Dancing to a Western tune

Since arriving in Australia over a decade ago, Western dressage has gone from strength to strength, writes AMANDA MAC.

How much do you know about Western dressage? If the answer’s not a lot, stay with me, because there’s plenty to learn – and perhaps a good place to start is with a potted history.

A relatively new discipline, Western dressage was developed in the US with the goal of combining traditional Western riding with the elegance of classical dressage, and in 2010 was formally established by the Western Dressage Association of America. Several years later, Ann Hughes introduced the sport to Australia, and became the driving force behind first founding the Western Dressage Association of Western Australia, and in 2014, the Western Dressage Association of Australia (WDA-AUS), now the sport’s national governing body.

Similar to classical dressage, Western dressage has a systematic and progressive Training Scale, with a focus on developing lightness, suppleness and responsiveness in the horse, as well as a harmonious partnership between horse and rider. One of the main differences however, is that Western dressage encourages a little more relaxation and less intensity in the partnership and also lends itself to a broader range of horse types and breeds.

In Australia, competitions are held at regional, state and national shows, with six levels of competition each incorporating five tests. Riders compete in open, youth and amateur divisions, and judges assess each horse and rider along much the same lines as an English dressage judge would.

Teresa Russo has been involved in all things Western for quite some time.  Before stepping back at the end of last year due to family commitments, she had been a WDA-AUS national board member for five years, serving as chairperson in the final two years, and for 14 years was president of the North Queensland Quarter Horse Association.

Interestingly, she has competed in Western dressage since 2016, but has also ridden in English tests, on one occasion competing at the Queensland State Dressage Championships with her Quarter Horse. She explains that crossing over between the two disciplines is relatively easy: “Western and English dressage competitions are run in much the same way, with the same arena, letters, and scoring method, and, with the exception of the Western dressage side pass, which is executed at a walk, many of the same movements.”

However, since she began riding as a child, her interests have tended towards the Western disciplines, including performance and reining, plus a successful career in cutting. So there’s a strong pull towards Western dressage. “I like the fact that any type or breed of horse can give Western dressage a go and excel in the sport,” she says, “and I think the Training Scale creates a strong foundation for horses to do well in other disciplines.” Teresa competes her cutting horses in Western dressage, and says she’s noticed benefits for both their trainability and their mental capacity.

Another strong advocate for the sport is Vivian Wearing, a highly regarded coach and clinician across many disciplines who specialises in Western dressage and has been integral in the sport’s growth throughout Australia.

With early experience in Western and English disciplines, she is particularly drawn to the way Western dressage integrates aspects from both. “Western dressage horses are trained to work from behind and to be active, forward, rhythmic, uphill, and calm. It’s this gradual training that helps them feel composed and balanced, and allows them to achieve self-carriage on a light contact,” she says. ” I also greatly appreciate that this sport enhances the mental and physical wellbeing of horses, while aiding riders in developing accuracy and mindfulness.”

Add to this Western dressage’s inclusivity for all breeds, and the rider’s freedom of choice when it comes to tack and attire, and that’s a lot of boxes ticked.

Louise Harris is of much the same mind as Vivian. With her horse Too Much Hootch, she competes at Levels Two and Three, and regularly takes out championship, state and national awards. For Louise, part of her love of the sport centres on the respectful way horses are trained and brought into a competitive environment. “As you work your way up the levels, the discipline’s core values encourage the horse to become confident, soft and relaxed, as well as promoting a genuine connection between horse and rider,” she explains.

In case you were wondering, that approach is actually written into the WDA-AUS Rule Book, where the ideal Western horse is described as responsive, confident, willingly guided and performing the required movements correctly with authority and finesse.

The horse should also demonstrate a ground-covering stride compatible with their individual conformation, with the hindquarters engaged and self-carriage in evidence. Emphasis is placed on the head and neck being carried in a relaxed, natural position appropriate for the horse’s confirmation and level of training.

Judges require the rider to be ‘confident, balanced and effective’, showing the empathy and tact needed to encourage the horse to perform at their best, and for horse and rider to work in harmonious partnership.

Tack in Western dressage is, rather obviously, Western. Either a Western or a swinging fender stock saddle can be used, but no English saddles. The bridle should be Western or stock style, and snaffle bits, bosals and curb bits with a light rein contact are all acceptable. And yes, nosebands are allowed, but cavesson’s only – not a drop noseband in sight. Finally, the rider should be dressed in Western style clothing and boots, with either a Western hat or a helmet, the choice is yours.

The recent appointment of Carol Paterson OAM as Chair of the WDA-AUS holds great promise. She’s a WDA-AUS Western dressage judge, as well as an Equestrian Australia dressage judge with 40 years’ experience. A past Chairperson on the board of Pony Club Australia (PCA), she is currently a PCA Assessor, has mentored China Pony Club since its formation in 2015, and regularly travels to China to act as an assessor and mentor for the club.

Top of her agenda is further developing Western dressage as it continues to grow in Australia, noting that the sport is particularly popular among women: “Whilst we encourage everyone to participate, many of our riders are females seeking to enhance their horse’s education and their own riding ability within our supportive and relaxed environment.”

For Carol, following the Western dressage Training Scale is both effective and rewarding, with riders welcoming the feedback provided by the judges on their test papers. “Add the glamour of bright saddle pads and coordinating western outfits and you have the ingredients for a fun and rewarding day of competition,” she adds.

There’s something inherently appealing about Western dressage’s colourful and relaxed approach, don’t you think? And if you’re interested in learning more, there’s no better place to start than at WDA-AUS.