AUGUST 2011 THE RIDER /33 Randy Byers Introduces Western Dressage To Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo By Kelly Bowers
Southwestern Ontario was hon- oured to serve as a host to premier Western Dressage clinician Randy Byers in June. Byers showcased the newly sanctioned sport, Western Dres- sage everyday at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex as part of Canada’s Outdoor
utes. Spectators cheered excitedly at what seemed like instant success for each pair.
It’s Western And Dressage? Earlier this year, at the World Equestrian Games, Western Dressage of America (WDAA) announced the launching of a new grass roots sport and discipline. Although not actually a new activity, Western Dressage has recently been endorsed by the United States Equestrian Federation and is quickly becoming a popular sport within the American western riding community. Now it’s coming to Canada.
Equine Expo. This whirlwind tour allowed Randy to cross paths with many eager horse people from all cor- ners of the equine world. Dressage rid- ers, trail riders, back yard weekend warriors, and pleasure riders all showed up. Their common goal though, was to understand their horses better, communicate more clearly, and overcome long held fears and road- blocks. Randy’s keen ability to zero in on the root of their concerns, and quickly get down to work, transformed each horse and rider in a matter of min-
The concept of Western Dressage is not to build dressage horses, nor is it to just put western saddles on dressage horses. Western Dressage is defined as using classical Dressage concepts to train and develop the Western rider and horse. The goal, specifically, is to work on cadence, balance, carriage and to “work on accepting the bit”. As progress occurs, the Western Dressage horse becomes more supple and flexi- ble, working more off its hindquarters, allowing for increasing lightness of the forehand and encouraging a natural head carriage. There are a few points of difference between Western Dressage and regular Dressage, most arising from the use of Western tack. The description of the gaits is vir- tually identical, but the Western Dressage horse must maintain “ride-ability” for the rider using a Western saddle. The rider’s posi- tion and hands will also appear somewhat different because of the Western saddle and bit. I asked Randy Byers about the beginning of this new sport. “This sport started with Eitan Beth-Halackamy and Jack Brainard and is still at the grass-
roots level. Originating in the USA, we are making a path into Canada but western dressage is less than one year old right now as a sport. Western Dressage was started and is primarily tested at Morgan shows at this time. Coming soon, it will be opened up to all breeds.”
it can solve a few issues about rid- ing. Many women would like their partner or spouse ride more, but the men may not want to ride in breeches. Secondly, men and women are different. Generally speaking, women want to develop a loving partnership with their horse while men need a task or a job to do with a horse. This is why we see men more in roping and other task driven equine sports. If women want to get their men involved in a horse related sport, Western Dressage has the techni- cal side to challenge a task orient- ed person while not needing to wear breeches.”
When asked what he thinks West- ern Dressage has to offer over tradi- tional Dressage, Randy smiles. “What is appealing about this new sport is that
Marci Brown from Ark Equestri- an adds her take on the subject. “West- ern Dressage is exciting because it brings the progressive training of tradi- tional Dressage to the Western rider. It gives the western rider more tools for success with their horse, by giving the rider a systematic approach to work on every day with their horses. Western Dressage is not simply putting western tack on an 18h warmblood and calling
it western. Western Dressage embraces all that is important to the western rider. The comfort, the relax- ation, the mind of the western horse and the bond between horse and rider, all of these cornerstones of western rid- ing, are made better by adding the tools of training with dressage. It is like having the best of each world.Western Dressage is a very exciting new hori- zon for every horse and rider team that has the desire to achieve MORE . The first Western Dressage asso- ciation formed was the Western Dres- sage Association of America. Three more grass root associations have sprung up in the USA, (MWDA) and (NWWD) and both are bidding for WDAA affiliation. Randy Byers and Marci Brown have recently formed a Canadian organization, the Western Dressage Association of Canada and will be traveling cross country provid- ing clinics.
You can visit these websites for more information: www.randybyer-
shorsemanship.com, www.western-
dressageassociationofCanada.com and
www.westerndressageassociation.org
Now In Ontario!
11842 Ridge Line, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0 (519) 674-1484,
peggytoddbailey@rogers.com
www.baileysaddlery.com
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