If you own a horse, there are dozens of sports that you can take part in. But none is as popular as dressage.
Dressage is derived from the French word dresseur, which translates to training. It’s the first portion of three equestrian sports with the other two being show-jumping and eventing. It’s a form of riding where the horse and its rider showcase a series of pre-decided movements.
Want to excel in dressage competitions? Well, the secret to this is picking a horse that is agile, athletic and sociable. You don’t want to pick a free-roaming horse breed or one that’s difficult to train. Here are 15 of the best dressage horse breeds.
Best Dressage Horse Breeds for Beginners
1. Friesian
- Height range: 58 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 1,200 to 1,400 pounds
- Country of origin: The Netherlands
- Physical characteristics: Strong legs, vibrant eyes, a long and free flowing mane and tail
The first time you lay your eyes on the Friesian horse, you’ll likely assume it to be a character straight out of a fairy tale movie. The breed has an undeniable beauty comprising a glossy, pitch-black coat, long mane and powerful physique.
The Friesian horse breed hails from the Netherlands and has proven useful in multiple disciplines. These range from the battlefield, trotting races and recently, the dressage world.
It touts an elegant and exceptional manner of movement where it lifts its knees pretty high up. Considering how natural this movement feels to the Friesian, it’s the perfect dressage horse breed for beginners.
It’s good to note that the Friesian horse typically lives to around 16-18 years old (in horse years). This is on the lower end of the average equine lifespan of 25-35 years old.
2. Gypsy Vanner
- Height range: 52 to 60 inches
- Weight range: 1,100 to 1,700 pounds
- Country of origin: Ireland and Great Britain
- Physical characteristics: Short with heavy feathering, elongated mane and tail
Are you a junior rider looking for skilled horse breeds for dressage? If so, you should consider the Gypsy Vanner horse. This breed is known by other names, such as the Irish Cob or Gypsy Cob.
What’s even more interesting is that there are three varieties of Gypsy Vanners: the Classic, Mini and Grand horses. With a height of 52 inches, the Classic is the shortest followed by the Mini which is 53 inches tall. Meanwhile, the Grand Vanner is 60 inches tall.
From the beginning, Gypsy Vanner horses were bred to pull caravans. The most preferred were the smaller breeds because they had just as much strength yet they didn’t require a lot of feeding.
Although they were initially used to pull caravans, they make fantastic riding horses too. They have a unique warmth and calmness, making them ideal for pairing with kids or beginner riders.
3. Appaloosa
- Height range: 57 to 64 inches
- Weight range: 1,000 to 1,100 pounds
- Country of origin: North America
- Physical characteristics: Small but well-defined head, short, upright back with an elongated neck
The Appaloosa is one of the easiest horse breeds to identify thanks to its eye-catching spotted coat. And while it may seem like all Appaloosas look identical, not one of them shares the same coat pattern. The spotted markings on Appaloosas are as different as fingerprints are to humans. They are by far one of the most attractive spotted horse breeds.
Looks aside, these gaited horses are excellent learners, which is why they’re picked for dressage competitions and are perfect breeds for barrel racing. They learn new routines fairly fast and easily, making them the right fit for beginners.
4. Trakehner
- Height range: 62 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 1,000 to 1,200 pounds
- Country of origin: East Prussia
- Physical characteristics: Rectangle-shaped build with sloping shoulders and medium-long neck
The Trakehner horse has a reputation for being the most lightweight in the warmblood category. It’s named after the town where it was developed, Trakehnen in East Prussia.
At the time, its breeders were searching for a versatile breed that could be useful in times of war and peace. Essentially, they wanted a horse that could act as a wartime mount in the battlefield and as a farm horse once the war ended.
Today’s Trakehner horse touts exceptional athleticism. It thrives in an array of sporting activities; from dressage to eventing and show jumping. Following its success in the dressage space, the Trakehner is the kind of horse that can be used to train other less experienced riders.
Best Dressage Horse Breeds for Intermediates
5. Westphalian
- Height range: 62 to 70 inches
- Weight range: 1,000 to 1,300 pounds
- Country of origin: Western Germany
- Physical characteristics: Long neck, deep chest, muscular legs and forearms
This German warmblood is becoming a favorite for many dressage riders, and it’s easy to see why. The Westphalian horse has a striking look, which is complemented nicely by its easy-going temperament.
But what makes it one of the best horse breeds for the dressage world is its delicately-balanced athleticism. On one hand, it’s brave and energetic. On the other hand, it’s calm and easily-trainable. Plus, the Westphalian horse is a versatile breed that can be used for other activities like trail riding.
Important to note though is that Westphalian horses have big movements. So they might not be the best dressage breeds for novice riders. But with a little bit of experience, you’ll be able to ride your way to top-level equestrian sporting activities with your Westphalian.
6. Selle Français
- Height range: 61 to 71 inches
- Weight range: 1,300 pounds
- Country of origin: France
- Physical characteristics: Patient, friendly, spirited and intelligent
The Selle Français is also known as Cheval de Selle Français- translation for “mean French Saddle Horse.”
In the past, the Selle Français’ mannerisms were impacted heavily by those of other trotting breeds. This influence is what led to this French horse breed having such an elegant movement, which makes it look graceful in equestrian art.
If you’re an intermediate rider looking for a good dressage horse, the Cheval de Selle Français is your answer. Although it’s more popular for its dominance in show jumping, it thrives in any dressage ring. This is thanks to its stamina, high level of intelligence and good conformation.
7. Danish Warmblood
- Height range: 63 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 880 to 1,100 pounds
- Country of origin: Denmark
- Physical characteristics: Long and sloping shoulders, muscular necks and broad chests
Also referred to as the Dansk Warmblood, the Danish Warmblood traces its roots to Denmark.
It was developed in mid-twentieth century, which makes it among the youngest warmbloods in history. The Danish Warmblood was developed by crossing the elite stallions of Europe with Danish mares. More importantly, this horse was bred for sports and competition from the get-go.
Even though the Danish warmbloods haven’t been around for as long as other breeds, they’ve built a strong reputation in the dressage sector. Their muscular physique and long necks make them excellent candidates for this art.
Another reason why Danish Warmbloods are considered great dressage breeds is their temperament. They’re sociable and always eager to learn new tricks. Apart from dressage, you may also see these horses participating in show jumping and eventing.
8. Andalusian
- Height range: 59 to 62 inches
- Weight range: 900 to 1,100 pounds
- Country of origin: Spain
- Physical characteristics: Dense hooves, thick & elongated manes and tails
The Andalusian is one of the most prominent Iberian horses. It is sometimes referred to as the PRE, short form for pura raza española or the ‘Real Spanish Horse.’
Now, if you’re searching for an elegant horse that you can ride in the arena, you can’t go wrong with the Andalusian horse. It has a striking beauty that catches the attention of everyone. This explains why Andalusians are often featured in films as cavalry horses for knights and kings.
Other than their beauty, these horses have fluid and expressive movements. This is the core reason why they excel as dressage horses. Riders also love the fact that the Andalusian horse is inherently obedient and very quick to learn.
9. Lusitano
- Height range: 60 to 61 inches
- Weight range: 1,102 pounds
- Country of origin: Portugal
- Physical characteristics: Large and vibrant eyes, muscular shoulders and a broad chest
The Lusitano is a close cousin of the Andalusian, so it shares similar traits. For instance, it also has roots in the Iberian Peninsula.
Also crucial to note is that the Lusitano is regarded as one of the best horse breeds for dressage, and rightly so.
It displays unique athleticism and trainability. Plus, it has a lightweight profile. These traits explain why the horse breed thrives not only in dressage but also driving, saddle seat riding and halter.
Suggested Read: Quickest Horse Breeds in the World
Best Dressage Horse Breeds for Experts
10. Dutch Warmblood
- Height range: 60 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 1,200 to 1,400 pounds
- Country of origin: The Netherlands
The Dutch Warmblood is ranked as the newest European warmblood breed. It hails from the Dutch Warmblood country, Netherlands. And, It’s believed to have evolved from two native Dutch breeds: the Gelderlander and the Groningen.
Back in the day, the Dutch wanted a horse that was not only sturdy and obedient but also elegant enough for carriage use. Mixing the two breeds yielded the incredibly versatile horse – the Dutch Warmblood.
The modern-day Dutch Warmblood breed has exceptional athletic ability. This, coupled with the graceful manner in which it carries itself makes it perfect for expert dressage competitions. It is no wonder Dutch warmbloods have won many Olympic gold medals over the years.
11. Lipizzaner
- Height range: 60 to 64 inches
- Weight range: 1,000 to 1,300 pounds
- Country of origin: Slovenia
- Physical characteristics: Fairly small but has a long back and thick neck
The Lipizanner is an ancient breed that dates as far back as the 16th century. It’s named after Lipizza Stud, which is responsible for its development.
Lipizzaner horses are the main breed used in the Spanish Riding School located in Vienna, Austria. This is one of the most renowned riding schools revered for the “Haute Ecole” – an advanced kind of dressage.
Also crucial to note is that Lipizanner horses were once considered an endangered species. The breed’s scarcity can be attributed to two things.
One is the fact that there have been several wars fought in Europe in the past century. Secondly, the breeding process of these horses was often isolated and secretive. Thankfully, this is no longer the case and the numbers of this dressage breed have been rising.
12. Irish Sport Horse
- Height range: 60 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 1,200 to 1,500 pounds
- Country of origin: Ireland
- Physical characteristics: Elongated and arched neck, deep-chested, short but robust back
This is more recent than other horse breeds, having gained formal recognition in the 1920s. Even then, it’s often ranked among the best dressage breeds. It was developed after several trials of crossing the Irish Draught Horse with the Thoroughbred (learn about Thoroughbreds).
The successful cross resulted in a breed of very athletic horses. This made them suitable for a variety of equestrian competitions ranging from show jumping to dressage and eventing. It’s even featured in our article as one of the best mixed horse breeds.
With their explicit bone structures and elongated necks, Irish Sport Horses are hard to miss. But what we love even more is the horse’s temperament which is very friendly. They probably get this from the placid Irish Draught Horse.
13. Oldenburg
- Height range: 62 to 67 inches
- Weight range: 1,700 pounds
- Country of origin: Northwest Germany
- Physical characteristics: Short legs and cannons, robust hindquarters and a long neck
The Oldenburg is one of the most successful horse breeds in the dressage world. This warmblood horse breed has roots dating back to the 18th century. Its predecessors were strong but smaller horses originally bred for plowing fields.
So what makes the current Oldenburg horse such an attractive breed to dressage riders? First off, these horses have a very expressive and flexible gait. Secondly, they’re well-behaved and highly trainable.
Recommended Reading: Can a Gaited Horse Jump?
That said, they can be agitated and impatient with unsure riders, which is why they make a good dressage horse for experts, not beginners.
14. Holsteiner
- Height range: 64 to 68 inches
- Weight range: About 1,500 pounds
- Country of origin: Germany
- Physical characteristics: An arching neck, strong, angled joints, and muscular
If there’s one horse breed that’s participated in Olympic competitions for a really long time, it’s the Holsteiner. Described as one of the oldest domesticated breeds, the Holsteiner horse has been around for at least 700 years. In fact, it was among the first horses registered in the warmblood group.
So what makes the Holsteiner breed among the best dressage horses? For one, these horses have a willingness to learn – a trait that makes for easy dressage training.
Secondly, Holsteiners were originally bred as war horses because of their strength. With such powerful bodies, they’re able to excel as some of the best dressage horse breeds.
15. Hanoverian
- Height range: 60 to 72 inches
- Weight range: 1,200 to 1,400 pounds
- Country of origin: Germany
- Physical characteristics: Slender but strong neck, wide chest, muscular legs and brawny shoulders
The Hanoverian originates from Germany and is ranked as one of the oldest warmblood breeds. These horses have unmatched strength and athleticism that make them ideal for competitive horse owners.
As a matter of fact, many riders have won medals while riding this horse breed. Its dependability and physical fitness makes it perfectly-suited for any dressage competition. So if you’ve been thinking of getting your own horse for dressage, the Hanoverian is it. Just be sure to feed it well because it’s a large horse breed and bigger than many of the popular dressage breeds.
FAQs
What breed of horse is used for Olympic dressage?
The largest proportion of horses that compete at the Olympic-level are warmblood breeds. In fact, the two most renowned dressage horses- Totilas and Valegro – were both Dutch warmbloods.
The Westphalian, Hanoverian and Trakehner are examples of other popular breeds for dressage as is the Holsteiner horse.
Do Friesians make good dressage horses?
Yes, Friesians make excellent dressage horses. There are two varieties of these horse breeds: the Baroque and Friesian Sport Horse. Both of these horses possess traits that make them fit for dressage and similar intense equestrian sports.
Another selling point of these horses is that they’re suited for different levels. So whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or expert rider, you’ll find the Friesian a highly-compatible dressage horde.
How much do dressage horse breeds cost?
The price of a horse breed used for dressage varies quite a bit. If you’re looking to buy one, expect to pay anything between $60,000 and $100,000. They are pretty expensive horse breeds.
However, if you already own a horse, there’s no need to buy an already-trained dressage horse; especially if you’re looking to save money. Just take your current breed for some dressage training, and they’ll slowly get the hang of it.
If you’re in a rush and don’t have time to train your horse, then consider leasing a dressage-trained breed instead. It will set you back a few bucks, but it’s cheaper than purchasing one and better than purchasing a cheap horse breed that’s not suited for show.
Wrap Up
There are a couple of things you should consider when picking horse breeds for dressage. For one, the horse breed ought to have good conformation. The best horses for this art are athletic, which allows them to perform movements with razor-sharp accuracy and elegance.
Secondly, you’ll want to look for a breed that has a good temperament. So you shouldn’t go for wild horses which like to think and act independently. Rather, look for ones that are smart, sociable and easy to train.
Although there are many breeds that have one or more of these traits, not all of them excel in dressage. The best dressage horse breeds are the Friesian (beginners), Westphalian (intermediate) and Dutch Warmblood (expert).
