Elise Rich and Jazz
Jazz is an amazing example of how dressage can truly transform a horse and cultivate potential in any discipline. He is a very sweet and quiet 9-year-old American Paint gelding who came to me as a trail horse for additional training in the spring of 2014. Two trainers had previously told his owner that he would never do well at the canter, as his long back made it very challenging to use his hind end for collection work. After being introduced to western dressage by my coach, Sue Hughes, I saw in Jazz an excellent western dressage candidate. He was my first western dressage horse and I was excited to explore this new sport!

Jazz has truly blossomed with the timeless methods of dressage. We spent a long time working only on stretching and relaxation through his top line to ensure his new training foundation would improve his quality of work from step one. He is stronger, more balanced, and happier in his work and gives more feel back to his rider with every ride. His stride length has easily doubled that of his old jog and his canter is now a highlight gait! We are adding lateral work and counter canter work, with goals of half pass and flying changes in the future. We have rocked our western tack in three clinics with Spanish Riding School Bereiters, Marius Schreiner and Florian Bacher, which have made an incredible difference for Jazz and really showed his owner and me his capabilities. Jazz and I showed Level 1 at a handful of Glass-Ed and Woodbine shows in 2015. We have plans this year to show him in WDAA and USDF shows again at Level 1/First Level, and hope to go to the WDAA World Show. Thanks to Western Dressage, we have two new dressage addicts: Jazz and his owner, Elizabeth!