Dec. 2015 Issue_ August 2013a 2015-11-23 4:45 PM Page 20 20/ DECEMBER 2015 THE RIDER


Palm Partnership Training™ Building a Partnership with your Horse


“Why is Western Dressage Such a Popular New Discipline?”


By Lynn Palm This article really begins with a


story. In 1997, I tried to upgrade my


business of training and competing with horses in multiple disciplines into something else by changing my approach to basic training. I tried to use the term “Dressage Principles” as a basis for Palm Partnership Train- ing’s teaching and education guide- lines. Using the word “dressage” hurt


our educational merit in the begin- ning. I would have people come up to me at horse expos, and write let- ters, emails, and Facebook messages noting that they were Western riders and “didn’t do” dressage. Others said that dressage is too difficult to ride, and they could never achieve it. Peo- ple would even make comments say- ing, “I am a trail rider, and I don’t ride dressage!” Hearing this over and over made


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Cyril, Marie-Frances and me all agree we shouldn’t use the term “Dressage Principles” as a basis for our training and teaching methods at that time. So we didn’t. Ironically, 15 years later people


started coming to us and saying things like, “We take dressage


lessons and ride western!” and “I want to learn dressage because I know it is going to make me a better rider for my horse.” We agree it wasn’t the right time back then to introduce such a strong term, but now it is part of the Palm Partnership Training fundamentals. Dressage principles truly allow you to become the best partner for your horse! I am truly blessed to have dres-


sage as my first influence in riding and training horses. Cyril also learned dressage as his basis for rid- ing. Cyril is from Europe where dres- sage is taught to all riders before they advance to jumping or 3-day event riding. “Dressage” is a French word that means “training” a horse. It is the TRUE natural horsemanship of riding and training a horse, because it allows us to truly understand what the horse is telling us and how to tell the horse what we want. These are the main reasons why


western riders are so excited about this new discipline. They are realiz- ing all the natural horsemanship techniques that we Americans are coming up with are both good and bad. However, we should also follow the dressage principles of classical dressage because it has already proven successful for centuries.


the dressage saddle, I would go home and ride Western the same way. NO difference! It really works! Western riders are looking to train a willing horse and not train through submis- sion. Harmony with the horse is what horse owners want whether they are a recreational rider or show ring competitor. This is the beauty of western dressage and why it is going to grow and become even more popular. The best part of western dressage is that it is helps people learn the cor- rect ethics of horsemanship and how to train a willing horse. The bottom line is that


When I learned to ride in


of horses. It is for the first-time horse owner and for the owner who has had horses all his/her life. I love to hear horse owners say,


you the tools to achieve this correct- ness. It is all in following the Train- ing Pyramid and the dressage levels. There are western dressage tests you can access at http://westerndressage- association.org/. The perfect way to learn is to practice these tests. Western dressage is for all breeds


“the more I ride and learn the more I realize how much more I don’t know!” Dressage will fill that gap and give you inspiration. Lastly, dressage will give you wonderful challenges for riding correctly and with accuracy during riding tests. It is fun and is similar to the sport of figure skating. It is done with athleti- cism, which brings out beauty and grace. It reveals lightness and the ability to harmonize with the horse. I promise, if you ride a test, you will get hooked. Join us, and I promise you will love it. For more information about


training courses, educational materi- als and much more, please visit www.lynnpalm.com or call 800-503- 2824.


The Willow Way Farm Open House took place on Saturday, November 14


The Open House was held to showcase


Willow Way Farm a new full service Quar- ter Horse boarding and training facility located at 3887 Weimar Line in Bamberg, Ontario and to introduce Shauna MacLean who recently relocated from Prince Edward Island to train performance horses, offer riding lessons, clinics and manage Willow Way Farm. More than 100 guests attended the


open house to see the renovations and the new 200 x 84 foot arena. Guests were treated to hot catered food, wine and live musical entertainment. Numerous door prizes were donated by a number of gener- ous sponsors for a raffle.


Send in all your news and 2016 events for the next issue of The Rider


people want to learn more about correct riding and training. Dressage will give


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