Tuesday June 11, 3013 will be the last day USEF will hear comments via email regarding the choice of organizations that will represent Western Dressage as the official recognized affiliate organization. This is a critical time in the development of the discipline and your input is very important whether you are a western rider, a dressage enthusiast, judge, breeder, trainer, or participant in any aspect of the equine industry. NAWD President Jen Johnson shares the following food for thought:...

Note to Self: 1. Prepare classical instructor that you will be appearing before him in western tack and riding an Appaloosa stallion, NOT your third level Westfalen import and 2. Don’t ride in a clinic without a photographer A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…. I got a book from the library called The Schooling of the Western Horse by John Richard Young. It was published in 1945 (practically the dark ages) and outlined progressive training for western horses. Critically...

I have been promising to update readers on current trends in the Western Dressage world. One way of keeping track of what WD is doing, where it is going and who is doing it is to track events. NAWD, CD and WDAA all maintain calendars of clinics and shows around the country. By analyzing those calendars we have a simple method of tracking what is happening. The information is limited by the fact that show and clinic organizers must report their event to the organization for inclusion on these...

This week I want to update you about some exciting new programs coming in 2013 for Western Dressage enthusiasts. As this discipline continues to develop, more tests are available, more shows are available, and more award programs vie for participation. The show and clinic calendars are filling up for the year and so much is happening. In January our local WSH Zone added year end awards for Western Dressage following the inclusion of Western Dressage as a subdivision of Dressage on the...

The Western Dressage world is abuzz with dressage talk. The hot topic of the moment seems to be progressive training, especially as it has to do with pyramids and scales. Pyramids are extremely stable structures that rely on strong, broad foundations and which rise to a point, a pinnacle if you will that represents a point of focus. Without the foundation, the pyramid loses strength. The intrinsic nature of the structure itself necessitates culmination in a point. The pyramid is the perfect...

Today’s post comes from Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada. Since I am here in the region of Southwest Western Dressage, I decided to write the blog as an interview with someone from the Las Vegas equestrian community who was doing Western Dressage. So I opened up the phone book to call a local barn. Every barn number but one was disconnected or no longer in service. The one that was working was a casino! So I called a feed store, thinking that at the feed store would be someone who knew someone...

Happy New Year everyone! I am glad to be here and since it is obvious that the Earth did not tip over on its axis turning our mountains into oceans and our oceans into mountains, I have to wonder what 2013 will bring to Western Dressage. Maybe the better question is “What will Western Dressage bring to the world?” Indeed it is an intriguing question when put this way. As our fledgling discipline begins to feather out, the directions in which western dressage may fly continue to...

Happy Holidays! Tis the season and all my best to everyone. This time of year we are especially grateful for all the perfections we find our lives are blessed with. Wishing all of you the very best of holiday seasons. Thank you for reading and supporting the development of western dressage. It was a very exciting time for representatives from North American Western Dressage to attend the USDF Annual Convention in New Orleans December 5-8. President Jen Johnson and Board member Jennifer Collman...

Lexington, Ky. – The FEI North American Youth Championships will take place August 10-15, 2021, at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, Mich. Members of the media who would like to request credentials to cover the event should submit a completed application form by August 9, 2021. The FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) consists of the Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships presented by USHJA and the FEI North American Youth Championships...

Lexington, Ky. - The U.S. Dressage Short List Observation Event will take place June 8-11, 2021, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla. Members of the media who would like to request credentials to cover the event should submit a completed application form by May 31, 2021. You must request special permission for more than one person per media outlet to attend the event. Media attending the event are expected to follow all outlined procedures in the COVID-19 Action...