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

The latest addition to the Western Dressage information network is a new Facebook page dedicated exclusively to calendar events around the nation.  The new page is called, appropriately, “Western Dressage Shows & Events” and is maintained by Vaquero Training Center in Connecticut. The page is designed to keep Western Dressage enthusiasts informed about what is going on all over the country.  It is a brand new FB page located at http://www.facebook.com/groups/371311062952001/ and is dependent on event sponsors to post their shows and events in a forum open to all WD styles. It is one more way to bring all the different communities together to serve all Western Dressage riders regardless of which style (or styles) they follow or which breed they ride and compete. 

Which breed indeed?  We hear one frequently asked question: “What breed of horse should I ride for Western Dressage?”  The answer really is virtually any breed or combination of breeds might produce a good candidate for the discipline.  Not only is there a possibility of bridging the gap between the two disciplines, there is the possibility of crossing the boundaries between the breeds with Western Dressage. I want to share with readers this excerpt from the NAWD Mission Statement:  “We will demonstrate that any horse can become a better partner through Western Dressage. We will work with equine rescue organizations to identify potential Western Dressage partners and will show, by example that great horses can come from unusual places.” Consistent with this portion of the NAWD mission, I’d like to introduce you to three special horses from around the nation who are actively competing in Western Dressage.

 
Jen Johnson, NAWD CED states: “During the past few years we have seen a drastic increase in numbers of equines in rescues that need our help. Part of the mission of North American Western Dressage is to help demonstrate that, with a little training, these horses can become willing partners which increases their chance for adoption and a better life. In 2010, we decided to participate in the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue's annual Trainer's Challenge. The horse that was assigned to me was a beautiful Friesian/Spanish Mustang cross named “Book`em Danno.” After working with Danno for a few months I realized that he was my partner of a lifetime. I ended up adopting him at the Trainer's Challenge and he is now my main Western Dressage mount.  We are riding at NAWD Level 2 (USDF Training Level) and receiving scores in the high 60s!”


Secret Treasure is a lovely 1996 American Warmblood. He is a grandson of the Dutch Warmblood Art Deco - beautifully bred, beautifully built, beautifully colored, he was trained and shown through Second Level in dressage. During the course of that training, Secret developed a mysterious lameness that was eventually diagnosed as unilateral navicular disease. Even though he did not show typical navicular syndrome symptoms, ex-rays showed navicular changes in one front foot. It was determined that he should be destroyed in 2007 at the young age of 11. To their credit, his owners did not want to do that, so Secret was saved by Relational Riding Academy for the price of $1.00 in the hope that he might be rehabilitated and have a useful life. He was donated to HEART, a 501c3 horse rescue that specializes in saving performance horses. Secret has been treated with massage, chiropractic, osteopathy, magnet therapy and LEPT over the years.  He also wears special shoes and pads and it all seems to be working since he is scoring in the 60’s at NAWD Level 4 (USDF Second Level).

In the spring of 2004 Carbon was born on a PMU (Pregnant Mare Urine) farm in Canada. Carbon was one of the lucky PMU Quarter Horse foals born that year. When he was six months old, he was adopted by a woman from Washington. In the fall of 2008 she contacted Randy Byers to become his new caregiver. Carbon has proven to have a great mind, good movement and a real talent for the sport.  In the last four years he has traveled all over the USA and Canada as an ambassador for Western Dressage. In 2011 alone Carbon and Randy drove over 18,000 miles to help promote the sport. They have enjoyed a very successful 2012 show season competing in Washington, Oregon and Texas in all kinds of venues. Carbon has shown at Basic (walk/trot) and Primary Levels in the tests approved for use in the Morgan Breed Division. Their scores have reached a remarkable 80% when judged by USDF licensed judges at the Western Dressage shows.

Three different horses, three different rescue situations, three horses that might otherwise have been discarded by the very industry that produced them, yet all have proven the validity of the mission. So, don’t ask what kind of horse you need for WD, ride the one you have, or take advantage of the huge opportunity that a rescue horse gives you to find compassion, love, trust and respect in your heart. Their unique situations and abilities truly bring out the best qualities in both species, horse and human. 

If you have a special rescue horse that is your western dressage partner, please share your story with us by sending an email to [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."