What Discipline Is My Grinder Horse?

[BlackOak2]

For those of you that still struggle for what your Grinder horse might be best used for (I'm speaking in local show disciplines), follow this quick reference to help guide you to a suitable or workable answer.

Please understand that not all Grinder horses will perform in level 10 and bring home firsts every time, even when they look absolutely stunning with lots of golds and greens. The theorized Heart gene does still play it's parts in even local shows. It only reveals less of itself in the locals. Plus, there could be far more at play that's still hidden from us.

One can even use this guide to help ascertain which discipline may be most appropriate for a competition horse or competition line. That said, we can have horses show talents well outside the ranges of what their body-form (their look) and their overall stats (on-paper) suggests. For Competition Horses and Competition Lines, I would suggest you do a trial run in all available disciplines, to find any talent the horse or the line may have. Then go from there.

If the below doesn't offer what you need for a Grinder horse, you may have a weaker Grinder. We all experience these from time to time. Best bet is to grind through the years or simply replace it with a potentially better one. Not all horses will grind in level 10, so if you do happen to have a weaker Grinder, use level 9 or even level 8 to optimize grinding performance.

Not all disciplines available on HWO are named. This is for the Grinder horse and not to find any horse's 'best discipline'.

Without further ado.

Quick Reference
Grinder Horse Body Match-up.

If your horse looks like this:

OR like this:


And matches the following:
Body Type: LIGHT or VERY LIGHT
Temperament: High Strung (i.e. adjustable)

Adjust the horse's weight to Thin or Moderately Thin

Check the horse's Breeder's Report
Stats: Gold or Green Speed
Try Racing or Harness

Stats: Gold or Green Stamina
Try Steeplechase

Stats: Does NOT have Gold or Green Speed OR Stamina
Try Saddleseat

Any of these are the top options for this body type. One can also try Poles and In-Hand.

If Temperament is Bombproof (i.e. stuck)

Stats: Gold or Green Speed or Stamina
Try Endurance or In-Hand


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If your horse looks like this:

OR like this:


And matches the following:
Body Type: Medium Light to Medium Heavy
Temperament: High Strung (i.e. adjustable)

Adjust the horse's weight to Moderately Thin or Moderate
*The lower listed Stat choice you have, the more toward and into moderate you'll want your horse to be.*

Check the horse's Breeder's Report
Stats: Gold or Green Speed
Try Poles or Sprint

Stats: Gold or Green Stamina
Try Cross Country

Stats: Gold or Green Strength
Try Show Jumping or Reining

Stats: Gold or Green in Other Than The Top Three
Try any of the other western disciplines not otherwise mentioned

If Temperament is Bombproof (i.e. stuck)

Stats: Any Stats
Try Dressage, Driven Dressage or Hunter


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If your horse looks like this:

OR like this:

OR like this:


And matches the following:
Body Type: Medium Heavy to Very Heavy
Temperament: High Strung (i.e. adjustable) or Bombproof (i.e. stuck)
*Most of these prefer a Bombproof Temperament, unless otherwise noted.*

Adjust the horse's weight to Moderate or Moderately Fleshy

Check the horse's Breeder's Report
Stats: Gold or Green Speed
Try Sprint
*This may be quite a rare horse. Adjust weight to Moderately Thin and Temperament to High Strung.*

Stats: Gold or Green Stamina
Try Marathon Driving or Obstacle Driving

Stats: Gold or Green Strength
Try Log Pull
*This discipline prefers Moderately Fleshy for optimal performance.*

Stats: Gold or Green in Other Than The Top Three
Try Western Pleasure or Western Trail

This body type favors Log Pulling and two of the three driving disciplines, Marathon and Obstacle.


***If all of the above appear to fail for your Grinder horse, default your Grinder horse to In-Hand and grind until done, or simply replace the Grinder for a potentially better individual.