It was an exciting weekend for western dressage in the Pacific Northwest November 2-4. On Friday the Washington State Horsemen (WSH) voted to add Western Dressage as a new discipline on the roster of events offered by the organization statewide. WD has been added as a sub-category of dressage and will utilize NAWD Official Rules and Tests for the 2013 show season so WD classes may now be added to any WSH approved Dressage show anywhere in the state. Western Dressage joins the other disciplines in which riders may compete for year-end awards at each of North American’s six competitive levels. Many thanks to the forward thinking board members at WSH for recognizing the growth and development of this sport and for bringing NAWD Rules and Tests into the state’s competitive environment. So exciting!
On Sunday I attended the last day of the International Centered Riding™ Symposium in Arlington Washington, just east and north of Seattle. Eitan Beth-Halachmy was the keynote speaker and clinician at this event, bringing Cowboy Dressage™ to the Centered Riding™ instructor community. As a Centered Riding enthusiast, I wondered what Cowboy Dressage™ could bring to Centered Riding™. Sally Haney, Senior Level IV Instructor and Committee Member explains: “Centered Riding™ is not a specific discipline. It prepares riders to ride better within any discipline. Western Dressage is a developing discipline based on the principles of classical dressage. Eitan Beth-Halachmy, founder of Cowboy Dressage™, is a wonderfully sensitive master who meets the ability and dignity of the horses and riders at their level of development. Eitan is naturally a Centered Rider.”
Having the chance to meet the founder of the discipline and to hear his thoughts and ideas on western dressage was fabulous. Watching him work with the Centered Riding™ instructors (most of whom were dressage riders) on wonderful QH lesson horses was perhaps the highlight of the weekend. It is even more clear to me that Western Dressage must develop on a path that is influenced by both worlds, but that is distinct from both and thus unique, no matter how difficult the journey.
I spent some time conversing with Debbie Beth-Halachmy as naturally, I was curious about Eitan and Debbie’s experience of the Centered Riding Symposium. Debbie was very gracious saying, “I did not know Sally Swift personally but feel we know who she was through those that continue on with her work. Sally must have been a very kind and thoughtful person. As a horse woman she was without question a great gift to the horses and to those people who love them. Her gift, warmth, kindness and knowledge are still very much alive in this group of special teachers and riders. Like attracts like. We met some wonderful people here at this Symposium. Sally would have been so very proud of them. We are going home enriched and more educated.”
While at the Symposium, I was blessed to have the opportunity to spend some time with Susan Harris, renowned author and illustrator, ARIA Master Instructor and Senior Level IV Centered Riding Instructor. Susan has just completed illustrations for Dr. Gerd Heuschmann’s latest book, Balancing Act. She was very impressed with Eitan’s work saying: “Eitan’s sessions emphasized balance, bending and lightness, using turns on the forehand and haunches, transitions, circles and changes of direction to improve the horses’ responsiveness, and to help the riders develop their timing, coordination of the aids and learn how to place their figures properly in the arena. He has added additional markers to the standard small dressage arena, giving riders a point of reference for the quarter lines and for 10 meter circles. I found the tests progressive, symmetrical, and suitable for the levels of the horses and riders. They included both working and free gaits, with lengthening of the stride and frame, which helps to maintain free, forward gaits and movement. Most riders rode with both hands, using snaffle bits.”
I had not seen Susan in a number of years but was delighted to see the new set of Western Dressage educational posters she is currently working on. Her artwork is now available to western dressage riders interested in understanding the biomechanics of the western dressage horse. Susan’s posters are available at www.anatomyinmotion.com.
Finally, don’t forget the virtual show running in November. Go to the website for entry details and REMEMBER! The 2012 test review survey is also up at the website. This is your chance to give us feedback about the NAWD tests so we can make sure that your needs are met by the best tests in the discipline! We can’t know what we don’t know so we need you to tell us your complaints AND the things that you love about the tests that were ridden during the 2012 show season. Take just a few minutes to help us make sure we stay at the top of the test game.
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."