Western Dressage: A Means to an End

Western Dressage: A Means to an End

For well over 35 years, I have taught riders the wisdom of dressage to Western riders. Through the years, I have been contacted to resolve issues with horses and riders working on games, pleasure and reining. I have always addressed the issues the same. Learn the basics, understand the basics, and the issues will resolve themselves.

Jen and Harley. Forward and engaged in the collected jog. (Credit Les Norris)

One of my first professional encounters dealing with Western horses came in the early 80’s. A gelding was having difficulty maintaining the quality of the jog and lope work. Realistically, it was not the horse that needed work; it was the rider. After addressing the proper use of the riders’ seat, and their understanding of how the core of the rider can influence the movement of the horse, things began to come together. We worked on many transitions and circles with Sue and her gelding. If she understood how her body influenced the gaits by 80 percent, not her hands; her attempts to ride the horse in a consistent tempo would be a lot easier. At the next show, she won her class.

I saw Sue again a few years after our lessons together. She reminded me of how much I helped her, and because of that training they had developed a great partnership and successful show career.



In January 2013, I was contacted by Jen, who is an avid Extreme Cowboy rider. Jen has a young horse that she will be campaigning in the Extreme Cowboy circuit.  She wants to bring out the best in her horse, and was very curious as to how dressage principles could help her smooth out Harley’s performance. Just like riding over fences or obstacles, the quality of the work is 90 percent of the success.

We have worked together consistently since 2013 focusing on the basics of attention, relaxation and balance. It was discovered that Harley’s quality of paces were being hampered by crookedness. That was easily solved by working on the balance of the rider and Jen figuring out where Harley’s balance line actually was. Transitions and lateral work have been used to have Harley use himself and become stronger in the hindquarters.  He is now becoming well balanced and engaged. The collected work has begun, and the flying changes are being developed. Harley’s jumping ability and speed have greatly improved. His transitions are now impeccable. Most importantly, the rider has learned to ride her horse correctly, as well as understand her horse. In October of 2013 Harley and Jen won the Ontario Pro and Non-Pro Finals! Update:
The pair have gone on to win 5 World Championships in Level 1,2 and 3 Western Dressage in 2014 and 2015! 
Harley's Flying Changes are now flawless and is progressing into a 4th Level Dressage equivalent schooling. With sites to compete in Working Equitation in 2016 as well as Western Dressage. 

The bottom line benefits of Western Dressage really break down into two avenues… having riders train and progress through levels to ride tests at shows, or to use the correct dressage principles to improve their style of Western riding. 

Either way, it’s a win-win situation.

Western Dressage is Classical Dressage in Western Tack! -(Done Correctly That Is)

The following article is my own personal opinion about Western Dressage. 

I write this from experience of teaching dressage principles to Western riders for over 35 years. My teaching style whether it's in English tack, or Western never changes. It's Classical Dressage. 

I think that anyone will agree that Dressage simply defined is the French word for training. You can dressage your cat, dog, horse, even your children.  What I can't agree on is a dressage custom built for every single horse event, club, or new type of riding test. Dressage principles are hundreds of years old. Schools are built on centuries of  experience, traditions and valid success.  The world wide web has created a marketing frenzy on who is going to out do the next riding Dressage in Western tack. 

In my opinion, it's not promoting the art of Western Dressage (if you ride in Western tack), it's splintering it beyond repair. 

For example, there is Cow'ssage, Cowboy Dressage, Cowgirl Dressage, Ranch Western Dressage, and I'm sure that there are more out there if I Google a little harder. Within the trademarked titles exists many enthusiasts, trainers, coaches, riders and the like who claim have taken an interest in Dressage by the title, but claim that it is not really dressage. Confused yet?

Now, with every different nuance of the new disciplines, there seems to be a different take on every different type of dressage (but remember that the claims are abundant that it's really not real dressage). I am seeing interpretations of Dressage that I have never heard about. I'm speaking from experience as and I have been studying it now for 45 years, and I have learned from the best in the world with instructors that had been taught by masters from the 19th century and those masters who had learned from their predecessors. I've trained horses and ridden to the highest levels.

The fracturing of the dressage sport to the Western style of riding has become almost on the point of epidemic. Instead of keeping one definitive new discipline, it's become a frenzy of a dog eat dog world. Can't we just all agree on calling it Dressage? If you ride Western, then Western Dressage?

If your marketing ploy is to tell the world that your world of X Dressage is built on "Soft Feel" "Light contact", or  to change the training scale of the German system, I question the motives. This also includes claiming your dressage is different because your ring size is not that of traditional dressage arenas, then in my opinion people marketing this way have no actual clue about what true classical dressage is. True dressage is based on the balance, bio-mechanical correctness and progressive training of the horse and rider. It does not involve pushing, pulling, spurring or jabbing the horse in the mouth or using any type of head-setting device. It is a very structured ballet between horse and rider. Each movement progressive to the next. Dressage done correctly takes a lifetime to learn, and then some. If you attend lessons or clinics with trainers boasting the latest and greatest draw reins, German Martingales or curb bits on young horses, run don't walk away. You have the right to ask any clinician about their background, and don't be afraid to look for yourself.

I still find it very difficult to comprehend why all these different branches of riding are attempting to differentiate  themselves that they are not dressage, but they are keeping the word. The claims of "it's not dressage in western tack" is beyond ludicrous. 

If you are not using dressage principles to train your western style horses, then you are not doing dressage. Please change the name.