This article is excerpted from Your Complete Guide to Western Dressage, by world champion trainer Lynn Palm, with Sue M. Copeland. Published by Horse&Rider, the forthcoming book will be available later this year at www.EquineNetworkStore.com.
Western dressage is hot. It’s showing up at events around the country, where riders enjoy the ability to be judged while riding a standardized “test,” or pattern, which calls for precision, balance, and rhythm at the walk, jog, and lope.
What separates it from “regular” dressage? You get to ride in Western tack and attire rather than the typical English equipment.
You’ll ride with a rein in each hand (two-handed), for direct-rein control, and with light, elastic contact to your horse’s mouth.
I’ve been teaching dressage to Western riders for years, because it’s the basis of good riding in any discipline. The term “dressage” actually means training of animals. But to me, it’s also about communication. With it, you develop a way to “talk” to your horse in terms he can understand. The more dressage you do, the larger your vocabulary.
Eventually you can ask him to do anything: go slow or fast, put his head down or up, hold his body straight or move his shoulders or hips to one side or the other, gallop down a hill, do a rollback…you name it! My bet is that you’ll love the control you’ll net once you try dressage.
To get you hooked, I’ll talk you through a real Western dressage test. Your goal: to flow seamlessly through the maneuvers, with rhythmic gaits, precise transitions, and accurate maneuvers.
Sure, it’s designed to challenge you, but you’ll find using the letters (which act as markers) in a dressage arena will help you ride with the required precision.
Western dressage is open to any breed. I love Quarter Horses because of their quiet temperaments and forgiving natures, so we’ll demonstrate this test aboard Larks home run, a Quarter Horse gelding owned by Dr. Elizabeth Stauber-Johnson, and ridden by Marie-Frances Davis.
Let’s Ride
We’ll use United States Equestrian Federation Western Dressage Primary Level, Test 1 (which has since been updated; go to usef.org for the latest tests). For information on finding current tests, and about Western dressage in general, see “The World of Western dressage,” on page X.
WD Tip: If you want to show, but worry about forgetting parts of a test, don’t panic: You can have someone call the test to you as you ride, as I’m doing for Marie-Frances in the photo above. With repetition, you’ll learn to memorize it, and won’t need a “caller.”
This test is divided into 12 sections, each of which calls for different maneuvers. I’ll break each section down for you, step by step. Helmets are optional, but suggested.
1. A: Enter working jog. X: Halt, salute. Proceed working jog.
Warm up your horse. When you’re ready to ride the test, circle him in his best direction just outside the entry to the ring, at the letter A. (See diagram, below right.) establish an active, steady working jog. (see “Western dressage glossary,” on page 3, for a description of gaits.)
When you’re ready to enter, turn toward the imaginary center line (which runs lengthwise down the ring, between A and C, where a judge would sit). Then enter the ring down that center line maintaining the working jog.
WD Tip: When you make the turn from your circle toward A to make your entrance, look down the center line to C. That’s going to help you stay straight.
Transition from jog to walk (only a step or so), to halt at X, by pushing down with your seat, keeping both legs on your horse, and closing your fingers. Keep his body straight on the center line; that’s how you get a “square” halt, meaning his front and hind legs are under his body and evenly spaced, indicating balance. (if you show, judges will reward a square halt.)
WD Tip: Use your peripheral vision to watch for E and B. When you can no longer see those letters, you’re at X. It usually takes at least 10 to 12 feet for your horse to process transition cues, depending on his responsiveness. Since his shoulder should be on top of X when you halt, plan your transition aids accordingly.
When you feel your horse is settled in the halt, salute the imaginary judge. Here’s how.
Women: Put both reins in your left hand. Move your right hand (with your fingers pointed down) to your side behind your right thigh. At the same time, nod your head down and up.
Men: take your hat off and make the same movement with your arm.
WD Tip: If you show, the judge will nod back. Be sure to make eye contact; that shows confidence.
Now pick up your right rein and continue the test. For the upward transition to a working jog, push your horse forward with your seat first, then press with your legs?but be light with them. If you start kicking, he may resist or jump forward, ruining the smooth flow of your test.
Keep him straight, by maintaining even rein contact on both sides of his neck. Prepare to track to the right at C, by flexing your horse’s head to the right a stride or two before you reach that marker.
2. C: Track right. B: Circle right 20 meters.
3. Between F & A: Develop working lope right lead.
When you track right at C, use your rightward, and your inside leg to keep him bending (and from falling into the turn). Use your outside rein to keep him from over-flexing, and your outside leg to maintain the working jog’s rhythm.
WD Tip: I see lots of riders tilt forward or lean to the inside around corners. To prevent this, keep your shoulders back, which will help you balance and keep you positioned over your horse’s center of gravity. That, in turn, will help him stay balanced and engaged in his hindquarters.
As you head down the long side toward B, count a one-two, metronome-like rhythm in your head, so your horse’s working jog remains cadenced. As you approach B, slightly flex his head to the right to prepare to guide him onto the 20-meter circle. (That’s about 65 1?2 feet.)
WD Tip: To ride an accurate 20-meter circle, you’ll track about 6 feet inside an imaginary line between V and P, and S and R. To help keep it round, mentally divide the circle into four quarters. Here’s how: When you reach B, look to the imaginary center line, 6 feet inward from the imaginary line between V and P. Before you get to the center line, look for E. Then, before you get to E, look for the center line 6 feet in from the line between S and R. When you reach the center line, look for B. Be sure to take a deep breath so you don’t hurry the last quarter (a common mistake).
As you finish the circle by approaching B, use your inside leg and outside rein to straighten your horse down the long side. Then working jog straight toward P. When you get there, prepare for the right-lead working lope departure so when you reach F, you’re ready to bend him around the corner and ask for it, using your seat and outside leg.
WD Tip: When you ask for a lope departure in a corner, your horse can easily lean inward. Be sure to use your inside leg and outside rein to help keep his body upright and balanced through the corner and transition.
4. E: Circle right 20 meters.
5. H: Working job. C: Medium walk.
As you lope past A and reach K, straighten your horse. He should have a forward “bounce” to his lope, with his forehand higher than his hind end, which indicates he’s pushing from his hindquarters. This is especially true for Quarter Horses, which tend to have a naturally low head carriage.
WD Tip: To get this “uphill bounce,” use your seat and legs to encourage “forward!” while slightly lifting your fingers to encourage him to elevate his forehand. (If you were to lose contact, he’d flatten his body, dumping his weight onto his forehand, which could cause him to lose rhythm and balance.)
At E, lope a 20-meter circle, maintaining that uphill balance.
Straighten your horse as you exit the circle at E. Prepare for a downward transition to a working jog at H. Immediately prepare for the downward transition to the medium walk, at C. Sit tall and tighten your stomach. Have you hips stop moving with the jog rhythm while your legs maintain light contact with you horse’s sides. Then simply close your fingers to ask him to walk.
6. MXK: Free walk.
Maintain your medium walk to the right, through the corner between C and M. When you reach M, loosen your reins to allow your horse to stretch his neck forward, down, and out (which stretches his back) as you free walk across the K diagonal toward K. Be sure to gently drive him forward with your seat. Keep your legs against his sides, to encourage his hind-end engagement and maintain his rhythm and straightness.
WD Tip: Most horses tend to relax in the free walk. It’s as if they say, “Ah, that stretch feels so good!” When you’re schooling, include frequent free-walk breaks. Not only will they allow your horse to stretch and relax before you collect him again, but you’ll also have the opportunity to practice this movement frequently. That’s a good thing, since it earns you double points when you show using this test.
Re-establish contact as you approach K. Adjust your reins slowly and softly to prepare for the upcoming transition to a medium walk. As you gather your reins, maintain your leg and seat aids. Your horse should show acceptance of the bit without changing his rhythm.
7. K: Medium walk. A: Working jog.
8. B: Circle left 20 meters.
By the time you reach K, you should have light contact with your horses’ mouth and a rhythmic medium walk. Between K and A, bend your horse to the left; ask for the working jog at A.
Guide him down the long side to B, then start your 20-meter circle to the left. This and the rest of the movements on this test will mirror those that you’ve just completed to the right. Simply reverse the previous instructions to perform the movements to the left.
9. Between M & C: Develop working lope left lead.
10. E: Circle left 20 meters.
11. K: Working jog.
Properly bend your horse to the left on the corner between M and C, so he’s balanced for the lope departure there. And, be accurate with your departure?make the transition right in the middle of that curve. Ride the circle left the same way you did to the right. At K, ask your horse for the working jog.
12. A: Down center line. X: Halt, salute.
Just as K (in the middle of the corner), turn your head and look for C, then turn toward it. If you were to look at A, you’d under- or overshoot the center line. During this turn, be sure to keep your shoulders back and your horse balanced; it’s the tightest turn you’ll ride on the test.
As you approach X, softly transition down to the walk for a step or two, then halt. If your horse doesn’t stop square over all four legs (you’ll feel his legs splayed beneath you), take a step forward, to square him up.
Then salute. After the imaginary judge salutes back, drop your reins and walk toward C in a free walk. (At a show, you’d give the real judge a verbal thank you.) You’re then free to exit the ring. Pat your horse, to thank him for a job well done. And give yourself a pat on the back. Good job!
Western Dressage Glossary
Medium walk. Also called “working walk.”) A four-beat, active, energetic walk with resolutely forward-reaching steps and confident stretch to the bit. Head and neck should swing naturally as a result of a relaxed back and free shoulders. Nose should be in front of the vertical. Hind feet should touch the ground into or beyond the prints of fore feet.
Free walk. A relaxed walk with unconstrained, forward-reaching steps where the hind feet reach the ground clearly in front of the footprints of the fore feet. The horse must be relaxed and be allowed complete freedom to lower his head and neck to stretch forward and down and out. The length of the stride, rhythm, the relaxation, and swing through his back are of great importance.
Working jog. An energetic regular, two-beat jog; horse must go forward with even and elastic steps. The back must be relaxed and shoulders free, while there is an obvious push from the hindquarters. The hind legs step actively up under the horse. The horse much show proper balance and maintain light contact with the bit. The horse’s nose must be in from of the vertical. For this test, the working jog may be ridden either posting or sitting.
Working lope. While maintaining a three-beat cadence, the horse must go forward with even and elastic steps. The back must be relaxed and shoulders free; there is an obvious push from the hindquarters, and the hind legs step actively up under the horse. The horse must maintain light contact with the bit, and his nose must be in front of the vertical.
The World of Western Dressage
The beauty of Western dressage is that it encourages participation at all levels. Horses of any breed and size are welcome. And, the Western Dressage Association of America strives to make it accessible and affordable.
The WDAA’s mission is “to build an equine community that combines the Western traditions of horse and rider with classical dressage.
“We honor the horse. We value the partnership between horse and rider. We celebrate the legacy of the American West.”
In competition, each horse-and-rider team performs what’s called a test, such as the one demonstrated in this article. Tests consist of a pattern of maneuvers, ranging from simple circles and transitions at the lower levels to flying lead changes and lateral movements at the upper levels. In a well-ridden test, the horse looks as though he’s doing everything on his own.
The test is ridden in a rectangular arena that’s 20 meters by 60 meters (roughly 65 feet by 200 feet), or 20 meters by 40 meters (roughly 65 feet by 130 feet). The ring has letters posted around its perimeter, at which maneuvers are initiated. Judges look for precision in execution of maneuvers and quality of movement. (Your horse doesn’t have to be a great mover, but he does have to exhibit straightness, “forward,” and balance.)
Each movement in the test is judged and scored on a scale of 0 to 10. Tests are designed to allow both horse and rider to demonstrate they’ve mastered the objectives and standards for that specific level.
For more information on Western dressage (including show and clinic dates), and dressage in general, go to:
- Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA): westerndressageassociation.org
- United States Dressage Federation (USDF): usdf.org
- United States Equestrian Federation (USEF): usef.org
- North American Western Dressage Association: northamericanwesterndressage.com
Lynn Palm
Palm began teaching Western dressage long before it became a familiar term, and she’s on the board of directors of the Western Dressage Association of America.
She rode some of the great Rugged Lark’s sons, My Royal Lark, The Larks Ascending, and Larks Home Run, to multiple championships in United States Dressage Federation competition and continues to teach Western dressage at her Palm Partnership Training schools and at clinics and expos. Lynn also is a regular commentator for HRTV.
She and her husband, horseman Cyril Pittion-Rossillon, have facilities in Ocala, Florida, and Bessemer, Michigan.
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