Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shirley on June 8, 2011 at 10:19am

Not me but it sounds and looks like lotsa frun. Maybe someday.

Permalink Reply by Ann Chrisite on June 8, 2011 at 10:20am

Morning;

 I have to admit I have never heard off Western Dressage! tell me more!

I have allways been intrested in dressage, I think it is amazing I love it.

Permalink Reply by leanne hall on June 8, 2011 at 10:34am

Hi Shirley and Ann, here is the link to the new Western Dressage Association website, I just discovered it and think that it's going to open up Dressage competition to many more riders. www.westerndressageassociation.org

 

cheers, Leanne 

Permalink Reply by Tracy McDermott on September 2, 2011 at 12:17am

Leanne it isn't the equipment that makes dressage it's how you use your body and can communicate with your horse. If you ride the trail and are good at it you will find low level dressage used all the time. Leg yield, balanced turn on center, any road can be a practice area for side pass or diagonal walk, trot, canter. I'm glad to hear that there is someone training it that will understand the limitations the larger tack of western design presents. That is the only difference, the tack and the clothing.

Permalink Reply by Margaret Langlands on September 3, 2011 at 9:51am

I am interested in this - where are you located?

Permalink Reply by leanne hall on September 3, 2011 at 8:22pm

Hi Margaret, I'm in Southern California above Santa Barbara but if you are farther away you can go to the link I posted above and get more info on WD affiliates in your area.

 

Tracy, thanks for your response. I agree with you that it isn't the equipment that makes dressage and also that it can be used anywhere in any equestrian discipline. However, I disagree about the limitations of western tack---if it is designed well and fits the horse correctly it won't cause problems. You might want to take a peek at the WDAA website for more info. The association isn't taking the approach that WD is English competition dressage only in western tack---it's much more than that and harking back to classical dressage roots.

Permalink Reply by Tracy McDermott on September 3, 2011 at 11:14pm

Liken it to a gymnast wearing tennis shoes and blue jeans with a sweatshirt as compared to a body suit and foot gloves. Cinch, weight and tree break are different between western and flat dressage saddle. A horse can compensate. Actually bareback would be the best. In Sonoma county we've had a festival for years now called 'Dressage in the Wine Country' and there have always been full western dress horses exhibiting high level dressage right next to traditional dress.

Permalink Reply by leanne hall on September 4, 2011 at 8:10pm

Sounds like fun and also like you have some open-minded dressage folks up there--both English and Western.:-) Not the case down here but I'm sure things will change.