C.G.: Yes, I would like to see more Appaloosa owners in dressage. The Appaloosa has the color that people like. If he has all the characteristics of a good horse, that is good movement and true gaits, he should be able to do well in dressage.
A.W.: What future plans are there for Billie Joe Freckles?
C.G.: I would like to see Billie Joe Freckles go all the way in dressage. He is well on the way to becoming a Grand Prix horse. If he makes it all the way I am sure he will be the first Appaloosa to make it to the top. He has the potential to be a top contender.
A.W.: What else would you like to say to horse owners about dressage?
C.G.: Once you start training or dressaging a horse, you will find it a very fascinating sport. It is fun, and I am sure if you once start training you will love it. It is a very fast-growing division of the horse show world. Even if you don't show, I am sure you will be gratified by the results you will accomplish. All you have to have is patience and some knowledge of how the horse learns.
I don't think you can teach the horse anything new. You can just learn how to communicate with him.