Western Dressage What is Western This was footage was... April 04, 2011 07:32 AM

The USEF has just approve a new Discipline called Western Dressage. This group is dedicated to build this new sport.

Western dressage is one of the newest equestrian sports to be endorsed by the United States Equestrian Federation. As such, western dressage is quickly becoming a very popular sport within the western riding community. Western dressage combines western traditions with classical dressage principles to create a whole new way of improving the horse and rider and giving them the foundations they need to advance.

All levels of riding ability are recognized within western dressage, from beginner through advanced. Riders and horses can benefit greatly from western dressage, whether they compete in reining, cutting, roping, western pleasure or barrel racing.

The primary difference between western dressage and regular dressage is the tack - western dressage riders use western saddles while English dressage riders use English saddles. All breeds of horses are welcome to compete in western dressage, and they complete tests that are written by the USEF Dressage Committee and that are very similar to traditional dressage tests.