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Why Horse Welfare Has Become Central in Modern Dressage
In recent years, the conversation around horse welfare in dressage has become more visible, more public, and more important than ever before.
Riders, breeders, judges, and spectators are increasingly asking the same question:
Can high performance and true welfare coexist?
The answer is yes — but only if training is built on correct foundations.
This question is particularly relevant for Iberian breeds — Lusitano and PRE (Pura Raza Española) — historically developed for classical work and known for their natural aptitude for collection and partnership. These breeds, when trained responsibly, demonstrate that ambition and welfare are not opposing forces.
Modern dressage demands expression, power, elasticity, and precision. However, none of these qualities should come at the expense of the horse’s physical or mental wellbeing. When training shortcuts are taken, tension replaces suppleness, force replaces development, and the horse eventually pays the price.
Responsible dressage training is not about doing less. It is about doing things in the right order.
Function Before Expression: Building the Horse from Within
In dressage, expression is often what draws attention. Big movement. Elevated forehands. Spectacular extensions.
But true quality does not begin with expression.
It begins with function.
Before a horse can show brilliance, it must first develop:
- Natural balance
- A supple topline
- Correct rhythm
- Mental relaxation
- Progressive strength
Without these foundations, expression becomes artificial — manufactured through pressure rather than revealed through development.
Responsible training prioritizes the inside of the horse before the outside. The goal is not to “produce movement,” but to develop the body so that movement becomes a natural consequence of correct work.
When a horse is allowed to develop progressively:
- The back lifts naturally.
- The neck softens without force.
- The contact becomes steady and elastic.
- Collection emerges from strength, not restriction.
This process takes time. There are no shortcuts to true strength.
For Iberian horses — particularly Lusitanos and PRE — this principle is essential. These breeds possess naturally compact frames and strong hindquarters, but their physical gifts must still be developed systematically. Rushing collection in a young horse, even one with excellent conformation, leads to long-term physical stress and mental resistance.
Signs of Responsible Training in a Dressage Horse
For riders and buyers alike, it is important to understand what responsible training actually looks like in practice.
Here are some key signs:
1. A Relaxed Topline
The horse’s back should swing. The neck should connect fluidly to the body. Tension in the underline — visible as a tight, hollow appearance beneath the belly — is often a warning sign of forced collection or premature demands.
2. Clear, Steady Rhythm
Rhythm is the foundation of all dressage work. When rhythm is compromised — hurried, irregular, or tense — something in the development is missing. A horse moving in correct rhythm demonstrates mental and physical balance.
3. Willingness and Mental Softness
A well-trained horse does not look defensive. It looks focused and cooperative. The eye is soft, the jaw relaxed. Mental resistance often appears before physical breakdown, making temperament evaluation during training essential.
4. Gradual Strength Development
Collection should appear progressively over months and years, not weeks. If it is demanded before the horse is physically ready, long-term soundness is compromised. Research in equine biomechanics suggests that horses with naturally balanced conformation require approximately 30-40% less physical force to achieve correct collection compared to horses with structural imbalances — but even well-built horses need time to develop the necessary strength.
5. Consistency Over Spectacle
Responsible training favors repeatable quality over occasional brilliance. One correct, relaxed session is worth more than one impressive but tense performance. This principle is especially important for riders seeking horses for long-term partnership rather than short-term results.
These principles are not trends. They are fundamentals.
The Role of Breeding in Long-Term Soundness
Training does not exist in isolation. Breeding plays a decisive role in a horse’s capacity to withstand correct development.
A horse bred with:
- Natural balance
- Functional conformation
- Strong, active hindquarters
- A cooperative temperament
will be more capable of progressing through the classical training scale without physical or mental conflict.
This is where breeding philosophy becomes essential.
When selecting breeding combinations, the goal should not be limited to visual beauty or exaggerated movement. Instead, long-term rideability, durability, and mental stability must be central considerations.
In Iberian breeds such as the Lusitano and PRE, this principle has historically been present. The breed was developed for functionality — balance, agility, collection, and partnership with the rider. Bloodlines such as Xaquiro and Alter Real were specifically selected for their capacity to perform collected work while maintaining soundness and willingness.
When these traits are preserved and prioritized in modern breeding programs, the result is a horse that can progress in dressage without losing soundness or willingness.
Welfare is not only a training issue. It begins in the breeding decision.
Why Iberian Horses Excel in Responsible Dressage Training
There is a reason Iberian horses — Lusitanos and PRE — have remained central to classical dressage for centuries.
Their physical and mental characteristics align naturally with the principles of responsible development.
Natural Physical Aptitude
Lusitanos and PRE horses are built for collection. Their naturally compact frames, strong hindquarters, and elevated movement allow them to perform advanced dressage work without the physical strain seen in breeds with longer, flatter conformation.
This does not mean training is unnecessary. It means the horse’s body is designed to support the work being asked — when developed correctly.
Cooperative Temperament
Iberian breeds are known for their willingness to partner with the rider. Unlike breeds selected primarily for speed or power, Lusitanos and PRE were historically chosen for their mental generosity and trainability.
This temperament is not accidental. It is the result of centuries of selective breeding for horses capable of performing complex maneuvers while remaining calm and responsive.
Historical Selection for Function
The Portuguese and Spanish breeding traditions emphasized functionality over fashion. Horses were selected based on their ability to work — whether in the bullring, military cavalry, or haute école.
This functional foundation remains present in well-bred Iberian horses today. When breeders prioritize these traits — as seen in bloodlines such as Xaquiro and Alter Real — the horses produced are physically and mentally suited for correct classical training.
Example in Practice
In breeding programs that prioritize these traits — such as at APM Iberian Horses in Navarra, Spain — horses are developed through patient, systematic training that respects both their physical timeline and mental readiness.
Young horses are not rushed into collection. They are allowed to develop balance, rhythm, and confidence before advanced work is introduced. The result is a horse that remains sound, willing, and capable of progressing through the levels without resistance or physical breakdown.
This approach is not unique to one program. It reflects the broader philosophy of responsible Iberian breeding: that quality is not created through pressure, but revealed through patience.
Ambition and Welfare Can Coexist
There is sometimes a false division created between competitive ambition and horse welfare, as if riders must choose one or the other.
In reality, the highest levels of dressage require correct development more than ever.
True collection demands strength. True expression demands balance. True longevity demands patience.
A horse trained responsibly may not appear spectacular overnight. But over years, it develops:
- Durability
- Consistency
- Confidence
- Soundness
And ultimately, these are the qualities that sustain a long and successful career.
Responsible dressage training is not about limiting performance. It is about building performance on a foundation that lasts.
When welfare and ambition are aligned, both horse and rider benefit — not only in competition, but in partnership.
Final Thoughts
The future of dressage will depend not only on scores or spectacle, but on credibility.
Riders, breeders, and trainers who prioritize correct development, mental wellbeing, and long-term soundness will help ensure that dressage remains respected and sustainable.
At its core, responsible training is simple:
Develop the horse from within. Respect the timeline. Allow strength to replace force.
Because in the end, true quality is not created by pressure — it is revealed through patience.
About APM Iberian Horses
This training philosophy is applied at APM Iberian Horses, a specialized breeding and training program in Navarra, Spain, with over 24 years of experience developing Lusitano and PRE horses for classical dressage.
Focused on the Xaquiro and Alter Real Hircinio bloodlines and correct foundational training, APM produces horses suited for riders who prioritize welfare, longevity, and correct development.
Whether you are seeking a young prospect or a trained dressage partner, the horses at APM are developed with patience, function, and partnership as guiding principles.
Learn more: www.apmiberianhorses.com
View current horses in training: Available Horses