The Western States Cowboy Dressage weekend in Medford Oregon was held February 16 and 17. It was a very informative and educational weekend with Eitan Beth-Halachmy and a great cast of presenters that included renowned veterinarian Dr. Robert Miller, Modern Vaquero cowboy Jeff Sanders and VERY brave riders from all over the northwest. The event was presented by the Oregon Western Dressage Association, an affiliate of WDAA, despite the split between WDAA and Cowboy Dressage last fall. It was very refreshing to see the collaboration work and everyone truly behaving in the most professional even warm manner. Eitan and Debbie have a wonderful way of making people feel comfortable and received all the spectators in a very welcoming way. First and foremost I would like to thank all the riders who braved travel, strange surroundings, and the scrutiny of the crowd to make sure various interpretations of Cowboy Dressage were presented and critiqued by Eitan himself as well as horseman Garn Walker and USDF Dressage judge Lyn Ringrose-Moe. Eitan was gracious and provided a wealth of information and instruction to all the riders and I hope each one left the clinic with a more complete understanding of what Cowboy Dressage is all about. All the clinicians emphasized love of the horse and upheld Cowboy Dressage most important rule: Be nice to your horse. Kindness, respect and understanding were constantly brought to the forefront of every session. Things began with Dr. Miller’s presentations about horse behavior, quality training and education of the group about the danger to all horses in every discipline from hyperflexion, a cancer that now pervades virtually every equine sport. Eitan gave riders and spectators alike short instructional quips like “contact is not poison” while addressing excessively loose reins and “there must be life in the gaits” when emphasizing the horses desire to move forward, both necessary elements in developing proper connection through the topline and engagement of the hind quarter.
I asked Debbie Beth-Halachmy to give me a short statement reflecting what she wanted to share in this forum about the weekend. She says: “Over the last three days at the Western States Cowboy Dressage clinic, we saw a multitude of riders with different disciplines and backgrounds. We saw many different breeds from mules to Saddlebreds. All came with a common goal – to improve their horsemanship. Were they perfect? No. Were they at the peak of their potential? No. What they had in abundance was a lot of “try.” That same “try” that we look for in our horses. Cowboy Dressage is a place where the slightest “try” counts and is rewarded. Cowboy Dressage is a place to begin and never end.”
Perhaps the demonstration that made the weekend make the most sense was Jeff Sanders brilliant ride in the Cowboy Dressage Challenge test. Jeff’s ride was truly beautiful and the best example of western riding and training I have seen in many years. While watching his level of horsemanship as he and his horse negotiated the FIRST ride through the difficult Challenge arena the audience was practically silent. That is what good horsemanship does. It moves people through the beauty and harmony so noticeable between horse and rider so that really, the rider almost disappears as our focus hones in on the horse. I don’t remember what Jeff was wearing. I don’t remember a single sound that might have occurred during his ride. I remember that beautiful buckskin horse flowing through the obstacles and movements in relaxation, attentive to her rider, obedient, soft, round, balanced… say what you will, but these are the principles that underlie what I think of as “dressage.”
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| Watch Jeff’s Cowboy Dressage Challenge ride at my new You Tube page. |
Thank you all for taking the time to follow what is happening around the country in Western Dressage. Some quick newsy bits: The Arabians in Motion show at Mt Hood Equestrian Center in Oregon April 26th -28th has added some of the Western tests as fun classes. Woohoooo! On the breed front there is ever more happening so check out developments in WD showing for your favorite breed. Also, North American Western Dressage has instituted a new program for Premium and Professional members. “NAWD Voices” is a monthly conference call where callers can learn more about Western Dressage “North American Style.” Each call will address a different topic over the next ten months. Topics include “Training Scale and How it Applies to all Disciplines”, “USDF Terms Relevant to WD”, “Judging WD”, “Vaquero Horsemanship and WD” and more. There are exciting times ahead as 2013 gets rolling! Next week important news from IPHDA, NAWD and CD about clinics and shows around the country.
I welcome your input regarding anything you have read in this blog, your rescue horse’s story as well as your western dressage story at [email protected].
For more information about North American Western Dressage, to read articles, explore the 2013 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-Zolezzi 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."