BY JEC A. BALLOU / PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH MOYER
If you’re the type of person who enjoys setting a goal and tackling each step to achieve it, chances are good you’ll fi nd a western dressage show quite satisfying. For the newcomer, barriers to entry are low, but the payoffs in terms of training refi nement and partnership with your horse are enormous. Shows are affordable, low-key, and do not require special equipment or attire.
Mastering a western dressage test pushes you to polish and assemble many of the skills you’ve probably already worked on in clinics and everyday schooling. Many riders discover that they can perform certain skills in isolation, but weaving them together in a dressage test is an unexpected challenge. But it’s a challenge that often gets riders hooked.