Western Dressage Program
Howdy!
Stacy is a graduate of the WDAA Train the Trainers program, a California Affiliate Western Dressage Association (CAWDA) Mentor, has earned her CAWDA Bronze and Silver Riding Medals, and her Bronze Musical Freestyle Medal.
Stacy won the 2018 CA State Open Championship, has won two CA State Open Reserve Championships, and has been in multiple top division placings of the CA State awards since 2015.
Stacy successfully competed in the WDAA World Show in Oklahoma and competes in National recognized USEF/WDAA Western Dressage shows in and out of the State. She has earned both the WDAA Register of Merit and Register of Achievement in the WDAA Lifetime Awards Program. Stacy is passionate about continued education. She has attended the WDAA Judges Seminar as a means to improve her knowledge and share it with her students, and clinic riders.
Stacy is a graduate of the WDAA Train the Trainers program, a California Affiliate Western Dressage Association (CAWDA) Mentor, has earned her CAWDA Bronze and Silver Riding Medals, and her Bronze Musical Freestyle Medal.
Stacy won the 2018 CA State Open Championship, has won two CA State Open Reserve Championships, and has been in multiple top division placings of the CA State awards since 2015.
Stacy successfully competed in the WDAA World Show in Oklahoma and competes in National recognized USEF/WDAA Western Dressage shows in and out of the State. She has earned both the WDAA Register of Merit and Register of Achievement in the WDAA Lifetime Awards Program. Stacy is passionate about continued education. She has attended the WDAA Judges Seminar as a means to improve her knowledge and share it with her students, and clinic riders.
Be sure to visit our Events Page for Clinic Dates!
What is Western Dressage?
Western Dressage is a coming together of the centuries-old concepts of Classical Dressage training to the Western traditions of producing athletic and supple working stock horses. By using this marriage of principles, the Western Dressage rider can produce an obedient and willing horse that moves forward, in a soft manner, who is able to carry itself with a strong and supple development of musculature, without resistance.
Western Dressage is a discipline developed by the Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) and recognized by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). The organizations have developed the Western Dressage “tests” in order to assist the horse and rider with a correct training system and a means to gain written feedback from the judge during the training process. Western Dressage invites all breeds to participate. It focuses on the partnership between horse and rider, with both working together to achieve success. It is a progressive dance, and learning the steps is as enjoyable as the final result. Both in daily training and in competition, Western Dressage gives the rider step by step tools with a clear understanding of what comes next. A horse and rider can do as much or as little as meets their goals and needs. A rider can choose to train and show at the walk/jog level regardless of the age of the horse or can choose tests with a desire to move on towards more difficult maneuvers and collection. The tests are systematic and progressive in nature and should culminate in a happy, harmonious, horse and rider relationship.
Western Dressage is ridden in Western tack and attire and basic Western stock saddles. One can ride with either one hand or two hands and the rider should have a “light” contact with the horse (not a loose or draped rein) and can ride in either a snaffle or a curb bit depending on the test.
Western Dressage tools help the rider learn to control all of their horse's body parts. This also gives both the rider and the horse security, safety and confidence. Western Dressage is for the average horse and the average rider and is a fun way to develop better skills and enjoy enhanced communication with your horse, whatever its breed.
