Western Dressage

[Wellspotted]

We just started adding western dressage to some of the local schooling shows here (Southeast) a couple of years ago.

You certainly wouldn’t need (or even want!) a silver-mounted show saddle to show in western dressage here. The less bling the better, for clothes as well as tack. I don’t know what goes in other regions, though. But our western dressage riders don’t dress or tack up like the western riders in local open shows.

The USEF now has western dressage tests.

Have you checked the Western Dressage Association of America to see if they have a chapter in your area?

http://westerndressageassociation.org/

I read in some magazine recently (Horse Illustrated?) that western dressage isn’t going to try to just copy traditional dressage but add some movements specific to western-trained horses. Sounds interesting to me.

[cowgirljenn]

If I ever get to go back to showing, this is something I will try with my Arab/QH cross. WP is boring for her, and I don’t have the skill to turn her into a reining or working cow horse (what she was bred for). I think we would both enjoy this!

[Janet]

If CDCTA (Commonwealth Dressage and Combind Training Association) were to offer Western Dressage classes at our Dressage schooling (or recognized for that matter) shows in Northern Virginia, would anybody here enter?

(apologies for the LOOONG sentence.)

[Eastern_Promises]

Hmmm, was just looking at the Rules for this. Chaps are REQUIRED ??..why? I cant stand wearing chaps, I feel they affect my “feel” and also using my leg. Also…another “requirement”…tie, bolo, or kerchief ?..again…why??? at the same time it says collared western Eq outfits are ok. How stupid would that look, a simple black slinky with standup collar…and a great big bandanna around your neck?? or a bolo tie from the 70’s ?

I just dont get why those are “requirements”…if Im going to be riding in brush/briars, I wear loose chaps but thats the only time.
and a bandanna or bolo tie??? are they trying to force people to dress up like a city-dwellers idea of a “cowboy” ?

whats wrong with a nice starched, collared button down? Thought this was to also try to get AWAY from the super fancy, sparkly, blingy everything where you cant even SEE the horse from the shine?
Plain…simple…neat…and the HORSE being judged, not who can put the most silver and crystals on everything.

But…its “new”…so maybe they will polish and tweak things as they go along. Im sure eventually the tests will include more than walk/trot too once people get into this new event more.

[sparkette]

^^ I kinda of see your point about the chaps and bling doing western dressage. I ride WP and actually enjoy wearing sparkly shirts (not over kill).

Maybe they are trying to follow the guideline for men who show WP - long sleeve, button, collared shirt with a scarf/long tie?

[longride1]

The rules were originally written by a combination of USEF dressage committee members and Morgan Horse Show Association members who primarily showed Western Pleasure. They simply borrowed the dress and tack requirements from the WP rules for Morgans.

At the schooling shows where dress rules are relaxed we’re seeing a lot of “working” outfits - jeans with chinks, long sleeved shirts, no bling, kerchief. There was a time when the bolo was standard wear for any western gentleman. Even cowboys had working wear and dress up clothes. I don’t think it’s out of line to expect some “dress up” for shows. I do hope bling will be kept to the absolute minimum though.

If you go to http://www.chrisdealphotography.com/Other/Ark-Frostbite-2012/21472236_XP7q7W#!i=1711508901&k=BZcrswP you see some examples.

[Bluey]

Many years ago, when mounted shooting first started, you had to wear period dress to compete.
It was very ridiculous, I never did compete because of that.
I don’t know if they still have those rules today.

For western dressage, the rules of dressing western should be loose enough so that most anyone can participate, if they want to grow fast as a discipline.

I kind of see western dressage going down the path of WP, a far out very narrow discipline for a few that like that kind of showing.
I don’t agree that just because it is a show, people need to make it a special clothes and tack contest.
Western Dressage is supposed to be about the training, not an equitation class.

I thought it was supposed to be a place to show some well trained horses, as a cross over from English and western riding.

We will have to see what comes out of this.