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

The development of Western Dressage as a discipline is very exciting to riders, trainers, breeders and exhibitors alike.  North American Western Dressage is dedicated to finding common ground between the two disciplines, educating riders from all backgrounds, and to making dressage concepts accessible to western riders without minimizing the importance of the training pyramid nor sacrificing the principles that are fundamental to classical dressage. Good dressage training benefits any horse/rider combination in any discipline and western dressage will open doors for education and increased understanding of classical training as practical training. 

Somewhere between the western world and the dressage world, Western Dressage resides as a tribute to the history of good western horsemanship, to classical dressage training and exists as a reality in the equestrian world.  We choose horses of all breeds as our partners, and prefer to sit in stock type saddles. It takes courage to ride and train the way we do and to stick to our guns when the western pleasure world takes low and slow to the death and while the dressage world takes forward to flying.  NAWD is committed to progressive training with the training pyramid and progressive tests through six levels as our guide.

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. Teaching Western Dressage requires both a classical dressage background and experience with many different breeds in both dressage and western work.  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 whose concerns include preserving both what is truly dressage and truly respectful of our wonderful western horses. This means blending the two disciplines in practical application in the riding arena. 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.  When dressage principles are properly applied to our everyday western training the result is not circus tricks, it is not a dressage horse wearing a western saddle, it is not a western pleasure horse making circles, the result is unique; beautiful, harmonious and just plain good for western riding horses.

The issues inherent in the development of this discipline are compounded by the fact it is in its infancy. Public presentations and media exposure that are inconsistent within the discipline as well as with the principles of dressage (modern, classical OR practical) have made it difficult for the riding public to know what the western dressage ideal should be. At this time, there are several different organizations pushing the development of Western Dressage in different directions. The level of confusion grows weekly as these organizations vie to become the “authority” for Western Dressage.  Standardization in the form of a set of accepted rules and competitive tests presented to the riding public through the USEF is the best solution to ending confusion and simultaneously promises instructors, trainers and riders a clear ideal to which to aspire.

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 underlay the development of the discipline if it is going to call itself "Western Dressage." 

For more information about North American Western Dressage, to read articles, explore the 2012 Rulebook, 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."