The Rider January 2012

6/ JANUARY 2012 THE RIDER Natural Horsemanship & Body Control Foundation Reining Training Western

Performance Dressage

By Susan Dahl

It’s not what I thought it was... Western Dressage, that is. I admit that I struggled with it ever since I joined Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA). Now that I’ve read the WDAA or USEF WD rules (http://westerndressageassocia- tion.org/wp- content/uploads/2011/05/WDRul esAllBreeds.pdf), I believe west- ern dressage is dressage under western tack (just not including a rising trot) from my reiner per- spective that is. Please read the rules and decide for yourself. I believe a western horse needs to develop a rounded topline, lightness in the shoulders (& therefore a lower head to bal- ance themselves) to be able to

perform the traditional western maneuvers that we do with or without speed and changes of direction while performing them collected & in self carriage with no control (via a draped rein). I believe western riders need to learn to cue or communicate these requests eventually one- handed and with no contact on the reins - sometimes even bri- dleless! (I saw a bridleless west- ern pleasure class on youtube the other day. Cool!) I don’t see that reflected in the USEF WD rules. In fact, it specifies high head car- riage, constant light rein contact and no draped rein.

So it’s still body control that I’ve always been talking about but to relate it better to what IPHDA and WDAA is call- ing their versions, I’m going to start using the term WESTERN PERFORMANCE DRESSAGE. So its still about teaching a western horse and western rider the skills necessary to do well in traditional western events... skills such as lightness, softness, cadence, balance, flexibility & strength. To me, reining or reined cow horse is the highest expression of this ability and skill. As you can see the western tradition has always done it - we just didn’t call it dressage.

IPHDA describes it well in the print (above right):

So what is western dressage good for? In my opinion, those

PERFORMANCE HORSE DEVELOPMENT Gymnastically increasing strength and flexibility in Western and English Performance horses. DEVELOPING AN ALL-AROUND FOUNDATION THROUGH COMPETITION

Develop your horse’s physical strength and flexibility through progressively more difficult gymnastic maneuvers.

Moving up through the PDH levels will ensure your horses so they can develop today’s performance horses so they can respond softly to light cues while changing speed and direction.

Competing in PDH results in the development of Better Performance Horses and Riders.

western riders who have a background in dressage who wish to teach their western horse some dressage and com- pete at WDAA shows. Good luck to them!

It’s been quite a journey. If you need more infor- mation on western perfor- mance development, please ask me or IPHDA. For more infor- mation on western dressage, please see westerndressageas- sociation.com or western style dressage association of canada facebook page.

Putting my spin on western performance dressage or body control.

Reinersue, now Myler Bitting System Technical certified!

John Deere launches

Open Air/Open Road Sweepstakes Winner gets choice of $40,000 patio makeover or themed Airstream; 50 iPads as first prizes

OLATHE, KANSAS (December 14, 2011) – As part of its annual Green Fever sales program, John Deere has launched its Open Air/Open Road Sweepstakes that runs through February 29, 2012. The sweepstakes gives Canadian entrants a chance to win a grand prize of either a Belgard outdoor patio makeover with a new John Deere Z425 EZ-Trak Zero-Turn Mower OR a John Deere themed 22-foot Airstream trailer. Both prizes have a retail value of more than $40,000 (USD) each.

In addition, John Deere will give away 50 (fifty) Apple iPad 2 Digital Devices as first-place prizes. Customers can visit their

local John Deere dealership to check out the latest equipment for their farm, ranch, or property maintenance needs and regis- ter for the sweepstakes from now through February 29, 2012. Canadian residents also can enter by sending in a card with their contact information.

As a part of Green Fever Sweepstakes, John Deere Cana- da shows its support for the Canadian Hockey League. John Deere recognizes the importance of junior hockey in communi- ties across Canada, and dealerships will be promoting the sweepstakes to their local WHL, OHL, or QMJHL hockey fans. For all the sweepstakes eligibility and entry rules, prize descriptions and other information, visit the Green Fever sec- tion on the John Deere website at www.JohnDeere.com/Green- Fever.

Fully Equipped Living Quarters!

The sweepstakes is part of the John Deere Green Fever sales event that offers special cash-back and financing incen- tives on John Deere utility tractors, hay and forage equipment and turf products until the end of January 2012. According to Steve Geick, John Deere tactical marketing manager, the Open Air/Open Road Sweepstakes, as well as the Green Fever equip- ment financing and purchase incentives give customers and prospects three more great reasons to check out the equipment and register to win one of the prizes.

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“The Open Air/Open Road Sweepstakes prizes appeal to a wide variety of outdoor-oriented customers and prospects who are interested in a new John Deere product for their farm, ranch, home or business,” Geick says. “At the same time, we tried to make the as easy for as many people as possible to par- ticipate in the sweepstakes and learn more about John Deere products in the process.”

Sweepstakes winners will be drawn from the submitted qualified entries on April 16, 2012, and winners will be noti- fied shortly after. For a list of all John Deere products included in the special financing program, as well as information on the sweepstakes, see your John Deere dealer or visit www.John- Deere.com/GreenFever.

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Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in pro- viding advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tra- dition of integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at www.JohnDeere.com.

@KISS Reiners

About the Author: Susan Dahl, certified Myler Bitting System technical clinician, proudly the newest member of Toklat’s Myler (Bit) Ride Team, is a certified professional horse trainer, NCCP coaching theory certified, writer, competitor, clinician and owner/operator of Foundation Reining Training Centre, where she specializes in modernized horsemanship & body control foundation rein- ing training or Western Dres- sage for horse & rider. For more information on her very innovative & fun approach to training, clinics, lessons, or coaching, please visit her web- site www.reinersuehorseman- ship.com or Reinersue@hot- mail.com.

www.riverbenddesigns.org

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