Western Dressage is About Developing the Partnership of Horse and Rider!

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

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 how Harley’s balance could be correctly carried. 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 seamless. 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!
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: 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. 

The Teeter-Tooter Effect

Acceptance and connection of the riders' aids are not rocket science curriculum. It's not devine intervention or a miraculous feat. Actually it's very simple.
For every action, there is a reaction. A rider who is not balanced in the centre of the horse cannot maintain connection with a horse. Plain and simple. So before anything, please work on your own balance. 90 percent of your aids are from your seat. Your hands and legs take up the other 10 percent.

The Straight Facts About Straightness

The Straight Fact About Straightness

"Horses are not built to move like they are on railroad tracks. The engagement of the inside hind comes from the ability of the horse to carry that leg under the body in the direction of travel. The inside hind is the drive leg of a horse. The rest of the movements are developed from it"  

"When the lengthening of stride is required in the tests or training, if correctly schooled, the horse will have developed an equal push-power with the hind legs to engage both equally, as the horse is placed in a straight position from poll to tail. The evidence of training will be obvious as the lengthening will be displayed without a widening of the hind legs" Elaine Ward

Don't Cut Corners....Learn How to Ride Corners Correctly

An acceptable corner for walk. But too deep for the Lower Levels in Jog and Lope

Riding corners properly for the level you are riding at, is simple if you follow some guidelines:
The basic rule of thumb is: Never ride a corner so deep that your horse loses it's balance.

A corner at a level should have slightly the smaller diameter of the largest circle that is in the particular level's test. If you are riding Introductory and Basic Level, your corner should be between 10-12m in  angle diameter. It will be executed like riding a 1/4 circle in the corner.
 Avoid trying the 90 degree turn approach. The corners are ridden so that the horse does not lose balance and connection with the rider. A horse is not shaped like a 90 degree turn, so it should never be attempted that way.

Too sharp of a turn will cause the horse to lose lateral balance. The horse's shoulders have fallen to the outside and this horse is now over-bending. The will greatly affect the quality of the next movement.

At Level 1, I would like to see a 10m quarter circle for the corner. When riding Level 2 and above, the ideal corner should be 8m as we are now increased in collection and with improved balance, it should be fairly easy for the horse to carry it's self through the corner. Larger corners will show the avoidance to the lack of difficulty and affect marks on both the actual test and the in the general impression section of the test.

Regardless of what you are riding or training at, familiarity to the ring size is imperative. A little bit of math helps eliminate the intimidation the Dressage Court. Whether you are riding in the 20X40m or 20X60m ring, the corner letters are always 6 metres from the corner. Although the placement of the dressage letters in the arena are a bit of a mystery, the letters are placed 6 metres from the corners allows the average correct striding though a corner in all 3 gaits. If the distance of the corner markers were decreased, it makes the corner too tight and therefore decreases the size of a corner. Remember that we have to take in consideration the amount that a young horse can bend and balance through a corner. To make the corners too tight is unfair and will affect the rhythm of the horse. Even gaited horses who move in more of a lateral type intermediate gait would have a tough time maintaining a steady gait with a tight corner.
Even at the Intro and Basic levels we have to make sure that there are at least a couple of straight steps before the first letters to enable preparation for diagonal lines. The short side of the arena is a straight line and not an oval. The turn through the corner enables the horse to transition from a straight short side, to a straight long side.

Adding a cone just to the inside of your track can help you develop a reference point for your corners.

No matter the level, the corner is important. Think about using them as the place to organize your horse before the next exercise. Assessing balance, bend and ensuring engagement of the hind quarters can help you prepare for the next movement.

Curbing Your Enthusiasm for Curb Bits

 

 Curbing Your Enthusiasm for Curb Bits

The transitional bit. The barrel in the middle of the mouthpiece allows both shanks to work independently

The "curb bits" that you may have seen on my riders are transitional curbs which allow for lateral positioning. This means that they are not the fixed curb to the mouthpiece bit. Hence the term "Straight up into the bridle" to a fixed shank curb. I would NEVER permit my riders to ride 2 handed in a fixed bit that would have a solid mouthpiece or shanks attached to the bit.
Secondly the "contact" is merely silk threads. My riders understand that the "contact" is an acceptance of the horse via the engagement of the hindquarters, relaxation of the back and the correct balance of the entire horses' body. I do NOT allow my riders to pull their horses into a "frame".
Although I do not advocate the use of curbs in lower level horses, some are happier working in them.
My seat and legs are also in contact with the horse and my riders are taught that riding is 80 percent from your seat. Reins are not obligatory for downward transitions, and used for positioning the horse laterally.
The proof of the pudding is to see whether the photos show a horse with a gaping mouth. Certainly the issue of incorrect acceptance would also be penalized in the shows by the judges.
A transitional bit would be one that provides an independence of each shank so that the horse may be influenced by the riders hand via lateral positioning to the left and to the right. Hence, the validity of riding the horse with 2 hands in a TRANSITIONAL Curb. A Curb with fixed shanks and mouthpiece should only be ridden with ONE hand. Realistically the majority of horses who are ridden in a fixed bit are probably those ones who are either in a performance or working class and lateral positioning and exactness are not required. (Lateral Bend and Flexion). Think about it as the horse is working in a straight line so to speak, and the rider may also be performing tasks with the other hand such as the use of the rope etc.
In my opinion the straight up curb should only be used on horses that have graduated from the transitional curb and completely understand the rider's seat. The conversation should be again, silk threads. To see a Spade bit ridden with reins in both hands is an insult to the Vaquero tradition. A high ported 1/2 breed or correction bit in my opinion is not necessary if the horse AND rider are trained correctly. Bits that have mechanical forces like crow bars should NEVER be used or even allowed to be in anyone's tackroom.

The Turbo Lifter Bit is legal According to the Rules of  WDAA/USEF Western Dressage, and is permitted to be ridden with two hands.

The whole purpose of WD is to train a horse to be correctly trained without gimmicks or head setting devices. This concept is in alignment of the basis of dressage and honouring proper horsemanship. 
The bit cannot be stereotyped into breed, conformation or discipline of any kind. Bit fitting is done on an individual basis. WD also permits bitless.
The end goal is to ride your horse in what your horse performs the best in that is the mildest form of equipment.