What is a school master horse?

Answer 1

A school master, is one of the great, rare horses that have been there, seen it, done it and bought the T-shirt!

They are usually older (but not always) horses, perhaps 12+ and are great if you are learning or perhaps just want to enjoy whichever discipline you partake in and not have to worry so much about what is going to happen next. Beware though even the school masters can have off days!.

Also, if you are thinking of buying a school master, ask the owners where he/she has competed locally, what success he has had, are they a member of a riding club if so then, get in touch with them and ask some questions.

Good luck and let me know if you want any more info. A school master is exactly that. . . a master of the school. Technically any level 3 or above dressage horse can be considered a school master provided it has an excellent understanding of the movements required and is sympathetic to the learning rider's mistakes willing to offer correct responses for relatively correct aids. A school master can be of any age and may have never been outside of a dressage arena. A horse who has "been there and done that" should not be called a schoolmaster unless it has also mastered the elements of the school horse i.e. a horse that has been everywhere and won everything is not a school master if you cannot put on a novice rider and perform basic movements such as shoulder in or half-pass fluidly and freely it is simply a horse with a lot of competition experience