Evolution of the "Typical Horse" and How It Has Changed Us

At the bakery where I work there are soap and paper towel automatic dispensers by the hand washing sink. I rarely encounter these photo electric sensing dispensers but now they are my new norm, except at home. The other day I was in a public restroom and stuck my hand out under the soap dispenser and nothing came out. Turns out it was the old type where you had to push up with the palm of your hand to get soap out of it. In that moment I realized that the automatic dispensers at the bakery had changed my behavior, my expectation and to a degree my consciousness.

The first horse I rode as a child for many years was a Thoroughbred. That horse pretty much made me the rider I am. That small gelding set my baseline expectation of equine movement and a lot more. That movement is my reference point. It's how I measure other horses. That gelding was very sure footed, handy and quick, and very well trained. Military riders in the 20th century rode quick, agile horses. The role of cavalry had evolved to reconnaissance and some raiding missions to test the enemy. The horses reflected the mission. Prior to that cavalry was employed on a slower moving battlefield to break enemy infantry lines, to flank and to pursue retreating infantry. Weapons were heavier and degrees of armor were still used even in the later 19th century. Those missions required bigger heavier horses, Warmblood types.

Today the Warmbloods have made a comeback, not only in dressage but in several other equestrian sports. Like the new automatic soap dispensers, these horses are setting different expectations and reference points for many of today's riders. To me riding a Warmblood feels like my dad's 1956 Buick Roadmaster.

This Buick is exactly like his. His friends would ask him why he bought a pink car and he would say assertively, "It's not pink, it's coral."

I can't imagine having a Warmblood as my baseline or reference point for horse movement. I suspect that the riders who do feel very "jittery" on a small quick and handy horse. And what about the standing still to top speed in four strides take-your-breath-away movement? One of my favorites from a good polo mare. That must scare the c**p out of a rider who has the Warmblood lumbering feel as their standard.

Here's my question. Which is better? I don't mean better movement because they are just different. My question is which movement makes a better baseline? Of course, I am going to say the handy quick horse because that's my reference point, but I will justify it by asking which is easier to go from to the other? Objectively, do you think that a rider who started riding on a handy horse has an easier time later riding a Warmblood type or visa versa?