Can anyone share info about Cowboy Dressage? The competitions, are they few and far between? Is there much enthusiasm in the discipline or is it not very popular/unpopulated? I have a buckskin that’s more whoa than go. He’s beautiful, calm and safe and willing. I’ve been hauling him in weekly as my second lesson (to my main mare) for about a year now and we’re beginning to work on his lovely canter. His transitions are push-button. Thinking about not bothering with classical dressage because he just lacks… ‘flair’. And he will look natural in western tack. (and…i’ll get to buy a cool new saddle)
1 Like
I have done some western dressage with my horse. (The WDAA/USEF tests). It’s not hugely popular in my area but our schooling shows offer it and our GMOs have year end awards for it. The test figures seem slightly odd to me as someone who is used to the classical and eventing tests but other than that it’s pretty much the same, just a different outfit. Locally there are a few truly Western riders and horses and then the rest of us do both.
1 Like
Oh! Had no idea regular dressage schooling shows sometimes hosted a class! good-to-know tks 
I’m on the east coast (MD/PA) and we don’t really have the numbers to support separate western dressage shows.
1 Like
There are lots of WDAA shows popping up on the East Coast in addition to virtual shows. Just go to WDAA website.
I think it’s popularity/prevalence is very region specific. Look at all your local shows as that is most likely where you’ll find a class or two.
NO!!! Cowboy dressage is NOT the same as Western Dressage (USEF) and has NOTHING to do with WDAA. I have judged both. “Cowboy Dressage” is something some guy made up and added ridiculous “additional letters” to the arena (as if there weren’t enough already). I’m not kidding. “J” for cryin’ out loud. It’s stupid and pointless. I cannot say enough bad about it. Western Dressage on the other hand is growing and very fun. I love it. More education is needed though. Unlike Western Pleasure classes, Western Dressage horses are expected to be going forward. They should show bend and cadence. Some western riders that come down the centerline have those nose-on-the-ground, dragging their feet, 4 beat canter rides and you can’t reward that.
19 Likes
That’s good to know - thanks for the heads up! I didn’t realize there was a “Cowboy Dressage” or that it would be different than Western Dressage.
Western Dressage is growing in popularity in my area. They offer the classes at the local dressage show.
3 Likes
Wow, I just watched some “cowboy dressage”. erm… yeah. Mostly just looked like a variation on a trail class, complete with cones, guide rails and trot poles. The cones and stuff are my biggest qualm really - how are you really exhibiting the training/ability of the horse to maintain a correct bend and cadence, without creating a wonky circle if there are ground poles and cones to show you where you should end up? Lots of “waffly” horses as the rider was focusing more on getting between cones or to specific points, rather than creating the correct shape and balance with their horse.
3 Likes
I’ve never heard of Cowboy Dressage, if it’s something different that Western Dressage. Most of our local dressage shows offer a Western Dressage division. I’ve scribed a few times and the expectations seem not too different from regular dressage. Forward, active movement, regular rhythm, steady contact, uphill (or neutral at a minimum) balance. The main difference seems to be conformation and natural ability of the gaits are taken into account, so a smaller moving or slightly downhill built horse isn’t penalized outright.
1 Like
Then that sounds like a pretty good fit for my less-than-flamboyant boy. He’s uphill, but quarter-horsey in aspect, mostly due to his color and thickness. His training has been classical dressage carriage and on the bit, so as long as i get to use a snaffle and direct rein he’ll be fine.
… I’ve still never been to a dressage show, but when i do, i’ll try to find one that includes a Western Dressage class and check it out.
1 Like
The schooling show I went to at the NEC a couple weeks ago had Western Dressage!
It’s definitely around in MO at a lot of the schooling shows.
1 Like
There are small but enthusiastic groups of both western dressage and cowboy dressage in my area (though more classical dressage by far). Western dressage is under USEF, and generally tend to just be classes at regular dressage shows. Cowboy dressage usually has their own shows. I won’t disparage either discipline, I know people who I respect as horsemen that seem to have a lot of fun showing cowboy dressage.
2 Likes
If I wanted to pursue either, I would choose WDAA. I know a number of classical dressage folks who do it and appreciate the tests and approach. A friend, Joann Williams, has absolutely kicked butt on her Welsh Cob gelding and has the World Championships to prove it;)
https://westerndressageassociation.org/welsh-cob-gallod-ffantastic-achieves-wdaa-supreme-champion/
3 Likes
I did western dressage-- not cowboy dressage-- here in northern Arizona. My horse was a big, handsome Paint with nice gaits and a lot of presence. He could sometimes come unhinged and be a total a**hole, but I digress. He flunked out as a western pleasure horse but he excelled in western dressage.
Western dressage is quite popular around here and throughout the state. Most of the dressage shows, including affiliated ones, offer a full slate of western dressage classes.
I liked working up through the levels. It gets really challenging and fun by the time you get to level 2 and above. All the basics of collection, lengthening, transitions and lateral work that you’d do anyway in making a nicely schooled riding horse are incorporated into the western dressage tests.
1 Like
I also never heard of Cowboy dressage but I have a friend who used to do Western Dressage. Local schooling shows offered both and we attended together. The absolute joy of Western Dressage is that you have so many more choices in your garb. My friend wore an amazing corset and split-leg riding skirt. She looked like a Western woman out of the 1800s (like WestWorld garb) and was definitely the best dressed person at every show. She did quite well with her draft/QH cross.
5 Likes
STRIDEDressage in Ocala offersWD at all our schooling shows. It is really popular!!
1 Like
I just want to back up what Mondo said: Cowboy Dressage is NOT Western Dressage!!!
Cowboy dressage is a pet project of one individual.
Western Dressage, through the Western Dressage Association of America, is a USEF-approved sport and is amazing.
Explore their website for info ( Western Dressage Association® of America) including the tests and whatnot, and there’s plenty of videos on Youtube.
At least here in central US there are lots of opportunities to show at schooling and recognized shows.
I’ve shown it for a number of years and it’s great. All the benefits of training and showing dressage, except you get to wear comfortable clothes instead of skin-tight white breeches. lol
10 Likes
Will def go on your link and read the stuff. We don’t have enough internet connectivity to watch videos, unfortunately. (and netflix/hulu…just forgetaboutit! 
). In Western Dressage…do you do a rising trot in a western saddle?
Edit: ahhh! jog, ‘working jog’ so no need to post.
Now i need to learn what is a jog and what is a lope lol.
2 Likes
I did not know that they are different. Thank. you for the information!
