Last week I gave you some wonderful numbers that show the tremendous growth we have seen in Western Dressage over the last year. Almost 200 shows and events are already scheduled for 2013… 200! All those events are the brainchildren of people who want to help develop WD in their area.  Most riders start by going to audit or participate in a clinic first or by becoming familiar with different philosophies and approaches to western dressage via the FaceBook pages or investigating the websites. Then, to get started in an area, individuals or groups that want to compete, approach their local USDF GMO’s, barns, and dressage schooling show organizers about adding western dressage classes to existing show ballots or to create Western Dressage shows of their own. The judge is in place, the arena is in place, competitors pay their entries and away they go!

There is so much education to do around the country. On one hand it is up to the judges to help educate riders about dressage, but in general, there is unfamiliarity with the way western type horses move when they are moving well, so on the other hand it is up to the organizations to try to educate the judges about what they are to look for in judging. There is much confusion surrounding the expectations for western dressage horses. Last year at the first show the judge wanted the horses less forward.  At the second show, most received comments directing more forward energy. We rode the same horses…. The judges bring their own ideas about what the western dressage horse should move like even when they have not seen it before. For these reasons, it is so important that more of us get out and ride!  The first milestone to overcome is the suspicion that western riders will not be able to make accurate figures at the lower levels. The second is developing an appreciation for the movement qualities of relaxation, softness, steadiness of rhythm, appropriate tempo, balance and connection in our western horses. The third milestone is allowing each horse the quality of expression it is capable of and rewarding that expression accordingly, not relative to an unapproachable ideal. A western dressage horse moving properly through the topline may look quite different from a great big moving warmblood executing the same movement. The truth is, it is different. That is the point. 

One final milestone that is critical for the development of the discipline is finding the standards of work that define both Western Dressage and Cowboy Dressage. All the organizations hope to enhance what the equestrian world offers riders. Still, the standards are not yet clearly defined.  Are judges to look for a modern dressage horse in western tack? I hope not. Do we sacrifice dressage training as it has become known around the world in favor of the literal translation?  I hope not. Do we sacrifice all that is good in western horsemanship because we use the word ‘dressage’?  I hope not.  Getting out into the rings and riding will help outline the very standards we need to bring all the current trajectories WD has begun to develop into one.  One style of riding that exemplifies the best of both worlds and results in a way of going that is recognizable as “Western Dressage”.

I do want to share with you all the saddest obituary I have ever read. It seems that Someone Else, the person who normally takes care of everything everywhere, has died. The memorial service was held in your local church cemetery. You probably missed the announcement.  Someone Else was taken advantage of regularly. Someone Else was expected to do everything no one else wanted to do or had the courage to do. Someone Else probably saved your butt on numerous occasions. In memory of Someone Else, if you have an interest in Western Dressage, take on helping to bring it to fruition in your area.  Everyone else will appreciate your efforts!

How can you help? Join an organization that promotes the development of western dressage. Find an instructor in your area, or find a clinician to come to your area. As an instructor I got started by contacting the organizations to find out what criteria was in place that told me I could hang out my “Western Dressage Lessons and Training” sign. I already had professional videos and written material available so I was able to send in the materials they asked for and then waited for what seemed like weeks to find out “Yes!”. According to Jen Johnson, NAWD President, “The demand for trainers and clinicians is building and existing professionals are anxious to hang out their shingles and label themselves “Western Dressage Specialists”.”  Unfortunately, not all are qualified to teach this new discipline. Across the board with NAWD, IPHDA and Cowboy Dressage, clinicians, trainers and “wanna-be judges” are being evaluated by organization leaders to make sure they are competent professionals in the industry. Kudos to all of them for trying to ensure that WD develops along positive channels!

Another way to get things rolling in your area is to see about getting western classes offered as part of your schooling show class list.  Schooling shows are valuable places to gain insight, practice and develop your western dressage horse.  When you ride a test, you get a score and comments from the judge on each individual line item, so you will know where you excel and where you need improvement.  You should make certain that the judge of the show has some dressage credentials from the USDF or the USEF.  Approach local clubs and organizations about sponsoring events or adding WD to year end awards lists. Here in my state the Washington State Horsemen, our state-wide horse show organization, added WD, then our local Zone added WD too. Organizations are hoping that interest in Western Dressage will be a much needed shot in the arm so to speak as the economy experiences an upturn. We hope it is.

Remember, I am happy to say that I have created a YouTube channel where I will post short videos from the venues I report on in this blog.   Not only will I be able to share with you still images here on this page, I will be able to post videos so some of those images can come to life.  I hope that you will take a minute and visit that channel at:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5wCjvq53-kHybrTVawJDKg?feature=mhee

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 Western Dressage, to read articles, explore the 2013 Rulebooks, see the tests, or start your memberships visit NAWD at http://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com, and join them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthAmericanWesternDressage.  Find Cowboy Dressage online at www.cowboydressage.com, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/eitanbethhalachmy. Locate International Performance Horse Development Association at http://www.iphda.com/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/IPHDA1.

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."