By Cynthia Morcott
Two short years ago, I happily discovered western dressage. As an aging dressage rider I was at the point in my life where I knew I had to quit riding the powerful and sometimes unpredictable warmbloods I had been riding for the last 30 years. While I had experienced owning and riding both cutting horses and reiners, I had not participated in those western sports seriously as there were no experienced and respected trainers close enough to me. At almost this exact time I read my first article on western dressage. Enlisting a good quarter horse friend of mine to go with me, I attended the national Western Dressage Association® of America(WDAA) annual meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Suffice it to say that even though I had ridden hunters and jumpers for more years than I care to remember and dressage horses for 30 years, this was a real leap into the unknown. I saw two people at that meeting from my home state of Michigan who I had not seen for 20 years. I met many more fantastic and friendly people who were working to build a national community of western dressage enthusiasts.
Thus began my adventure with western dressage. What a relief it was to me to know I did not have to hang up my tack and give up my life of riding horses. Now I could buy a new quarter horse and begin to train myself in western riding and my horse in western dressage. The first horse I purchased, while a wonderful character, turned out to not be a good fit for me due to his inherent laziness. My second and recent purchase seems to be a perfect fit. It is so much fun and I am relieved to know I can continue to spend my time with horses with the added bonus of getting to know wonderful, friendly and fun loving people.
The growth of this sport is phenomenal. It seems we are doubling our national horse show participants each year at the annual Western Dressage Association® of America World Show. The greatest and best thing I think about this new developing sport is its inclusiveness. All types of horses from all aspects of horse sports from reiners to gaited horses and from warmbloods to Arabians are able to participate. Riders from young to old, accomplished to novice, western riders to English riders are welcomed and encouraged. Many of us, myself included, have attended training sessions such as the WDAA “Train the Trainers™(TTT)”, both basic and advanced sessions, offered by WDAA and/or sessions offered by other groups on training western horses and riders. These schooled trainers will hopefully meet the need for trainers to accommodate the tremendous growth of this equestrian sport in communities all over our nation, and the world.
I live in Southeast Florida during the winter months and in our area we hope to encourage all riders to explore the many opportunities found in Western Dressage. In my native state of Michigan, we formed an affiliate of the National organization. The Michigan affiliate is a vital force in sharing the word about Western Dressage. When I am there in the summer months, I delight in seeing the many things WDAMI has developed and prom
oted. I believe that we have the enthusiasm and desire in Florida to emulate the positive actions of the Michigan Affiliate. In Florida, there are many riders who are excited about another way to have fun and enjoy their horses. Western Dressage will open that door!!
About the Author: Cynthia (pictured with her horse Pete) is a former critical care nurse and lifelong rider. She has her silver medal from USDF and has taught riding in Florida, South Carolina, and Scotland. Her dressage trainers have been Carol Grant, Alison Sader Larson, and Michelle Gibson. Her current trainer is Karenza Muller.