Elaine Ward Western Dressage

Friday, 28 March 2014

Partnership

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Spring is in the air...Well Almost.

Spring is in the Air....Well Almost

It's been a long weekend and just now starting to feel normal again. Cold weather and clinics really drain the life out of me! But even though the clinic this past weekend was faced with snow and chilly temperatures, the enthusiasm for learning left the arena feeling warm and cozy!

This was the first time that I was teaching at Debbie Stockers' lovely farm in Metcalfe. It was a wonderful group of diverse Western breeds, including Paints, Quarter Horses and a Canadian.

Thanks so much to Cortney Little for organizing the clinic.

The photo is of Stewart and his lovely gelding. Photo credit to Richard Latremoullie.

I couldn't resist adding this photo of my Arab/Trakehner gelding Garcon. The arena was freshly worked up and the sunshine through the new lexan panels made such a neat photo.

Last but not least, the Harmony Western Dressage Saddle. It's being shipped up from the USA and should be here soon. I can't wait to start riding in it. It looks fantastic. Here is a video of the Harmony and why it's so different to traditional Western Saddles.

Thursday, 20 March 2014

What is a Jog in Western Dressage?

The following excerpt is from the Western Style Dressage Association of Canada Rulebook:

WSD 206 The Jog

1. The jog is a two-beat gait of alternate diagonal legs (left fore and right hind leg and vice versa) sep arated by a moment of suspension.

2. The jog should show free, active and regular steps. 3. Excessive speed or slowness shall be penalized. 4. The quality of the jog is judged by general impression, i.e. the regularity and elasticity of the steps,

the cadence and impulsion. This quality originates from a supple back and well-engaged

hindquarters, and by the ability to maintain the same rhythm and natural balance. 5. The following jogs are recognized: Collected Jog, Working Jog, Lengthening of Stride and Free

Jog. a. Working Jog: The horse displays proper balance with the lightness essential to Western Dres-

sage, moves forward with even, elastic steps. The Working jog may be ridden EITHER posting or

sitting. b. Collected Jog: The horse remaining in acceptance of contact moves forward in a two-beat gait

with the neck raised and arched and showing clear self carriage. The head approaches the vertical position and a light contact is maintained with the mouth. The hocks are well-engaged and flexed and must maintain an energetic impulsion, enabling the shoulders to move more freely. Although the horse’s steps are shorter than in the other jogs, elasticity and cadence are not lessened. The Collected Jog must be ridden sitting, and NOT rising.

c. Lengthening of Stride: Without rushing, the horse goes freely forward with increased ground cover in the same tempo as the Working Jog and with good balance. Lengthening of stride may be ridden EITHER posting or sitting.

d. Free Jog: This is a pace of moderate lengthening of stride and frame compared to the Working Jog. Without hurrying the horse goes forward in a two-beat gait with clearly lengthened steps, with impulsion from the hindquarters. The rider allows the horse to carry the head a little more in front of the vertical than at the Collected or the Working Jog. The horse’s neck is out, down and forward with the nose slightly in front of the vertical, with a loose rein. Ideally during Free Jog, the horse’s poll is carried below the withers. The steps should be even, and the whole movement balanced and unconstrained. The Free jog may be ridden EITHER posting or sitting.

A good example of a Working Jog