Every day I field calls from people wanting to know more about Western Dressage. What is it? How do I find out more about it? Can anyone do it? Is it hard? Who teaches Western Dressage? Are there shows?
Last weekend a few of our riders were invited to do a Western Dressage demonstration at the local dressage show. What struck me was the feeling of being out of place amongst my dressage friends because we were wearing our western show clothes! I felt like I could sing the song from Sesame Street: “One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong…” I don’t think any of them knew I actually had a great big silver “Western Equitation Champion” belt buckle and Justin Ropers, let alone the Stetson that matches my husbands. The wonderful thing about it was being accepted in a different way AFTER the demonstration by people we did not know. Of course we were a curiosity at first, one woman commented within earshot “Are those our cowboys?” But afterward, many people came up to us and expressed how happy and excited they were to see what was happening in Western Dressage and the greatest compliments were about how beautiful the horses looked. At a dressage show!
The discipline is growing so fast that NAWD now has well over 700 basic members and almost 6000 Facebook followers in just 6 months! In the last week here in Spokane, we have had inquiries about adding Western Dressage classes to both the last state level and local level dressage shows of the season so people can get prepared for next year. The NAWD tests are being ridden at both venues and people at the demos gave plenty of positive feedback about the way the tests are written and structured. One woman said “I have been waiting for this for years!” The spectators were surprised to learn that North American has written tests through six competitive levels and up to the equivalent of USDF 4th Level. Of course the tests respect the differences between competitive dressage and our western working horses and are much more than mimicry of the USDF Tests. NAWD has received very positive feedback regarding the tests and people are saying they are both progressive and fun. Comments from first time exhibitors have been so great:
“went to my very first western dressage schooling show today and used the NAWD tests... honestly, your tests are the only reason I'm even interested in western dressage, coming from an english/classical dressage background. I am doing my best to get the word out that this is the direction western dressage should be going. The ******* dressage tests don't go far enough and the ******* dressage tests are, well, just not dressage.”
It is easy to get Western Dressage started in your area just by contacting your local USDF GMO or local barns that sponsor schooling shows and asking if they will add the classes to the show bill or class list. NAWD will provide tests, the arena is set up, the judge is in place, so it is really quite simple. At our first shows we will begin by adding a “WD Test of Choice” class where the exhibitors specify the Level and Test they want to ride. This adds only one class to the show, but allows all the tests to be ridden at the rider’s discretion. As our attendance grows, we will split the ToC class into the various levels. I am excited for the day when dressage riders and western dressage riders feel comfortable riding and showing in the same venue, it is all just riding after all! If you would like to get WD started in your area, contact NAWD at www.northamericanwesterndressage.com.
If you have a western dressage story you would like to share as part of this blog, please email me at [email protected].
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
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."