Can a horse that has been driven CDE events

[maryann]

I was looking at some horses today and saw some very nice horses that compete

in the CDE events and do very well. Does anyone have a horse that has

crossed over into the country cleasure driving arena at shows and has been

competitive as far as placings?

There was one in paticular that I would be interested in purchasing if I knew for

sure that I would not confuse it when I pulled it off the course and placed it in the ring

What changes would you have to incorperate ? Maryann

 

[JourneysEnd]

A lot of horses do both. Just depends on how well they move.

To the horse, the show is easier than the CDE.

Willow Crest Farm has two that do both and do them both well.

 

[ClickMini]

My Ally does both, and she is a good girl for both. We have not been in the top placings in either environment yet, but that is due to my dorkiness, not hers.

Here she is in the show ring:

And on the marathon:

Dressage:

Water:

I personally think it is really good for them to do both. I think if they do nothing but arena work they eventually get stale with it, especially if the owner is not doing hunter/jumper or obstacle stuff also. Doing the CDE stuff is equivalent to hacking out with your competitive show horse, in my mind.

 

[keely2682]

from cde to show ring is much easier than the opposite-

remove the gadgets from many show horses

and expect them to drive through feilds and obstacles

and most would certainly fall apart

expecting a cde horse to drive around pleasantly on the rail

is certainly less than he was trained for

and far less than is required of him at a cde

a cde horse has been really trained

the horses must hold themselves up and carry themselves properly on their own

you cannot "cheat" with checks and martingales

cde horses must have true impulsion- not just appear to because of gadgets

they must be brave and willing for obstacles

and maneuverable through cones

a horse who has done cdes could certainly do country pleasure

the only things that would affect his performance might be the adjustment to a tight check or martingale

a cde horse would be ideally suited for obstacle driving

what hazard could you possibly create in the show ring that he/she hasn't seen on a course?!

 

[mondak]

you cannot phase a CDE horse, look at Dakota Maryann. That horse is not confused by anything and he knows where he is. Like Keely said, these horses are actually trained to drive, with no short cuts. Many CDE horses do well in roadster since they are very use to stretching out and moving over long distances. I would say go for it then come with me to a CDE, I will turn you into a CDEer yet!!! LOL.

Courtney

 

[maryann]

Courtney , why oh why did I not come to you in the first place? What was I thinking??

Had my own expert right here and forgot about her. Will you ever forgive me? Please give my

apologies to Dakota and Monatanna too. LOL

Hope to see you soon.

mary ann

 

[hobbyhorse23]

It is certainly possible for a horse to do both disciplines and do them well. The Whitemans here in Washington State have several fine examples of that out in the ring at any given time and many other local owners have at least one horse that does both. In my experience the horse is likely to be better at one than the other but which one depends on how they were trained and how you currently drive them as well as their individual movement and build.

To the horse, the show is easier than the CDE.

from cde to show ring is much easier than the opposite-
remove the gadgets from many show horses

and expect them to drive through feilds and obstacles

and most would certainly fall apart

expecting a cde horse to drive around pleasantly on the rail

is certainly less than he was trained for

and far less than is required of him at a cde

I find most of Keely's post to be very flattering to the CDE horse and of course agree with her, but I was quite surprised at the two quotes above. My answer was going to be the complete opposite for several reasons. The problem is that once the horse gets a taste of life outside the ring, the feel of grass under his hooves and a chance to use his mind as much as his driver does, he tends to get rather bored with the simple roundy-round.

The second problem is that while to me it is easy to take a check OFF and allow the horse to reach down, putting one ON a horse who is used to carrying himself without help tends to both irritate and confuse him. A horse who is trained with a check knows no other way and doesn't mind it; one who is trained solely to his driver's hands considers it an unnecessary restriction.

Then again, so much of it depends on how the horse is trained. If they learned to balance off the check then yes, they're likely to have problems when you take it off. If they were never taken outside the ring or exposed to the real world then yes, they're likely to have problems. But most minis are remarkably smart and sound of mind and seem to deal well with both worlds.

As for obstacle, Kody's biggest problem is not understanding why he isn't allowed to get up any real speed! *LOL* He thinks it's utterly dumb to keep breaking from walk to trot every few moments and pivoting the cart instead of spinning it at a gallop.

Leia

 

[maryann]

Thank you all so much. Your answers have helped me a lot. !!!Maryann

 

[mondak]

Yes for the reasons stated by Leia a horse that has only done CDEs might get confused. Dakota started at breed shows, but never tollerated the check anywhere near tight, so he learned to carry himself even before I started CDEs. As for introducing the breeching, he took right to it so that made my life easy. I guess it all depends of how much the horse trusts his whip's judgement and how easy going he his. I am blessed with a very trusting and laid back pony,

. Maryann, of coarse you are forgiven as long as you bring them a treat at the next show, LOL.

Courtney

 

[4mymirage]

We dont do CDE, however, my driving horses are trained (lierally) down the path, through the tobacco field, past the corn patch, through the peanut patch to the fish pond, then around the dam and back - a 3 mile trip no or loose check and no martingale.... and Joey, Frankie, Chad, Dream, Gambler and Mac are all National top 10 in the ring - Chad was national champion, and Frankie reserve national champion!

So, I think there is a good possibility of doing well in both!

 

[mondak]

Cheryl, YES Chad has what it takes to do a CDE, he would blow everyone out of the water with his extension in dressage. I want to take that horse to one soooo bad! LOL, and Joey, bless his heart, I think would have done very well with whatever you asked him. That was one amazing horse, they just don't make them like him anymore.

Courtney