Western Dressage integrates the historically validated principles of Dressage with the best of Western stock horse tradition. Western Dressage tests provide the opportunity for horse and rider to demonstrate growth through a series of progressive elements by advancing from test to test and level to level as they develop in physical skill, mental maturity, and partnership. Competitions are both rewarding and educational, with judges providing scores and offering feedback for each element, as well as for collective marks demonstrated throughout the test.
Western Dressage is a very versatile discipline as it is open to any breed of horse or pony, including gaited breeds and even mules, and offers an avenue of competition for all levels of exhibitor and horse. The goal of Western Dressage is to develop a partnership between a happy equine athlete working in harmony with its rider.
The Western Dressage discipline offers the format of traditional Dressage in the use of tests to be performed at various levels of difficulty, but using traditional Western stock-type maneuvers. The discipline also offers rail classes in Western Dressage Suitability, Hack, and Equitation. A fan favorite in this discipline is the Musical Freestyle, where exhibitors are free in the form and manner of presentation they choose while using the gaits and movements of the discipline ridden to music.