My god what a splendid creature. Orpheo (aka Merlin) - a Lusitano, which I've never heard of. Love the roman head, war-ready presence.

Same horse - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMLUEZhNP-k

 Quote: Lorelei Sims

Ed,

I remember another video you posted awhile back of a trainer who worked his horse with no halter etc and it was beautiful to watch, almost a dance. Do you still have that? I would love to see it again.

Lorelei

how about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow2yDdRK_Zc

Have any of you seen Dressage? If you thing this is good you need to say that, it will blow your socks off. Dressage is the longest and hardist style to train people and horses.

Sorry I was trying to link. This video is off me trainer at the 03' world cup

YES; exactly. If you are familiar with dressage, the talent and athleticism of these horses is less of a wonder and more of an expectation. Though I still have to say, the Spanish horses in particular the Lipizzaners, Lusitanos and Andalusians, have a style all their own.

Andalusians (pure Spanish horses) and Lusitanos are natural at the collected movements. So are Peruvians, apparently. Here are 2 video clips of my Dancing Peruvian Paso horse named Danny. That's me riding him in the 1st clip. The guy who trained him is in the 2nd link. He was already trained to piaffe (trot in place) and passage (lofty trot w/ hesitation in the air) when I bought him but I've been working with him to teach him more. He's blind in one eye and I also do 50 mile endurance rides w/ him. He's an amazing horse as well as controversial as some people think his "breed" shouldn't (or can't) do dressage!

PS. I also breed/ride/train Andalusians. And just got my first GSD, from German working lines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF17umxd9-4 - "dressage" demo on a gaited horse not typically known for doing dressage. Also one of the few Peruvians in the world that does piaffe/passage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-9Cy4cP2pw - the original Dancing Danny clip which as gotten so many reviews

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85II6uZYAWY - this stallion performs the movements. belongs to a friend and is the sire of one of my colts born this year. also one of the highest ranking Andalusian videos on youtube (over 87,000 views and 64 comments).

Dancing horses are very cool, but it's ver differant from dressage. I had a Peruvian Paso like 8 years ago, there fun. but it's close to imposble for then to go up the levels of dressage for they can't properly colect. But they are nice movers, just not ment for the dressage ring.
Those vid's are really cool.

Most of the horses I'm familiar with are the European warmbloods. They are the ones usually competing in dressage, especially at an international level. About ten years ago there was a Connemara pony competing at grand prix level (with Lendon Grey, I think?)that was just amazing. A few years ago there was a Spanish 'invasion' on the world scene with some exiting performances by the Spanish riders and their Andalusian horses.

They say any horse can be trained to forth level, and I almost believe it. The exceptions to this are the horses who pace instead of trot, like Tennessee walking horses. A horse who can't trot can't compete in dressage. As a training method though, nothing else opens up the lines of communication and synchronicity in quite the same way. Done right, there is no discernible line between horse and rider, and communication is so subtle that it seems to be almost telepathic. Too cool.

That's cool about the pony, I did not see that. I have been riding Grand Prix for 4 years, and trainer's are olympice and world cup german riders. I now own a business that dose Professional German dressage training. I love it! I was just saying that breeds like PP are sooooo hard to get a strong colection on, but I'm sure there is one out there some where, LOL. I only use german bred warmbloods, I have been doing re-sale with them for about 8 years. They are the best!!! Thats also what I did all my dressage training on, not other things just dressage. I'm now in the market for a frisian.

I have to disagree with you on the Peruvians not being able to collect. You must have had a long-backed weak horse. I have done a little dressage training with some of my Peruvians and they can collect. The best collection I got ever was when that scary cow herd rushed to the fence and my big brave stallion wanted to leave but I held him back.
He also gets some pretty good collection going when he and the mini stud who lives with him play together, or when he is showing off for mares.
Non-trotting horses do compete in dressage at some gaited horse shows (There is FOSH Gaited Walking Horse Assoc. show Oct 11 & 12 in Columbia, Mo with dressage classes). They are just 4 beat instead of two. Lightness, cadence and collection are not restricted to trotting horses.

I'm sure that some can, but I'm talking about colletion on comand and holding it for a 5 min grand Prix test. Thant's something I can't see most of them doing. And a long back is what yoou want in dressage, not too long but long. I have never in my life been to a high profile FEI show and seen onything other than warmbloods and a few fiesians. My trainers have been riding in the olympice and world cup for years, I have been riding, training and showing FEI for years. I may not know anything about training dogs but this is my backyard.