MAY 2026 THE RIDER /27 Palm Partnership Training™ Building A Partnership With Your Horse


Thoughts on Trends in Today’s Western Dressage Arena Let’s get ready to show & grow!


By Lynn Palm In this series, I would like


to address some of the current trends seen in the Western Dressage arena from the judge’s point of view. This one addresses the differences be- tween a curb strap and a curb chain.


Often this is overlooked


by many riders and their coaches. The type of rider using it, which is used and how it is fit can greatly affect a horse’s performance. These are the points that I always consider when choosing the best for my horse.


From the judge’s point of


view, I see a lack of education concerning the curb strap and curb chain. I am going to break it down here. First, I am assess- ing the horse and the rider’s ef- fective use of aids. From this, a


horse can be accepting the bit as called for in all tests or the horse is slightly or blatantly re- sisting. Resistance can be shown in different actions from the horse.


• A horse’s mouth that is too ac- tive, or repeating the same ac- tions at certain moments or movements • A horse that is moving the head quietly, but avoiding the bit and/or the rider’s hands • A horse that is tossing his head when the rider is using the reins for regulating the speed, turning, or downward transi- tions


By the time I have seen


the horse turn at C, I assessed the reason for the resistance. • When the horse shows resist- ance, first assess if the rider does not have independent hands from his position and


the bit is too high or too low in the mouth. The tell tale signs being mouthing the bit or high and tight head and neck car- riage. • What we need to address too is that it could be as simple as the curb chain! On any western curb bit, you need a traditional curb chain, attaching on both sides of the bit ring. The west- ern curb chain has leather buckle attachments and one of two types of chain. Smooth links should be fitted with no twists so that it lies flat. Then there are rounded links that is a bit more responsive than the smooth links. • Leather Curb Strap-with no chain- is my favorite. They must be at least ½ inch in width and lie flat against the jaw. I prefer to use the curb strap with a buckle on each side so that it can be adjusted for the correct fit. The leather curb strap is less responsive than the curb chain. If you have a horse that is fussy in his mouth and head, try a leather strap, your horse may love it! When fitting any curb


shows balance in the hands rather than his seat. • Second, if the rider is pulling on the reins to “set the head”, turn, or slow down, I will see one or both of these two ac- tions. One, the horse’s head and


neck pulling against the rider’s hands. The horse evading the contact of the bit and going be- hind the hand or behind the ver- tical. • I can also see easily if the horse has too severe a bit or if


strap; make sure that you can take your first and second fin- ger together and fit it easily be- tween from side to side, especially at the middle of the chin. Your fingers should not get snagged or stuck. Last check, gently move your shank of the curb bit back until you make contact with the curb strap. Your shank should go back slightly. The farther the shank, the looser the curb strap


is, which may not have enough response from the rein aids. If so, you must adjust the curb strap for the bit to work prop- erly. The goal is that you have a horse with a relaxed mouth, holding the bit and accepting your rein aids. He will have re- laxed neck muscles and self- carriage and the head will be very steady. When judging, I will al-


ways give comments that may help the horse by addressing re- sistance throughout the test. Remember a rider can cause a horse to resist or pull back when the rider thinks they have contact and connection. In truth, they have a tug-of-war going on between the horse’s mouth and their hands. The proper fit of tack and


equipment is paramount. The bridle, bit and curb strap or chain are so important as they are connected to the most sen- sitive area of the horse-his mouth! We all strive to pre- serve the relationship between our hands and our horse’s mouth. Best of luck in estab- lishing and maintaining that balance!


emy


Palm Equestrian Acad- generalinfo@


lynnpalm.com 352-362-7847 Cyril and Lynn offer clin-


ics throughout the country and abroad as well as online coach- ing. Join them on their teaching tours or through the Palm Part- ners Club.


Ottawa, ON, April 13, 2026 — Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to officially announce the 2026 Na- tional Dressage and Para Dressage Championships, showcasing the nation’s top horse-and-rider com- binations across both Olympic and Paralympic dis- ciplines. With premier venues, identical East and West judging panels and a clearly defined qualifi- cation pathway, the 2026 Championships promise an exceptional and unified national standard of ex- cellence.


Championship Dates & Venues


• Eastern Championships October 1–4, 2026 Bécancour, Québec


• Western Championships October 9–11, 2026 Thunderbird Show Park, British Columbia FIND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED for Declarations and Qualifications HERE. Christine Peters, EC’s Senior Manager Dres-


sage Olympic / Paralympic Program is enthusiastic about the return of the Championships following the 2025 edition. “From emerging talent to seasoned interna-


tional competitors, the 2026 Championships are where Canada’s top dressage and para dressage combinations will come together to compete, in- spire, and define the national standard. “The success of last year’s Championships


showed us this is exactly what we needed at the right time to bring our Dressage and Para Dressage communities together in the spirit of sport. We are looking forward to building on that this year, and in the years to come.”


KEY INFORMATION


Declaration Process Riders may declare their intent to compete in


the 2026 EC National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships during their annual Sport Licence renewal or by updating their declaration at any


Equestrian Canada Announces 2026 National Dressage And Para Dressage Championships time through their MyEC account.


Identical National Judging Panels To ensure fairness and consistency, the judg-


How to Declare: • Select the National Championships Declaration option • Choose the intended event (East or West), if qual- ified • Submit the $25 declaration fee


Key Deadlines: • Late Declaration Fee: $100 for declarations sub- mitted after July 17, 2026 • Final Declaration Deadline: August 14, 2026 Once declared, riders are automatically


added to the EC National Dressage and Para Dres- sage Championships Ranking List for qualification consideration. Declaration fees collected go to di- rectly support the delivery of the respective East or West Championship event.


Qualification Overview • Qualification Period: January 1 – August 31, 2026 • Riders must earn a minimum of two qualifying scores at EC Gold or Platinum sanctioned compe- titions held in Canada • Scores must be achieved at two different compe- titions • Where a judging panel is present, the panel score will be used • Qualification scores must come from the test with the highest degree of difficulty in the rider’s divi- sion


EC will maintain official Qualification Rank-


ing Lists for each division and category (Junior, Amateur, Open) in both regions.


Invitations to Compete


For both the East and West Championships: • The top eight ranked combinations (including ties for 8th place) in each division and category will be invited to compete for National Championship ti- tles.


ing panels will be identical for both the Eastern and Western Championships, with judges officiating from the same positions at each event.


Judging Panel – East & West Divisions: • Brenda Minor (Acton, ON) – Senior /FEI • Joan MacCartney (Manotick, ON) – Senior • Karen Michele Ashbee (Calgary, AB) – Senior • Jayne Essig (Nanoose Bay, BC) – Senior • Margaret Boyce (BC) – Medium


Championship Highlights and National Titles & Awards


• Mandatory horse inspection prior to competition • Two-day championship format • Championship rings with premium footing, an- nouncers, and spectator seating • Ribbons awarded to 8th place for each technical test • Championship titles determined by combined scores from two technical tests within division • Champion and Reserve Champion named for each division and category • Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion recognized nationally following completion of both events


The 2026 EC National Dressage and Para


Dressage Championships represent the pinnacle of Canadian dressage sport, celebrating athletic ex- cellence, horsemanship, and inclusivity across the country. For full qualification details, test charts, and


championship updates, riders are encouraged to visit the EC website including the Info and Rank- ings page HERE and monitor official communica- tions throughout the 2026 season. As excitement builds toward the 2026 Na-


tional Dressage and Para Dressage Championships, Equestrian Canada is also pleased to share an early preview of the 2027 National Championship ven- ues and dates! The Eastern Region Championships will be hosted by Caledon Dressage (September 17-19, 2027), while the Western Region Champi- onships will be hosted by ADA Alberta Dressage (September 24-26, 2027). These confirmed hosts reflect Equestrian Canada’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality championship experi- ences at premier Canadian competition venues.


Questions? Please contact:


Alexandra Vadnais and Alaska du Fjord by Mousse Photographie


Christine Peters Senior Manager, Dressage Olympic/Paralympic Program cpeters@equestrian.ca


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