I’m confused by this, plenty of regular moving horses are very successful in dressage.
If the link lays flat on the tongue it is allowed. Dr. Britols traditionally do not lay flat on the tongue. That is why they define it so clearly in the rules rather than go by names given to bits on tack store webpage.
In my area WD dressage are the same as the Dressage judges. No show wants to hire two different judges so the preference is always for a judge licensed in both. They don’t swap out a judge in a booth. Yes, I see plenty of headsets in WD.
I agree with Montana’s Girl that a leg flinger will beat out an accurate and correct average mover every single day. You’re never going to win against a horse with extravagant gaits. It gets really old and is absolutely why some people have switched to western dressage. But now we see some of the leg flingers in western dressage as well so no idea what people will do next.
I’m really surprised by all the people who are ok with someone having the same kind of contact in a snaffle as in a 7 inch curb it. It’s wrong. Period. Just because a dressage rider hangs on the curb of a double doesn’t make it right, and doesn’t make it ok for western dressage.
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No one is saying the contact is identical between curbs and snaffles. I’m saying that contact is possible in both. Same, but different.
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That’s not the argument. Of course you can have contact in a western curb bit. The point of contention is not whether or not you can, it’s whether or not you should. You can do all kinds of things that you shouldn’t.
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Vaquero riding is an example of riding in contact absent taunt reins.
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When it comes to dressage, that would be a contradiction of terms?
In dressage contact, even the slightest contact implies measurable solid support thru that contact itself.
With drapey western reins you have contact, but it is not directly supporting, as with direct rein contact, if I am explaining it correctly.
With drapey reins there is a very different contact than a dressage horse on the bit.
Both facilitate contact, but they are important differences in how.
When starting colts those differences are very clear.
An experienced trainer can and uses both concepts if it has learned both, is about what kind of feel you are after in your conversation with the horse you are training.
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It’s not at all a contradiction.
WD isn’t exactly like English dressage but it’s similar. Very similar.
And need I mention that EVERY DAY in regular dressage riders are riding off the curb primarily, even exclusively, off a curb - 2 handed. Just watch the bit shanks angles to see that. Many riders barely use the bridoon bit judging by all the BTV rides in English dressage.
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Again, can and do are not the same as should.
What @Bluey said.
What we’re talking about here is the kind of contact specified in the USEF WDAA competition rules, not the draped rein, spade bit, self-carriage kind of contact that is the hallmark of a trained vaquero bridle horse.
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Another way to explain the differences is, a dressage horse on the bit is the opposite of a western horse in the bridle.
The dressage horse uses the bit contact, no matter how light, to receive the energy coming from it’s hindered and thru the middle arc and neck directed by that bit contact, as an aid in collection.
The western horse is the opposite, thru the bit hanging there and signaling thru the drapey reins, the spade type bit is backing the horse off the bit and asking it to go in self carriage, on it’s own, not using the rider’s hand on the bit as that one more balance point.
I consider dressage a little more active handsy type riding, western less, uses mostly other aids.
At the higher levels, it is a feel on how you ride the horse that gives you those very different ways of moving a dressage horse or a full in the bridle horse present.
Both are the more technical parts of riding of each discipline, developed for different tasks and goals and specific to each one.
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Just because some riders use the curb in the double for leverage, doesn’t justify the same thing in western dressage.
Vaquero horses are an entirely different kind and LEVEL of riding, those horses have YEARS of training leading up to carrying that bit and that contact in that way. It is not comparable to western dressage.
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I know exactly what kind of contact is specified in the WDAA rules. Taunt rein is not a specification.
The WDAA in FAQs says:
"Elements of the two disciplines are very similar. Both wish to create a better horse and rider with the use of structured and focused training and progressive physical and mental development. Both look for balance, cadence, and carriage and share fundamentals. In addition, each discipline uses tests as an opportunity to evaluate the progress of horse and rider through feedback.
The disciplines differ in the execution of the fundamental elements. As the horse and rider progress through the levels of Western Dressage, the test elements become increasingly reflective of movements, maneuvers, and duties asked of a western horse. The Western Dressage horse needs to be handy, willing, safe, and calm while demonstrating pure gaits and lightness. The Western Dressage horse is evaluated with the conformation and movement of today’s western horses in mind. In keeping with tradition, Western Dressage is shown in western tack and the rider wears clothing of western style.
It is not the goal of Western Dressage to create western horses that compete in traditional dressage, but to develop better western horses and offer additional rider education through the understanding and use of principles of dressage and good horsemanship."
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No that’s not it at all.
The horse carries the bit either way and the human adjusts according to several factors and most deal with the carriage of the body, not the face. Thus, contact can be taunt, it can be on a loose rein, depending on several factors.
In a double? From greening stage? No. Of course not. But in the western world, a single bit use discipline, many horses start in a snaffle or bosal and may or may not change over to a shanked bit.
My western pleasure all around old school QH trained in a snaffle which we would ride one or two handed and then for shows we’d go to some sort of curb bit. At the show warm ups were ridden 2 handed and we switched to one handed just in the show ring, unless the judges back was to us then a 2nd came in for a hidden correction.
I don’t understand the continued issues with riding a shanked bit in 2 hands when it’s done in regular dressage every damn day when using the double. Do people question 2 handed contact then?
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I guess that’s why some of the “purists” that I’ve read insist on 3 and 1 rein holds with a double.
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Do ALL dressage riders in a double ride the curb in one hand as the 3 1 hold dictates? Or are they riding 2 2?
Not “purists.” Old classical dressage masters.
This article talks about the history and purpose of holding the reins that way. Don’t worry. It’s a short, quick read. 
Ooops. Forgot to actually add the link. Sorry.
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Perhaps, then, instead of just insisting those of us who do understand the issues are wrong, you might do a little bit of reading and research to better understand the mechanics of bits and the different purposes of each type.
Honestly, I started to reply to your post with a much longer, more educational post, but stopped because I just don’t have time for that and it’s silly for me to tell you a bunch of stuff that you can find yourself on the internet if you really care to learn.
Here’s a link to get you started. It will help explain why I don’t find your repeated argument that “you see this in dressage competitions all the time” to be particularly compelling. And it is also a short, easy read.
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I need no such education, thanks.
I too do not wish to help YOU understand or reconcile the deficit in your education.
