Western Dressage clinics are rolling all over the nation. Here in the Pacific Northwest one clinic series has been endorsed by our USDF Region 6 Director, Donna Longacre. Her lifetime of experience in the dressage world combined with her judging experience in both dressage and western disciplines makes her uniquely qualified to comment on Western Dressage training and judging. I am so excited to have created a clinic series that carries such an endorsement as I continue to try to present Western Dressage as a valuable form of training for western horses and riders. She says “Michelle is on the right track using dressage to train and improve western horses.” As an ARIA certified dressage instructor, recognized Cowboy Dressage Instructor as well as a NAWD clinician, I am honored to have received her nod of approval!

New tests are out for Cowboy Dressage which now offers four tests per level at two levels and five tests written for the Cowboy Challenge arena. Eitan has redesigned the traditional dressage arena with the addition of several letters as well as the repositioning of several letters. The design is especially suited to western moving horses and makes a lot of sense to western riders as well. While he has maintained the measurements in meters, the spacing has been adjusted so that the distances between them are consistent and based on five meter increments. The tests and diagrams are available at http://www.cowboydressage.com/images/pages/competition/JudgesScoresheetsTestDiagrams.html  Besides adding ease of ridability to the court, the placement of the letters actually allows more figures to be ridden within the court compared to traditional dressage. My students and I have been riding the Cowboy Dressage court for several weeks and we have found it to be fun, clear in design and easy to navigate. I admit I was dubious at first, but after working the test movements and figures have come to respect and appreciate the concept and design of both the Cowboy Dressage Court and the Cowboy Dressage Challenge arenas. Remember for a glimpse of what the Challenge tests ride like, visit the video  page at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5wCjvq53-kHybrTVawJDKg?feature=mhee

The spring show season has begun in earnest at IPHDA with new divisions and new tests. The organization leads the industry in the virtual show world and offers many disciplines with multiple tests for riders to compete.  Saddles and other high dollar prizes are offered and all is explained on the website at http://www.iphda.com/.

We really love this way of competition. The horses perform in a familiar environment, my riders seem much less nervous and overwhelmed by the show grounds and related stresses, and we have the opportunity to really show our horses at their best. We can duplicate some of the excitement and camaraderie of showing by having a “virtual show day” where the camera is set up and riders all get together to help get the horses ready, encourage each other, and spend time in our barn community. The really wonderful part is the saving on fuel and travel time as well as stress reduction for our horses. I do hope that the WD organizations are able to generate quality virtual show systems during this period of development for the sport. It makes it possible for riders all over to compete on equal ground whether they live in Alaska or Florida too, something we don’t have much opportunity to do otherwise.

NAWD has released the curb bit tests at the first four levels. These tests are designed to be ridden after completion of Level 4 with a score of 65% or higher in the snaffle.  Horses in the curb bit return to the lower levels of competition and continue back up through the levels as a bridle horse.  Bridle horse tests, if offered, should be a separate class at the show.  North American hopes that this system will help preserve the foundation of dressage training required of the western dressage horse and ensure the proper development of the bridle horse consistent with the training pyramid so familiar to dressage enthusiasts and that it will discourage the premature introduction of the curb bit during training.  Tests and rules for competition are free and can be downloaded at http://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com/index.php/tests-and-rulebook.

Remember, this blog now has a video component.  As show season begins, I encourage you riders to submit your Western Dressage story and videos of your tests, especially if you received a good mark!  I will post any organizations tests.  We want to see what WD is looking like anywhere you are riding it.  No critiques, no “helpful suggestions,” no kudos either, just riding.  Of course, to see a Cowboy Dressage Challenge Test, the first vid posted, check it out on the blog channel at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5wCjvq53-kHybrTVawJDKg.

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.  Finally, WDAA’s website is http://www.westerndressageassociation.org/

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."