Happy Holidays! Tis the season and all my best to everyone. This time of year we are especially grateful for all the perfections we find our lives are blessed with. Wishing all of you the very best of holiday seasons. Thank you for reading and supporting the development of western dressage.
It was a very exciting time for representatives from North American Western Dressage to attend the USDF Annual Convention in New Orleans December 5-8. President Jen Johnson and Board member Jennifer Collman were able to spread the word about Western Dressage “North American style” in this critically important forum. They reported that they were well received and that they had a wonderful time meeting dressage professionals and USDF representatives from all over the country. The following report appeared in the USDF Blog and reflected accurately the result of the NAWD presence at USDF Convention.
“USDF BLOG"
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012 www.usdf.org
“Really, the only "interesting" moment today happened outside of the BOG. During the US Equestrian Federation Dressage Committee open forum, a representative from the association North American Western Dressage asked why the USDF has so far declined to formally endorse or support any of the Western-dressage associations. If you've been reading your USDF Connection, you know that Western dressage is a hot topic. (The response, from USDF president George Williams, was that the USDF must take care to protect the sport's name and terminology as defined by the USDF, the FEI, and in the scope of the Olympic movement. At this time, the USDF will link to WD organizations' websites but declines to endorse any sole WD entity.)”
President Jen Johnson follows up the trip with “We already knew the answer to our question, but we wanted the entire crowd to hear that there ARE two organizations, there ARE choices. Jen was mobbed after her little speech by people coming up to her and saying what a great job she did and expressing their excitement for our mission. We went to the USDF convention with very few USDF members knowing that there are two organizations vying for USEF/DF approval, very few being familiar with our mission. We went to the USDF Convention knowing that we needed to get LOUDER. We are now home safe and sound, mission accomplished.” So the field is set, let the games begin!
IPHDA has had a busy fall, the awards committee has finalized a new awards program that includes awards for every V show for all divisions and classes. V show awards cash is now offered in addition to the personal achievement awards and series finals award. They have created three new Committee's that are working on some exciting projects for the New Year as well. Rod says that “All the classes have been selected and or developed so that they can be fairly judged off of video, making our V shows not only fun but also very fair from a competitive stand point.” Finally, the last V show of 2012 was just posted and it is an IPHDA Members Santa Parade. Thirteen members participated and rode for their charity of choice. How very fun! I am sure it will become an annual event for IPHDA!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from IPHDA
There are really great developments from Cowboy Dressage with The Western States Cowboy Dressage Weekend in mid-February. It will include a ridden clinic and Judges Symposium with Eitan and presentation time with Dr. Robert Miller. In addition, “Cowboy Dressage Vaquero Style” will be demonstrated. This weekend promises to be interesting, informative and entertaining. I can’t wait to go! Watch for the report from this event in the February 25, 2013 blog!
WDAA send Holiday Wishes via their newsletter, but no other newsy tidbits for this week.
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."