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

With growth comes ‘growing pains.’  The situation surrounding Western Dressage becomes more complicated with each passing day.  More and more shows are offering WD classes with tests from several sources.  YouTube watchers see a huge variation in the WD videos presented there.  At least three different rulebooks now grace cyberspace and you can read articles and letters to the editor in national and local magazines.  The truth is that by the time you read something in a print magazine, the article may be three or more months old and Western Dressage has grown, changed and developed significantly during that time.  For example, USDF Connection ran a WD cover and article in May this year.  Letters from readers are just appearing regarding that article in the September issue.  In May there were two organizations developing and promoting WD, only one of which received mention.  In September, just three month later, there are five groups!  What you read today in a print magazine may have been accurate at the time of submission and, barring changes, accurate before printing but may not reflect the actual state of affairs even two weeks later when the Western Dressage landscape is changing so fast.

This blog spot is a weekly spot where you can go to see what is happening.  North American Western Dressage has been working hard on rules, tests and guidelines while seeking USEF licensure for the discipline for many months.  USEF has just recently declined to grant licensing to any new discipline pending the development of a new licensing process.  Formal licensing of Western Dressage as an independent discipline has therefore been postponed INDEFINITELY, until such time as their new process is in place.  NAWD recognizes USEF as the governing body for all equestrian disciplines and will continue to seek independent, licensed status for the discipline.  In the meantime, horse show organizers at all levels are free to choose any of the tests and rules that are currently offered on the WD smorgasbord, including but not limited to, the very basic USEF Morgan Breed Division Western Dressage tests. 

North American offers six competitive levels of tests, through the equivalent of USDF Fourth Level.  Our rules are written with the well-being of the horses in mind and reflect an important collaboration between the dressage and western riders who developed them.  They are a work in progress.  The tests are progressive and consistent with the fundamental principles of dressage, designed to be judged by USDF licensed judges, and yet respect and preserve the movement qualities of softness and relaxation in our western working horses.   NAWD’s mission is to simplify the concept of dressage without minimizing the importance of the training pyramid nor sacrificing the principles that are fundamental to classical dressage and to provide resources for western riders to learn how the classical dressage principles can help the western horse become a better partner and improve performance for any discipline.  This means helping riders make their western horses soft and relaxed; forward, rhythmic and regular in tempo; balanced, obedient and on-the-bit; connected from back to front; adjustable, supple and finally, truly collected. 

With licensure by USEF on hold, the progress of Western Dressage is now truly in the hands of the riding public.  If there are WD classes offered at shows in your area, figure out which tests they are and get out there and give it a try!  If there aren’t and you and your friends are interested in Western Dressage, why not approach local barns that sponsor shows or your local USDF GMO about adding NAWD WD classes to their schooling shows?  The arena is in place, the judge is in place… Add the classes to the class list, download the tests, collect the entry fees and away you go!  Spokane will have its first WD classes next weekend.  I’ll let you know how it goes.  Remember: “If you build it, they will come.” 

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."