My thoughts on WD

Upon hearing about the Western Dressage show, I had decided to give it a shot and we would see where it went from there. Upon getting to the show and warming up, I had thought of something a friend of mine had said about doing eventing with Izzy. I also wanted to have Izzy trained to drive, I've really taken to dressage since showing her and thought- between CDE's, dressage, western dressage and eventing- it looks like the sandbox is going to be a way of life for us. 😁 

I had found another dressage show to go to at the end of July but obviously now, with no pony that isn't going to work. I had planned on doing Intro 1 & 2 as well as doing Western Intro 1 & 2 and giving it another shot, but my honest opinion of WD? Well it's certainly different. 

Western Dressage has been the topic of discussion many times over the past few weeks between me and my friends. One of them has a deeper rooted understanding of dressage and I'm kind of in the middle of the road. I'm always looking to improve, but I'm also trying to decide if we were going down this road and still forming my opinion of the concept in it's entirety. 

From what I have seen and experienced at the show and thru our discussions, it appears that WD was created from people who didn't care for the way WP is going within their respective breeds. While WD is looking for more fluid and proper movement in the horse, it still carries with it some of the WP tendancies many of us would like to get away from, while creating a few more atrocities of its own.    

I had gotten some insight about the judge being a very good one. "She's fair." Well I hope so because I really like that in a judge! The judges are really in a tough spot because not everyone is going to like their style of judging. Some are tough as nails and if you get good marks, it is because you worked for it and definitely earned them. Others are quite generous, not wanting to hurt anyones feelings. In a way I prefer the tougher judges. The generous judge seems like it's one of those where everyone gets a trophy at the end. Do we really learn from being babied?    

Before sending in my entries, I needed to look at the tests so I could choose which of them I would be riding. In Intro and even some of the more advanced levels, everyone was allowed to post the trot. What? In Western Pleasure it is called the jog and you aren't supposed to be posting. WD ... incorporates western heritage and tradition... according to their website. Going back to heritage and tradition then, a  true cowboys horse has a comfortable, ground covering jog that's easy to sit. No reason to be posting and in the upper levels of Dressage- they don't post the trot, they Sit the trot, even the extended or lengthened trot.  

My biggest greif with Test 1 was obviously having the whistle bown at us. I was not happy about it, but I was glad she gave me the chance to correct things and go on, rather than DQ us and send us out of the arena.  Kudos for that. Izzy was a little stiff, braced, fast at times and not paying attention to me at others. First class in a new arena so a total Baby Horse issue. NBD, right? What has mme a little confused s that we didn't get the comments of rushing and quick until Test 2 when she actually wasn't. 

Another topic of discussion about WD was the idea that the use of 2 hands is allowed, even when using a curb bit. For Dressage this makes sense in the fact that you're using a double bridle and have the bradoon, typically being a snaffle, where using one rein or the other makes sense since it works on either side of the mouth independently. With a curb bit being one solid piece, pulling on one rein is like pulling on them both. There is no pulling 'left' or 'right', just pulling back and engaging the curb chain or strap.  

On our one circle, the judge noted my reins were too long and when cueing my pony, my hands were in my lap. My reins were not exactly long, but when Izzy relaxed and was moving in self carriage, nice and round like she should, I dropped my hands and let her go. As long as she held it, I left her alone. If she started to lose it, I would correct her, get her back where she belongs and leave her alone again. Apparently this judge was not a fan. 

Western Pleasure, the judges want to see the horse working on a loose rein. My take away on Western Dressage is that they don't care for or want to see a loose rein. Just about every rider at every level that I got to watch, had contact thru the reins. Another thing I noticed was everyone's hands being on or close to the withers.   

My Dressage friend completely understands what was going on and since she knows how I ride and Why I do some of the things I do, her comment was, "The judge doesn't like your style of riding." At the moment, I didn't really think about my "style" of riding. This is still something I'm trying to figure out, so when I do, I'm sure it will be another post.