I am interested in Western Dressage. It sounds like something fun to try with my new Morgan. Does anyone show it on this board? It is very new and there is nothing going on with it in my area, but I would be interested in trying to drum up some local interest in some classes. Any thoughts?
I know it has generated a lot of interest in the Morgan folks with the USEF approval in the Morgan breed. The NYS Morgan Horse Society Regional Show in Syracuse, NY in September is offering classes, and many of the NY Morgan peeps are all over it.
Info here on one of the proponents.
Personally, I think it’s perfect for the Morgans, but, sheesh, more tack to buy! :lol:
You may want to try asking on the dressage forum.
There have been some discussions there about this new emerging discipline.
Since it is so new, it may change yet, so most said is speculation for now.
At least it is one more activity you can pursue with your horse and that is always a plus, right?
[QUOTE=Bluey;5800547]
You may want to try asking on the dressage forum.[/QUOTE]
You might also want to stock up on adult beverages before doing so.
[QUOTE=danceronice;5800937]
You might also want to stock up on adult beverages before doing so.[/QUOTE]
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
Thanks for the heads up on the adult beverages! My gut tells me that Western Dressage would not be viewed as “real” or "worthwhile"on that board 
Maybe I’ll just hang around here a bit longer…yes I know I’m a coward!
BR… I love tack! I am riding my guy in a Billy Cook Pro Reiner with full 1/4 horse bars, but alas I think it may be too narrow for him. Anyone have any suggestions? Should I consider Arab saddles?
There is something to be said about collection on a loose rein - don’t let the dressage purists put you off - two different disciplines.
I want to try this with my warmblood. I’ve been riding her western since my english saddle don’t fit her but my western saddle does. Why buy a new saddle when I’m broke. 
I’ve seen no interest here in AL. The local schooling show has offered it the last two shows, and no nibbles.
The last few shows (all Morgan rated shows) I’ve been to, western dressage has taken up a lot of entries, sometimes more than the regular dressage. But again I’m in a region where western disciplines dominate the whole horse theme.
The only thing I wish is, can’t they use small rings for western dressage…? It seems to take twice as much time to ride through each test… sigh.
[QUOTE=paulosey;5801190]
Thanks for the heads up on the adult beverages! My gut tells me that Western Dressage would not be viewed as “real” or "worthwhile"on that board Maybe I’ll just hang around here a bit longer…yes I know I’m a coward!
BR… I love tack! I am riding my guy in a Billy Cook Pro Reiner with full 1/4 horse bars, but alas I think it may be too narrow for him. Anyone have any suggestions? Should I consider Arab saddles?[/QUOTE]
An Arab saddle would be MORE narrow then the full quarter horse bars.
I just saw something about western dressage and think I want to try it, too. Looks like fun…
[QUOTE=CruzN;5801967]
An Arab saddle would be MORE narrow then the full quarter horse bars. :)[/QUOTE]
Really? My QH is too wide for my Full QH bars Crates saddle, but the Arab Tree Circle Y I have fits her perfectly. Perhaps they are different shapes, not just widths? In an English saddle she takes a wide or extra wide.
No not really Arab saddles are wider.
What IS western dressage? 
I hope this takes off, and not just for Morgans. I have done a bit of everything over the years, but western is really my first love. I showed on a local level back in high school, mostly pattern classes. But now, if I ever get back to showing (after a 10+ year hiatus for college and grad school), I don’t know what I’d do. I like western but I don’t like the peanut rolling of wp, which spills over into the western horsemanship, trail and western riding classes too:( Even reining seems to be getting too rollkur-y for my tastes. I would LOVE to be able to compete my QH in a western class that rewarded correct movement and training, not how low I can crank her head.
BES
[QUOTE=wcporter;5802199]
What IS western dressage? [/QUOTE]
There are tests (patterns) just like in “real” dressage. The horse is shown under western tack and the gaits are jog/lope instead of trot/canter. The current tests approximate dressage’s intro and training levels. There is much potential for “higher” levels, even if the extended gaits are excluded (and there’s no reason they absolutely need to be). Leg yield and shoulder-in can be performed at the jog, for example.
I’ve never done it (don’t have a Morgan), but my barn owner will be competing in some tests this fall. Her only complaint: current rules allow a rider to compete with two hands on the reins while the horse is being shown in a curb bit. She feels that the horse should either be shown in a snaffle (junior horse) or in a curb with only one hand on the reins. All the movements can be performed accurately this way, and you wouldn’t ride in a regular western class with two hands.
[QUOTE=BumbleBee;5802169]
No not really Arab saddles are wider.[/QUOTE]
OK good I thought I was losing my mind.
[QUOTE=BumbleBee;5802169]
No not really Arab saddles are wider.[/QUOTE]
From my understanding, Arab bars ARE narrower, but have a flatter angle to them?
This webpage expains it the way I understand it. http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/howshoulifit.html
I am privileged to know a few of the board members of the Western Dressage Association. They are incredibly excited because this is the one discipline in this economy that is growing - on a daily basis. No sooner than the web site went up than Ford, Dodge, and a couple of other major sponsors signed on.
At the shows we have been to, we have been very well received by the dressage folks (admittedly, I’ve only been to two so far - the third on Sunday - but still).
Also, according to the BOD, many dressage folks who are into classical dressage are jumping onto this bandwagon because they like what they see so far.
So yes, some of us are. For pics of us, here you go. And yes, I’ve bought all the photos, just haven’t uploaded the purchased jpgs yet.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.254655734561750.80942.100000519765354&l=63dc9d85d5&type=1
