*New Discipline: Classical [STR+AGI]

Exactly what it says on the tin! A new discipline for Strength and Agility, which are the two least utilised stats on the site. A new discipline using these stats would mean that a lot of those horses that might otherwise be discarded for having undesirable NSS will have a purpose!

(I've certainly had the EC throw plenty of horses with NSS that would have made them terrific for this would-be discipline, but that I've had to throw away. It feels bad every time!)

In the real world, Classical is the name I've given to a specific kind of dressage that uses moves and techniques that aren't seen in the modern sport, the "airs above the ground". The difference between Classical and modern Dressage is that these movements are much more physically taxing for the horse, especially with a rider on their back, therefore requiring Strength as well as Agility. You can find plenty of videos showing the airs above the ground on YouTube, but here's a short one to give you a taste of what the real thing looks like!

Obviously a new discipline is a big deal, but considering how underused Strength and Agility currently are, I think this one would be helpful. Let me know what you think! ( b ._.)b

Last edited on 2020-08-05 at 14:47:07 by River

I support as you are correct: these are the two least used specific stat areas. Plus the whole Classical branch is the original forerunner of modern Dressage so I'd be very interested in this.

However I'm gonna consult my crystal ball & can predict now that the argument will be made that there is already not enough horses in certain disciplines already probably Endurance to warrant a new discipline being brought it. 

You're right, of course, but given that Endurance uses totally different stats (INT+END), this discipline wouldn't be taking any horses away from it. If anything, it would give people a reason to keep horses that they would have otherwise thrown away, or even make new horses with stats that would have previously been useless. There's no overlap between these disciplines, so horses going into Classical wouldn't result in horses being removed from Endurance.

I hope I'm explaining this well enough, lmao.

I absolutely support this. I have thought the same thing about these two stats, and I'm even a person whose interest lies in Endurance. However, I also love Dressage, but it is a very popular discipline and one of the most populated. So to me, dividing it up into two types could improve chances at successful showings. 

Many years ago I saw Lippizan stallions perform Airs Above The Ground in person, and it was so very beautiful and amazing to watch! I've never forgotten it.

No support. Don't see why we need another version of Dresage? If we do get another discipline, it should probably be western based since there is only ONE western discipline.

Non-discipline stats can now be bred down, which, in itself, allows a horse that used to get dumped for higher NSS to potentially maintain value as a produced of future generations with better stat placement.

I support
It would be nice to have a discipline using STR + AGI and it would be nice to have the Lippizans doing what they are meant to do. 

Is there another Western discipline suggestion that would use these two? 
Asking for knowledge. I am in Scotland and don't know much about Western riding in general. 

I do support a new discipline in order to be able to use strength and agility, however I don't think it should be Dressage based as we already have that. Classical is Dressage, just a higher form of it.

I would much rather Western (int+spd) be renamed to Reining, Cutting, or even Gymkana, and a new western discipline be added for str+agi such as Roping or even Rodeo (a bronc line would be fun lol especially if we added breedable height/weight to the game).

It just makes more sense to me that it should be western based as we already have two English based disciplines.
I could see the argument that Endurance is more western but that's not true. Endurance can be done with either English or Western tack in a pinch but more serious competitive trail riders use specific Endurance style saddles out there that are a combination of the two: the comfort and support for the rider of a western saddle but the light maneuverability of an English saddle for the horse.

No support. Isn't dressage cruel to the horse? And if classical is a higher form of it, I don't want to support it, even virtually.

I support this, but would prefer rodeo rather than more dressage. Can anybody think of any other sports that would use those stats?

Support, but I feel like it should be cutting. Cutting requires a horse to be very agile and quick on their feet (separating a cow from the herd and keeping it separate) and have to be absolute powerhouses to turn, stop, and push forward.

View this website to see more info. on cutting and why cutting would be good for these stats. 

https://thehorse.com/16471/focus-on-discipline-cutting-horses/

(I hope linking up websites is not against forum rules- If it is pm and I'll take out the link.)

(Link contains no profanity nor inappropriate content.)

Horse Vaulting may be good too for str+agi

Alternatively we could change the western stats (int+spd) to Polo and have Western be str+agi lol

I think a class like Working Equitation would be really fun. Can be done in English or Western tack and has a wide range of course difficulties.

I support the idea, not the discipline.

The disciplines we currently have are accessible to most riders and horse enthusiasts. Some of the suggestions aren't really available to most riders, even in countries they're most common in.

I don't know about you, but I don't know anyone near me who does classical dressage or cutting or rodeo. You can find rodeo a bit north of me but there aren't large circles of it by any means in comparison to the western USA (I'm east coast). Reining, yes, as that's a very prominent part of AQHA. But I'd want to shove reining in with agility and either intelligence or speed.

Given the accessibility of the disciplines we already have, and keeping with that theme, I suggest cross country. Yes, it would be the third English discipline alongside show jumping and dressage, and yes, it's similar to endurance. But cross country is common and accessible in most corners of the horse world. It requires both strength and agility to navigate open terrain and some scary looking jumps, ditches, and the like.

But at the same time, I'm against cross country due to the fact that the tack would be almost exactly like show jumping and having unique tack is a sort of appeal. And yet, it would make the life of the artists much easier so they could literally slap the same files on.

I dunno. I just feel like the discipline chosen (should another be added) should be accessible to most riders in most countries.

I like the idea of using strenght more, so I support! However, like others I'm not sure classical dressage is the best choice for this. As much as I like the discipline, the equipment would be almost the same as in modern dressage. A different discipline'd be better, altough changing the name of 'western' could cause a chaos. (I always imagined it requires speed and intelligence because it covers cutting and reining).
I'm also not really fond of an idea of swapping disciplines, because that'd play havoc with already established breeding programs and breed usage.
Firelink's idea of working equitation is nice, since this discipline has a distinct traditional gear to perform it in, and I like box's idea of eventing (or maybe solely cross-country) too, as it's a more widespread discipline. It's true that the gear is very similar to the one they use to show jumping, but there's always the possibility of adding variety through different furs, bridle (mexican noseband? there's one on endurance bridle miniature, but none visible on the horse) breast collar and event grease.
Vaulting is FEI-recognised discipline, but I wouldn't really say it needs strenght and agility, since it's more about the skill of the person doing gymnastics, and not the achievements of the horse.