WESTERN DRESSAGE DIVISION INFORMATION
Dear Friends,
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*Cowboy
Dressage and Western Dressage are the same.
Both names are being used at this time but
eventually one will be chosen for the
division.
Please note: Western Dressage is approved by USEF
and must be offered as miscellaneous classes at any
Morgan Show and must be listed in the miscellaneous
section of the prize list. It is to be judged by the
dressage judges.
*9/2/09 Western Dressage will be in the Morgan Rule
change proposals to USEF so it will be in
the USEF under Morgans. This means if this
division is
approved and then offered at a USEF approved show
the classes need not be under the misc.
section as stated below.
*Work is
underway to once again rewrite the tests in
a western friendly version. Eventually we
hope to have USDF join us with the writing
of the official tests.
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 Western Dressage Division
The Western Dressage classes
would offer a place for the western rider and horse
to improve them selves as individuals and
as partners through the use and discipline of
dressage. By using dressage principles the western
rider will help their horse in multiple ways such as
cadence, balance and carriage to name a few. The use
of dressage will help the western horse to again
work off his rear end allowing for lightness in the
front end with a more natural head set. Dressage
itself will also help greatly to maintain the
soundness of the horse for many years.
It is important to keep in mind
that Western Dressage encourages and will look
for “lightness.” In keeping with the Western
Tradition the “western” allows the “dressage” to
have a much lighter contact, not always seen in
competition dressage.
If you are a dressage rider none of this is new, but
too many western riders these teaching have been out
of reach or practice for them. It is a "comfort
zone" many in the past have felt that "western"
is not a part of. We feel that the time is right to
open the dressage doors to the western division. The
competitive bar will be raised as well as the
personal satisfaction in knowing that "good " is
being done for both horse and rider. These classes
will also offer a place where the western rider can
compete on a scoring system that allows them
to move "up" at their own level. It is not just
a competitive format but an educational one as well.
For women who wish to compete in reining but can’t
this is a perfect division as an alternative.
The Western Dressage classes also give a mature
western horse (5 and over) a place to be re-schooled
with the use of a snaffle. It is also a place that a
sour rail horse can still be good competition horse.
It is a very good entry level for individuals who
wish to learn to ride and show and riders returning
to competition. Plus it educates!!!
It is not the goal of the Western Dressage classes
to use Dressage Horses under western tack. It is the
goal of the Western Dressage to maintain the
integrity and lightness of the western horse and
western traditions through the use of dressage. This
is very important. A western horse moves different,
Western Dressage can just help it move "better".
Western Dressage is all about being the best western
horse and rider you can be...
Dressage is not about the outfit or the tack .....it
is about the horse (face it, we are all riding the
same animal) and if the western public wants to
participate lets give them the opportunity. The
rider wins, the horse wins and the show industry
wins as well.
For more information contact
Kelly Dennison at:
denison_kelly@yahoo.com, Ellen DiBella at
EDiBella@aol.com or Debbie Beth-Halachmy at
eitan@foothill.net
Western Cowboy Dressage How To
Please click on these links for information
for the new Western Cowboy Dressage Division.
Any breed or show is welcome to use these
guidelines.
This is the link for the Judges Guidelines and
the tests.
http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/breeds/forms.aspx?breed=morgan
This is the link for the Morgan Rules; Western
Dressage is on MO35.
http://usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2010/18-MO.pdf
For more information contact
Kelly Dennison at:
denison_kelly@yahoo.com, Ellen DiBella at
EDiBella@aol.com or Debbie Beth-Halachmy at
eitan@foothill.net
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