I guess the beginning is a great place to start. I grew up in Maine, the oldest of five, to a father who was in the military and a mother who was a housewife until the youngest of my siblings was in Junior-High school. We grew up on the other side of middle-class, OK, we were poor. I grew up watching spaghetti westerns in black and white on Saturday afternoons. I always loved the intrigue of being a Cowboy, pushing cattle up the Chisholm Trail, fighting bad guys and Indians. Next to the pony...

Although some of you may think Western Dressage is new; when I discovered the Western Dressage Association of America was formed 2 years ago, my first thought was “there is actually a name for it?” For well over 30 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...

One of the many wonders of Western Dressage is about the Journey. This Journey is one of education, growth, fun, friendships and of course, horses. Western heritage commonly references the tales shared out on the trail and around the campfire. These tales could be life changing experiences, important lessons, new knowledge, or just general fun. The Western Dressage Association® of America is inviting members to share the stories of their Western Dressage Journey. The WDAA is looking for...

The answer to this question is a simple, but detailed one. The Western Dressage Association® of America chose to pursue and become a nonprofit organization for many reasons, including fulfillment of our educational mission, greater opportunities for private funding and benefits of tax exemption… but the primary motivation was for YOU! When an organization applies for nonprofit status it states that it is declaring that its association is motivated by other goals then making a profit....

Superman and John Ingram (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Superman and John Ingram clinched the championship title during day two of competition for the Hunt Limited Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 division at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ingram, of Nashville, TN, and his eleven-year-old Holsteiner gelding were third and second over fences during day one of competition and secured their victory with two blue ribbon performances on day two in the under saddle...

How can you practice anything on your horse when there’s six inches of snow on the ground, it’s below freezing, the wind is blowing, and you’re not blessed with an indoor arena? Here in Colorado, we often have beautiful, sunny days where we can exercise our horses outdoors for hours. On other days, not so much. As a friend of mine said, "it’s not how you ride your horse; it’s how you live your life." He was referring to work you can do off your horse, such as...

What is the next frontier in the equestrian world? According to Dr. Jim Warson, Equestrian Medicine Specialist and author of The Rider’s Pain Free Back , “its rider health and development. The horses are as good as they are going to be in our lifetimes, so this is where the action is. Rider health and conditioning make us worthy of the horses that we spend so much time and money on”. Dr. Jim Warson with his beautiful horse, Gallahad Golden Warrior, “Trigger” Dr....

What is the equestrian demographic in North America? Surveys reveal it consists of women who, after a career, raising children, or both, have either returned to riding or are pursuing it as a life long dream. I fall into this demographic, having returned after both a career and children, and once again after major surgery. But where do we go to find training, a supportive community and a purpose in this endeavor? After much exploration, I was lucky enough to find Western Dressage through the...

This is a truly thrilling time to be a part of Western Dressage and the Western Dressage Association® of America! I recently had the opportunity to chat with Cliff Swanson, who has been instrumental in many facets of the program, including authoring and editing the new tests, working with the Rules Committee, developing the Train The Trainers™ Program and conducting a wonderful series of Skill Set Clinics. Cliff also sits on the Advisory Board for the WDAA. According to Cliff,...

USEF Dressage Youth Coach Jeremy Steinberg with Rebecca Cohen at the training session. (Carol Cohen) Lexington, KY - The first of two USEF Elite Youth Dressage Training Sessions for 2012 wrapped up Sunday at Shannondale Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. The two-day training session, made possible by a generous donation from Kristen McDonald and the Marquis George MacDonald Foundation, was led by USEF Dressage Youth Coach Jeremy Steinberg. The invitation-only session included eight of the top youth...