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

This week is all about news, news and more news.  Never a dull moment in Western Dressage!

This just out via a press release from WDAA:

“The WDAA has been guided throughout by the leadership, strategy, and policies of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board, both of which are volunteer positions and provide their services without funding. Each are comprised of distinguished professionals from all facets of the equine industry. Two such professionals are Eitan Beth-Halachmy and Jack Brainard. Each has contributed to the mission, vision and direction of Western Dressage.  These horsemen have given their time, talent and advice to the WDAA to help in its growth. We are grateful for their commitment to the educational mission of the WDAA. Eitan and Jack will be stepping down at their request effective October 30, 2012 from the WDAA Advisory Board to focus on Eitan’s personal brand and business: Cowboy Dressage.”

This weekend, Eitan Beth-Halachmy will be the keynote speaker and clinician at the Centered Riding™ National Symposium in Arlington Washington.  I am headed west across the mountains to present NAWD rules and tests at the Washington State Horseman’s Annual Convention and will be taking the opportunity to meet Eitan personally while I am on the coast.  Check out next week’s blog for coverage of both events. 

I want to continue my efforts to bring public awareness to all organizations that are developing western dressage by mentioning IPHDA, the International Performance Horse Development Association.  Centered in Gainesville TX, IPHDA recognizes quality training and development of good working horses that can do everything.  IPHDA brings a different kind of thinking to the Western Dressage buffet.  Check it out at http://www.iphda.com.  I hope to bring more news from IPHDA in future posts.

The fall is a busy time for everyone and for those of us in the Western Dressage world there is no exception.  Now is the time for review of all of the tests, analyzing feedback from judges and competitors to make sure that the product we package is the best we can bring to the WD world.  To make sure that we receive feedback from competitors and judges alike from around the country, NAWD has posted an online survey on the website.  Just go to www.NorthAmericanWesternDressage.com and click the link called Rules and Tests to find the link to the survey.  We want to hear from you.  Your thoughts and opinions are valuable so please take the time to give us your input.  Whether you have ridden the NAWD tests in practice or in a show, whether you have judged the tests or would LIKE to judge the tests, we can only create a better product by knowing what you think.  We need your input so let us know by taking the short survey on the website. 

As the weather crashes around the country, especially in the north, shows are few and far between.   The answer to winter boredom without year round shows seems to be “virtual showing.”  During this cold rainy season, riders can still get feedback regarding how they are progressing with training by filming themselves riding a test and submitting that unedited video for judging and comments from judges who have agreed to judge virtual horse shows.  This is a wonderful solution for those riders who live in areas where WD has not taken the great leaps in participation it has in other areas of the country to ride the tests and receive valuable feedback. It allows everyone from everywhere to compete without traveling too!  In the month of November, NAWD will run a virtual Western Dressage Show.  From November 10-30, submit a film of yourself riding a test.  Ride the test but do not edit your footage.  It must run smoothly from beginning to end to be eligible for judging.  Go to the website at www.NorthAmericanWesternDressage.com for submission procedure and have fun virtual showing!

That’s all for this week.  Stay tuned for more as we gear up for the 2013 season.

If you would like to see your rescue horse featured in this blog, please email the story and a picture to 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."