I promised you last week I would share more about the informal surveys that have helped give Western Dressage a voice through NAWD, and given me good stuff to share with you. While we believe there is much common ground to be found between western and dressage, there are differences between Western Dressage and BOTH parent disciplines. As Western Dressage continues to develop into a unique discipline in this country it is imperative that the governing bodies like USEF and USDF listen to enthusiasts; at the same time, that they preserve what is truly dressage and truly respectful of our soft gaited western horses. NAWD is working hard to produce a rulebook that helps everyone comprehend this new discipline, especially people like this Southern Oregon respondent who honestly said: “I'm having a hard time understanding Western Dressage anyway…”
Jen Johnson, NAWD Dressage president states: “A rulebook does more than just regulate competition; it shapes a discipline and identifies which principles it values. Should Western Dressage place value on the big movement seen in today’s warmblood superstars? The slow, smooth gaits in the pleasure ring? Should we reward a horse only for the way it carries its head? The answer was an emphatic “NO” to all of these questions! We decided that, here at NAWD, we wanted a rulebook that rewards good horsemanship based on the classical principles found in the training pyramid, and that building a horse that is soft, balanced and obedient is the ultimate goal.”The development of rules and guidelines is complicated but riders, trainers, judges and competitors alike will appreciate sensible direction. Here are a few survey comments on just one issue, the gaits, which really illuminate the need for clarity, definition, guidance and standardization that a comprehensive rulebook will provide.
“It seems to me that the Western gait should be called trot. In trot, there is impulsion and the ability for the horse to raise his topline.”
“I believe that the Western dressage horse should trot rather than jog. Dressage is dressage, and the trot should be a two-beat gait with a moment of suspension. I can see having both a collected trot that riders in western tack can sit, and a working trot that they probably will have to post.”
“why not jog?... So long as it's not the broken down gait we see at the western pleasure shows where they are barely moving but an actual true jog where the hind legs are still tracking up, then why not?”
“Personally I think as long as the general public understands what a TRUE jog should look like--that the word is fine.”
Riders are also clear about what they DON’T want:
“snaky necked creepy crawling”
“a 2 1/2 beat shuffle intended to be maximally slow and minimally expressive”
“the jogs that I have seen in shows that have little or no suspension”
What other important things do the riders say?
“I think WD is for all horses, especially horses whose natural way of going favors softer, slower, more relaxed paces. WD is no reason not to have a horse working in good balance, tracking up, in front of the leg, round, etc…”
“Very simply with Western Dressage I'm hoping to find a preservation of a natural progression to the training of ANY horse regardless of breed...”
When we listen, we hear a yearning for more activity and impulsion from western working horses; for more softness, less contact and greater ‘rideability’ from dressage training. It is also clear that riders want a progressive training program that helps them cultivate a positive relationship with their horses. This means blending the two disciplines in practical application in the riding arena, and while blending may be the most difficult way to define Western Dressage as a unique discipline, for North American Western Dressage, it is the best way.
The perfect western dressage horse has not yet been created because the discipline has not yet been standardized. Maybe it will have a reining spin and a canter pirouette, go bridleless or beautifully on the bit. Maybe it will be a stock horse, or an Iberian horse, or an Arabian that has rhythm, relaxation, balance, connection, willingness, engagement, adjust-ability, suppleness and, ultimately, collection. In any case, these are the principles that must under lay the development of the discipline if it is going to call itself "Western Dressage."
Next week look for “The Clothing Conundrum!”
For more information about North American Western Dressage, to read articles, see the tests through 6th Level, or start your free basic membership visit http://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com, and join them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthAmericanWesternDressage
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Michelle Binder is the founder of the Relational Riding Academy. Relational Riding is a program that utilizes dressage as fundamental training for all horses performing in all disciplines. She has been an ARIA certified Instructor since 1989. She is currently working on her second book “Relational Riding: A Horsemanship Tutorial,” and has completed work on two professional video productions, “Any Horse, Any Rider: Relational Riding: A Universal Foundation.” and "Understand Riding from the ground up."