Cowboy dressage will be on the East coast; eventually. Read here and understand the differences and similarities between cowboy dressage and western dressage. Meanwhile we will get started on our western dressage as it continues to grow here. We will grow in our horsemanships skills, development of harmony with our horses and prepare for both classical, cowboy and western dressage while working towards working equitation and more....... “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” ― Socrates As posted from the Cowboy Dressage group.... We are similar but also substantially different in our philosophies and there is room for both approaches. California Riding Magazine • October, 2013 The Gallop: COWBOY/WESTERN DRESSAGE New disciplines disciples go their own way, while opportunity for all prevails. by Kim F. Miller Formally introduced to the U.S. as a new discipline in late 2010, Western Dressage has since gained a strong following. Its also been subject to growing pains that often accompany anything new in the equestrian world. Key players in the formation of the Western Dressage Association of Americas California affiliate opted to go their own way earlier this year. Despite common ground, philosophical differences led some California WDAA principals to start their own movement under the Cowboy Dressage™ banner. Cowboy Dressage, of course, is synonymous with Eitan-Beth Halachmy, whose Spanish Riding School-influenced classical dressage background inspired the training and riding style he established as Cowboy Dressage with the Morgan stallion Holiday Compadre back in the early 1990s. He later trademarked the term and popularized the approach in the States and abroad. Eitan was among the founders of the Western Dressage Association of America and, initially, he and his wife Debbie supported the WDAAs California affiliate, which earned that status in late 2011. Terry Tomasini was the inaugural president of the states WDAA affiliate, but he and his wife, trainer Susan Tomasini, were also among those who defected in favor of Cowboy Dressage. It was a matter of agreeing to disagree, Terry explains. We are similar but also substantially different in our philosophies and there is room for both approaches. Californias WDAA affiliate is now emerging from the limbo created by the organizational split. Although these events created confusion among existing and potential participants, the emerging end results seem likely to create more opportunities for more people to make enjoyable, affordable and dressage-influenced progress with their horses. In that way, the developments serve the key missions of all involved. Another organization, the North American Western Dressage Association, has brought many horsemen into the sport: its Facebook page has almost 8,500 followers. Although the WDAA received the United States Equestrian Federations designation as Western Dressages recognized affiliate this past summer, the NAWDA will continue, says its chief executive director Jen Johnson. We have huge congratulations for the WDAA, she says. At the same time, we look at this as a growth opportunity to allow NAWDA to develop with the freedom from the political arena that goes along with the (USEF) recognition. We feel we can excel in educating any person who wants to use Western Dressage for improving their horse. Philosophies How Cowboy and Western Dressage philosophies differ is a question that prompts different answers. In simplest terms, Western Dressage is closer to conventional dressage while Cowboy Dressage uses dressage training to execute western performance and ranch horse activities. Both are ridden in western tack and with a rein in each hand, rather than the one-handed neck-reining of conventional western. Western Dressage is dressage ridden in western tack and with some modification for gaits, headset, frame, etc., posits Terry, now a Cowboy Dressage adherent. While Cowboy Dressage uses subtle dressage cues that allow us to move the parts of the horse for the various western events. Its very western, its purpose-driven and it seeks to produce the quality of gaits of a horse at liberty. Reflecting growing international interest, Eitan was invited to demo Cowboy Dressage at the 2006 and 2010 World Equestrian Games. In addition to hosting extensive discipline information on his own website, he is closely affiliated with Cowboy Dressage World. This entity is best described as a membership by handshake club, rather than a formal organization. Its main purpose is to disseminate education and information about this horsemanship approach. Cowboy Dressage goals and training techniques are closely aligned with the Light Hands Horsemanship movement. Soft feel, as originated by both the Spanish Riding School and Vaquero cowboys of the Old West, is an important objective. This is demonstrated by the sensitivity to leg, seat and weight aids required to ride with some slack in the rein. Lightness, harmony, finesse and partnership are among the methods most important training and judging objectives. Although she has not closely followed the Cowboy Dressage movement of late, WDAA advisory board member and Santa Cruz area classical dressage trainer Jec Ballou was willing to share her opinion on how the two disciplines compare. There are a lot of similarities, but I would say that Western Dressage is more dressagy: meaning its more adherent to the classical training scale. And, our competition tests are geared toward building those movements progressively. Degree of rein contact is one visual distinction, with Western Dressage seeking very light contact and Cowboy Dressage setting the ideal of slight slack in the reins. An observer watching a days worth of rides by both disciplines core constituency – amateurs – would probably not detect a big difference in the horses way of going, Jec surmises. But differences would likely be evident watching professionals ride the respective tests. In Cowboy Dressage, there is a much earlier request for haunches-in and shoulder-in, whereas Western Dressage pretty much follows the timeline of typical dressage. For example, we would use lateral work as a means to getting further down the road, as opposed to creating maneuverability for the sake of maneuverability. Many perceive Cowboy Dressage as more fun. You get to do some of the fun stuff earlier, Jec notes. We all know that watching a USEF First Level test is like watching paint dry! The core belief of both organizations, Terry notes, is doing whats in the horses best interest. Both methods encourage riders of all experience levels and horses of all breeds, sizes, gaits and conformation to get into the game. Competitive Formats & Judging Criteria Western Dressage competition is conducted in a standard, 20m x 60m, dressage arena or a short court, 20m by 40m, and is judged by USEF/US Dressage Federation judges. Collective marks are scored on: 1) The freedom and regularity of the horses movement. 2) Impulsion: the horses desire to move forward, elasticity of steps and roundness. 3) Submission: the horses attention and confidence, harmony with the rider, lightness of movements and acceptance of the bit. 4) Riders position and seat in the correctness and effect of the aids. Accuracy and harmony also count toward the overall score. There are four tests in each of four Western Dressage levels: Introductory, Basic and Levels 1 and 2. All are very similar to their counterparts in regular dressage. The toughest test includes 10-meter lope circles, stride lengthenings and collections and simple lead changes. Cowboy Dressage is contested in a specially-designed dressage court with a perimeter that matches the short court. Eitan designed the Cowboy Dressage arena with shorter intervals to better accommodate the breeds – Morgans, Quarter Horses, Arabians, Saddlebreds, etc. – he foresaw tackling the sport. The shorter intervals add extra challenges and demand more maneuverability. Cowboy Dressage offers 22 tests. The most advanced of the regular patterns, the Walk, Jog, Lope Test #6, entails a 20-meter free lope circle, four backing steps and turns on the forehand and haunches and one lead change. Challenge levels introduce Ground Poles. At the highest level, this includes opening a gate, stopping in a box and backing through cones in a ride that typically takes seven minutes. Per Eitans CowboyDressage site, Judges will be looking for a horse and rider combination that executes the tests in harmony and partnership. They will be looking for and rewarding the soft feel between rider and horse. Release, relaxation, preparation and execution will be the main criteria that judges will be scoring. Precision, balance, cadence, carriage, control and performance will be of substantial importance but harmony, soft feel and partnership is the goal of Cowboy Dressage and will be scored accordingly. Any rider who hangs or bangs on a horses mouth or rides with horses head behind the vertical or with over-flexion will be penalized. Cowboy Dressage classes have so far mostly been held within breed shows, but the discipline has three days to itself with the first annual Cowboy Dressage Horse Show and Clinic coming to Rancho Murieta in November . WDAA and the newly re-organized California Western Dressage Associations are formal organizations. As such, its shows and classes are held in accordance with USEF rules, which are extensive. By contrast, the Cowboy Dressage contingent will rely on the cowboy code to ensure compliance, Terry explains. If adherents see that a training method has been misunderstood or mis-applied or, worse, abusive behavior, We will address it. Both groups place a high priority on educating horse owners on their training philosophies and techniques. Free and for-sale opportunities to learn and practice their methods are plentiful through all three organizations websites, members and followers.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 01:52:08 +0000