The eighth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder

Western Dressage is a big up and coming equestrian discipline right now. I believe this is the right time for the sport to emerge as a reality and the interest level proves that the idea has been around for a long time. When I started talking to everyone about it, I was surprised!  In our area, a Western Dressage Facebook page was started and we had 130 members within about 2 days! That was so important because it showed how much interest there was and gave everyone a chance to get connected and start to get the ball rolling. Since we started the FB page in June, we have had 3 western dressage clinics, requests for demos at our local dressage shows and the promise of western classes at our schooling shows!  Our barn will perform the first demo of the NAWD test material through Level 6 at the end of this month. 

Everyone is talking about Western Dressage and it seems that clubs and organizations are popping up out of nowhere. Join an organization that promotes the development of western dressage. Find an instructor in your area, or contact NAWD to find out who will travel to clinic in your area. As an instructor I got started by contacting North American Western Dressage to find out how to become a recognized Western Dressage Clinician. I already had professional videos and written material available so I was able to send in the materials they asked for and then waited to find out if I could hang out my “Western Dressage Lessons and Training” sign with support from a national affiliate of the USEF. According to Jen Johnson, NAWD President, “The demand for trainers and clinicians is building and existing professionals are anxious to label themselves “Western Dressage Specialists”.  Unfortunately, not all are qualified to teach this new discipline. Across the nation we are seeing clinicians that have turned the dressage pyramid upside-down and others that have created tests that start with a rein back. At North American Western Dressage, we believe that, within the art of classical dressage, there are fundamentals that must not be compromised. Although we do not certify or endorse trainers, the clinicians that we promote all go through screening processes to make sure that they meet minimal criteria and we are confident that they can meet our member’s needs.” For more information about teaching and training, visit http://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com/index.php/resources/clinicians/2-uncategorised/44-would-you-like-to-teach-western-dressage

Another way to get things rolling in your area is to contact organizers of existing shows and ask them to add Western Dressage classes. Schooling shows are valuable places to gain insight, practice and develop your western dressage horse.  When tests are ridden, riders get a score and comments from the judge on each movement, so they know where they excel and where improvement is needed. Make certain that the judge of the show has some dressage credentials from the USDF or the USEF. North American Western Dressage has a comprehensive rulebook coming and tests through six levels available on the website to members so it is easy to introduce the idea to competitors and local organizations that sponsor dressage schooling shows.

Western Dressage Classes are still relatively difficult to find. That is why North American Western Dressage has designed a program that allows premium members to receive scores on tests that you ride at home. NAWD president Jen Johnson says NAWD has the solution. “All you need is an appropriately sized arena, a video camera with a zoom and the ability to upload the footage onto your computer. We use only graduates from the USDF “L” program or higher, and the cost of having a test judged is only $25 for our members. One of our judges will score your test and you will receive a copy of your scoresheet along with exercises that you can work on that will target your problem areas and help you do better next time. We will periodically select videos to be edited to include the scores and comments right on the screen and post it in our video library for members to use as a reference.”  To see a sample video, visit http://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com/index.php/video-archive/22-video-archive/61-jaes-test

So, what are you waiting for? Get started!

For more information about North American Western Dressage, to read articles, participate in forum discussions, see the tests through Level 6, or start your free basic membership visit: http://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com, and join them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthAmericanWesternDressage

If you would like your story to appear in this column, please email 200 words and a 300 dpi .jpg photo file of you and your horse with credits to [email protected].

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."