Though traditionally viewed as an English discipline, dressage now has a Western version that’s practiced and performed in Western tack and attire.

The Association: The mission of the Western Dressage Association of America is to build an equine community that combines Western riding traditions with classical dressage. WDAA honors the horse, values and promotes the partnership between horse and rider, and celebrates the legacy of the American West.

The brainchild of Western trainers Eitan Beth-Halachmy and Jack Brainard, WDAA was founded in July 2010 through the vision of that pair as well as that of other well-known horsemen and horsewomen. WDAA currently has 600 members across the nation.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but just a year ago we had only 50 members,” says WDAA president Ellen DiBella. “We currently have seven state alliance partners, and there are 18 more in the forming process now.”

Riders: “It’s for everybody, really,” says DiBella. “We see new members who never want to compete, but want to learn Western dressage so that when they go trail riding, they have a more reliable horse. Or they compete in a different discipline, and know that dressage will make their horses more responsive and athletic for, say, barrel racing. Dressage works to improve anything else you do with your horse.”

The new discipline also gives Western riders who’ve been interested in the traditional sport of dressage—where horse and rider are judged individually and work their way gradually through well-defined levels—a way to try it out without changing gear.

“More than half the people in this country ride in a Western saddle,” DiBella observes. “Western dressage gives them a way to participate as they are.”

Horses: Any breed that can walk, trot, and canter is eligible to participate in the sport. According to the WDAA, this broad acceptance gives all horse owners “an incentive to enable their horses to benefit from the teaching of good training techniques.”

“Any horse will benefit from Western dressage because the focus is on building basic skills,” notes DiBella.

Tests: Currently there are six published tests—two that involve work at the walk/trot only, and four that include the walk, trot, and canter. Those tests were originally devised by the United States Equestrian Federation for Morgan horses. (The American Morgan Horse Association has sanctioned Western dressage for its members for the past several years.)

In 2013, WDAA will debut an entirely new set of rules and tests. The new tests will measure a horse and rider’s level of accomplishment based on the different levels of achievement; changes will enable gaited breeds to be accommodated as well.

Benefits: Riders learn correct horsemanship skills and horses become more responsive and athletic. “Because Western dressage is modeled after classical dressage, riders learn fundamentals that follow a perfect natural progression for the training of their horses,” says trainer Lynn Palm, four-time AQHA Superhorse rider and a longtime devotee of dressage. “The ultimate goal is to build a harmonious partnership between horse and rider, resulting in a willing, balanced horse that’s happy in his performance.”

Good to Try If: You like classes that involve patterns or challenges, such as Western horsemanship, Western riding, reining, or trail. “Also, if you’re seeking a really strong partnership with your horse—give it a try,” says DiBella.

Coaching Opportunities: WDAA is now involved with horseshow.com. “We use it as a way to coach riders,” DiBella explains. “Participants can upload videos to the site and have them critiqued by Western dressage coaches. It’s also a continuing education resource for coaches and riders.”

Learn More: info@westerndressageassociation.org; westerndressageassociation.org.

Need help finding your favorite H&R article from 2012? This complete list of 2012 articles should help.

Al Dunning’s How’s My Riding?
"Sitting Pretty,” Practice Pen, Jan., pg. 32
“Hard-Working Pair,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 32
“Trail-Course Prep,” Practice Pen, March, pg. 32
“Al Says, ‘Relax’” Practice Pen, May, pg. 46
“Small-Fry Horsemanship,” Practice Pen, June, pg. 28
“Rail Work,” Practice Pen, July, pg. 38
“Fence Work,” Practice Pen, Sept., pg. 40
“Reining Prep,” Practice Pen, Oct., pg. 40
“Schooling Session,” Practice Pen, Nov., pg. 34
"Sit Up in the Saddle," Practice Pen, Dec., pg. 34

Barns, Property Maintenance
“Melt Ice Safely,” Your Horse, Your Life, Jan., pg. 18
Stable Gear: “Stall Fronts,” Jan., pg. 64
“Savvy Storage,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 20
“Spring-Clean Your Barn,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 20
“Messy Job Made Easy,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 20
Special Advertising Section: “Barn & Ranch Makeover,” March, pg. 57
Stable Gear: “Barn Carts and Caddies,” April, pg. 78
“Nip It in the Mud,” May, pg. 80
“How to Handle a Hay Shortage,” June, pg. 56
“Three-Pronged Fly Control,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 30
“Small Size, Big Benefits,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 28
“Tack Theft—Now What?” July, pg. 68
Stable Gear: “Barn Fly Control,” July, pg. 78
“Winter-Prep Steps to Take Now,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 26
“Easier Hay Soaking,” Your Horse, Your Life, Oct., pg. 24
Stable Gear: “Winter Water Options,” Oct., pg. 70
“While You Wait,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 20

Behavior
“Sore Back; Foal Eats Manure,” Whole Horse Q&A, March, pg. 14
“Hematoma; Saddling Woes,” Whole Horse Q&A, April, pg. 14
“Rearing to Go—In A Bad Way,” Problem Solvers, June, pg. 88
“Club Foot; Sometimes Spooky,” Whole Horse Q&A, July, pg. 20
“Trailering Fears; Bowed Tendon,” Whole Horse Q&A, Aug., pg. 12
“Pasture Predator?” Your Horse, Your Life, Aug., pg. 19
“Clinician On Call,” Aug., pg. 43
“Keeping Kelly,” Aug., pg. 62
“Trailering Fears; Bowed Tendon,” Whole Horse Q&A, Aug., pg. 12
“Popped Splint; Trail Fears,” Whole Horse Q&A, Sept., pg. 14
“Barn Sour; Shoe Boil,” Whole Horse Q&A, Oct., pg. 15
“Eye Discharge; Pulling Back,” Whole Horse Q&A, Nov., pg. 12

Bob Avila’s Winning Insights
“Breeding Time Machine,” Practice Pen, Jan., pg. 30
“How Not to Lose,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 30
“Don’t Skip the Basics,” Practice Pen, March, pg. 30
“Tire Kickers,” Practice Pen, April, pg. 33
“Industry Update,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 38
“Horse Divorce,” Practice Pen, June, pg. 45
“What You Need to Succeed,” Practice Pen, July, pg. 36
“Know When to Quit,” Practice Pen, Aug., pg. 32
“Neck-Reining: Part 1: Introduce the Concept,” Practice Pen, Sept., pg. 34
“Neck-Reining: Part 2: Introduce the Curb Bit,” Practice Pen, Oct., pg. 32
“Neck-Reining: Part 3: The Romal Advantage,” Practice Pen, Nov., pg. 28
"Rules of Engagement," Practice Pen, Dec. pg. 26

Breed, Show Associations
“Did You Know? Surprising Facts About 10 Breeds,” Jan., pg. 50
“Once More, for the Memories,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
“New National AQHA Championship for YOU!” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
“Important USEF Drug-Rule Changes,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
Gallop Poll: “If Wishes Were Reiners,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
Have You Tried: “Entry-Level Reining,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 38
“New Show Options for All Breeds,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 18
“Happy Birthday, APHA!” Your Horse, Your Life, April, pg. 18
“PtHA, AQHA Innovations,” Your Horse, Your Life, May, pg. 20
“Inudstry Update,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 38
Have You Tried: “Saddle-Log Programs,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 48
“Save Big at AQHA Novice Championships,” Your Horse, Your Life, pg. 24
“Painted ‘n Pretty,” Your Horse, Your Life, pg. 24
“Genetic Test for Appaloosas Now Available,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 26
“Arabians Slide to Paychecks,” Your Horse, Your Life, July, pg. 24
“AQHA Video Delux,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 20
“Find a Trainer, Help a Youth,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 20
“Philanthropy at Pinto World,” Your Horse, Your Life, Oct., pg. 22
“Numbers Up at Quarter Horse Shows,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 18
“ACTHA Rides Benefit Service Members,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 18
"Not Too Common: Grullas," Your Horse, Your Life, Dec., pg. 16

Every horse is different, but for a heel horse you want your horse to arc and bend, with his nose tucked in a little bit to the left and his ribs in an arc. You want his whole body kind of bent in a left arc. Applying pressure with your foot to his left rib cage and keeping your left rein a little shorter than the right rein promotes that bend and arc, which is going to set the horse up to hold his left shoulder up around the corner. That will prevent him from cutting the corner. That left arc also positions a horse’s head, neck and body to make a good left turn.

Initially, when working with a horse to get him shaped and framed up the way you want him, you have to be careful that his hips don’t slide to the right too much out of position. If they are trying to slide out of position, you have to use your right foot toward the back of the rib cage to keep his hind quarters over to the left, while still maintaining that arc.

Using your feet and hands in a consistent manner, developing a pattern and giving your horse time to develop and learn that pattern gets the best results. Don’t expect your horse to figure out what you’re trying to make him do in one day.

Having your horse picked up lightly and having the calves of your legs pushed against him lightly keeps your controlling parts in a position where your horse is able to feel them at a moment’s notice and there aren’t any surprises when you go to use them to make a command.

Being able to work with a horse’s natural ability to cow, and also being aware of how he’s responding to your controls, is another important part to try to blend together equally. For instance, if I over-control my horse I can completely take the cowing instinct out of play. That’s something I don’t want to do, because if I override his instincts to work then I have to do it all myself.

How I’m controlling my horse—and how he’s reacting to how I’m controlling him—must be constantly monitored. It’s a part of my roping I always pay very close attention to. Sometimes I find myself telling him to do something with my left hand or feet that’s making him make an error. But when I really analyze it, nine times out of 10 when he makes a mistake, it’s my fault. SWR

We learned a lot about "Shorty" for the We'd Love to Own department. So much so, that we couldn't put it all in one article. Learn more about the fun-loving gelding in this interview with his owner Diana Davidson of Franktown, Colorado. The 2000 sorrel AQHA gelding is a Western riding specialist and is trained by Chad Evans of Parker, Colorado.

H&R: What is Shorty's personality like?

Diana: Well it depends on whether you're on the ground, in his stall, or on his back. On his back, he's a perfect gentleman. If you're in his stall, he pins his ears and gives you this look like "get out of my stall." (Laughs) And if you're getting ready to turn him out—and he knows it—he acts like a stud horse instead of the nice gelding that he is. Oh my gosh, we love our turnout.

H&R: What sorts of things does he do?

Diana: When you're leading him out, he blows up, he snorts, and he prances and trots along beside you. When you put him out into the pen, if you don't hold on really tight, when you let him go, he turns around, pivots, bucks, kicks, and runs around like a crazy guy.

So you have to be really careful and get out of the pen fast or make sure you have a hold of him so he can't get loose while you take the lead rope off. But the thing is, when you get on him, he's always perfect—always. Never a buck, never fussy. He just goes out and does exactly what he knows he supposed to do.

H&R: What's the funniest thing he's ever done?

Diana: It was before I owned him. He's kind of an escape artist. You have to make sure you shut the stall door when you go in there—even when you're cleaning, you've got to have the wheelbarrow in front of the door. If you're getting ready to saddle him, you have to tie him up or shut the door behind you because he's an escape artist.

He will take off, and he won't just mosey out of his stall. He'll take off and go running down the aisleways. At one of the shows, one of the girls had a hold of his tail as he was running down the aisleway. She's holding on to his tail trying to stop him, and it didn't work until some guy stood at the other end of the aisle with his arms up. Then Shorty finally stopped. That was quite funny.

H&R: When were you the most proud of him?

Diana: It's like every time we show, because he loves to show. He's such a trouper, and he works really hard at doing his job. He's a showman. He's loves Western riding and trail; he loves his job. The best thing that happened was when we were at a show in Las Vegas, not this March, but last March, and we had a severe thunderstorm come up. The fire alarms and strobe lights came on all over the facility. And the sirens started going off just as we started our Western riding pattern. One of the strobe lights was right at the end of the line.

We had just started our pattern, and I didn't know if I should stop or go. So I just kept going. Other horses were freaking out, and he did the whole pattern, didn't miss a beat, and I think we won under all three judges. He started to elevate just a little bit and look at the strobe lights, but I just closed my legs around him, and he went "OK Mom, I got it." It was so cool. And everybody in the audience clapped, and you know they don't do that very often at horse shows. He was such a good boy.

H&R: How long have you owned him?

Diana: It's been 4 years.

H&R: What events does he do?

Diana: He does trail and Western riding, sometimes horsemanship, but I don't make him do that very much. He used to do pleasure. In fact, he was the highest winning money earner 2-year-old for years and years.

H&R: Does he have a favorite treat?

Diana: Peppermints; he loves peppermints.

H&R: What is he like to ride?

Diana: He's just a joy to ride. You never have to get nervous on him, and he's very quiet. Plus, he's just comfortable to ride—some horses are and some aren't.

H&R: What are you looking forward to the most about the AQHA Select World at the end of August?

Diana: I enjoy the show a lot. I enjoy the pattern and the trail. They're always a challenge for us. Tim Kimura does really challenging courses at the world show. In Western riding, Shorty can compete with the best of them, so we're just looking forward to a good show.

H&R: Anything else we should know?

Diana: He's just kind and awesome. He's a good 'ole boy!

As writers and riders, editors love to read books that give new insights they can apply with their own horses. But there are some books and DVDs that remain at hand, well used, oft referred to, and beloved. Some are inspiring newcomers, others are classics that have earned a permanent, revered spot in the library.

With a nod to the old classics, and a tip of the hat to newcomers, we’ve compiled a list of training aids that not only teach, but inspire and motivate as well. Consider it your recommended trail toward a great DIY training library!

Note: The hot-linked titles are available on HorseBooksEtc.com.

Classic Must-Haves
The British Horse Society’s The Manual of Horsemanship, by the Pony Club Training Committee.
The Pony Club/Half Halt Press, Inc., 448 pages
List price: Look for used copies on Amazon or eBay.
Some of the horse industry’s greatest riders point to this book as influential in their own riding skills. In its 13th edition, this bestseller covers a wide range of equestrian topics. Look also for the United States Pony Club manuals, organized by levels.

Centered Riding I and II, by Sally Swift.
St. Martin’s Press and Trafalgar Square, 208 and 272 pages
List price: $26.99 and $28.95, respectively.
Swift’s insightful use of imagery and her spot-on descriptions made these two books into bibles for a riding generation. She explains centering, balance, and soft eyes, with descriptions that stay with riders for years. Centered Riding offers rider basics that inspire, with illustrations that have given more than a few riders “aha” moments in the saddle.

The Complete Training of Horse and Rider, by Colonel Alois Podhajsky.
Wilshire Book Company, 256 pages
List price: $15.00
Podhajsky explains the mechanics and nuances of classical horsemanship (writing separately about training the horse and training the rider), encourages a positive approach to understanding horses and working with them, and defines key concepts in clear terms. Also by Podhajsky, and worth looking for: My Horses, My Teachers.

Dressage 101: The Ultimate Source of Dressage Basics in a Language You Can Understand, by Jane Savoie.
Trafalgar Square, 488 pages
List price: $34.95
Not just for dressage enthusiasts, this book offers clear, well-illustrated instruction that will give any rider a solid foundation for training a well-broke horse. In down-to-earth language, Savoie points out the importance of clarity, consistency, and kindness, and progresses through four stages. Her final chapter will help you put together a logical, systematic, daily work session. “Think of each of your daily schooling sessions as a story unfolding,” she writes.

Monte Foreman’s Horse-Training Science, by Monte Foreman and Patrick Wyse.
University of Oklahoma Press, 144 pages
List price: $26.95
Well ahead of his time, Monte Foreman studied how horses and riders work together, and videotaped them to analyze and study. While this book was first published in 1985 and is a bit dated in appearance, the content is timeless. It offers step-by-step instruction (applicable to both English and Western riders), and uses detailed photographs to illustrate humane horsemanship based on careful study.

Riding Logic: Transform Riding Skills to Art on Horseback With Classical Lessons in Flatwork and Jumping, by Wilhelm Museler.
Trafalgar Square, 176 pages
List price: $29.95
This classic manual provides practical knowledge that lays out fundamentals for solid horsemanship and skilled riding. Both beginners and experts will benefit from guidelines as useful today as they were some 70 years ago.

Natural Horsemanship
Downunder Horsemanship, by Clinton Anderson, With Ami Hendrickson.
Trafalgar Square, 206 pages
List price: $29.95
Clinton Anderson has helped thousands of riders communicate effectively and safely with their horses, explaining the horse’s behavior as a prey animal, and how it drives his reactions and understanding. This book takes Clinton’s method and gives riders hands-on, clear, concise exercises to solve problems, move the team forward, and strengthen the horse and rider relationship.

Lyons on Horses: John Lyons’ Proven Conditioned-Response Training Program, by John Lyons, With Sinclair Browning.
Skyhorse Publishing, 256 pages
List price: $14.95; electronic version available.
Inveterate teacher and horseman John Lyons has spent decades helping riders solve their horse problems through clinics, books, and videos. Whether you’re working with a green horse that doesn’t want to load, or an older horse with ingrained habits, Lyons offers step-by-step advice to help you understand your horse’s behavior, and how to change it. “I don’t care what the horse has done before or what’s happened to him,” Lyons writes in the first chapter. “From here on out, we’ll deal with today only.” Another great Lyons book: Bringing Up Baby.

Greg Ward with Fillinic, the unknown mare he bought in 1962 with $3,000 borrowed from his mother. Fillinic set the young trainer on a path to stardom.

When the call came, I wept. Greg Ward, four-time National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit futurity winner, leading breeder of futurity winners, perennial supporter of the reined cow horse industry, had died December 6, 1998, of cancer. He was 63.

Just two months earlier, he’d claimed his fourth NRCHA Futurity world championship with the most inspirational performance I’d witnessed in 20 years of equine journalism. Visibly battling the illness that would kill him, he piloted his homebred stallion Reminics Pep, a fourth-generation futurity champion, to an astonishing 12-point victory.

The event he won has been called the triathlon of performance horses. It consists of herd work (similar to cutting), a reining pattern, and work with a single cow “down the fence.” It’s a grueling challenge for the hale and hearty. For Ward, whose medical treatments had included 17 hours of cancer surgery, then kidney stone removal, it was an ordeal. But he gutted it out, beating the likes of Bob Avila, Ted Robinson, Bobby Ingersoll, and Doug Williamson.

I thought of his hat, a battered straw Resistol, size 7 1⁄4, that I’d bought at an NRCHA fundraising auction in the ’80s. It was then and is still sweat-stained and dirty, with smudged strips of double-stick tape inside the crown. The brim dips down in the front and back, as all of Ward’s hats did, and so it reminds me of him.

I paid $40 for it, and would’ve gladly paid much, much more. Here’s why.

A Dynasty Begins
Greg Ward was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, the son of a real-estate broker father and schoolteacher mother. His first real contact with horses came in high school, when he packed during the summertime for the Yosemite Park and Curry Company. A gifted athlete, he also played varsity football, baseball, and basketball, but his hopes for an athletic scholarship were ruined when a tractor accident his senior year damaged his peripheral vision. He went on to study animal husbandry at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, where he competed on the rodeo team and began a lifelong love affair with roping.

In 1957, at the age of 21, he married his high-school sweetheart, Laura “Shorty” Odle. He then left college to earn a living as a ranch hand for Floyd Lamb in Alamo, Nevada, where he learned, to his chagrin, that “cowboying” had more to do with putting up hay than with riding horses. Later he returned to Bakersfield to work in the feedlots before landing a job as an apprentice with horse trainer Harry Rose. They became partners, and Ward was later fond of saying that he and the curmudgeonly horseman “split everything down the middle—Harry took the profits, and I took the losses.”

In 1960, Ward went out on his own, establishing the Greg Ward training Stable in Porterville, California. He and Laura also started their family. (Son John went on to attend college on a baseball scholarship, later joining his father in horse training. Daughters Wende and Amy, also talented athletes who rode horses, are now both married with children.)

In 1962, at age 26, Ward made a purchase that was to alter the course of his life. With $3,000 borrowed from his mother, he bought a 4-year-old Quarter Horse he had in training. A smallish mare, she’d arrived in California with a carload of horses from a Clovis, New Mexico, sale yard. By a sire Ward said “nobody’d ever heard of” and out of a half-Thoroughbred mare, Fillinic was hot-tempered, sensitive, and quick as a cat. It was that catty athleticism and a deerlike lightness that convinced Ward he had to have her.

After a sensational show career, including wins at the premier stock-horse events of the day—the Salinas Rodeo and the Grand National Horse Show at the cow palace in San Francisco—Fillinic became a broodmare. Her 10 foals and their offspring changed the face of the Western-performance horse world and established a dynasty for the Ward ranch that includes the likes of cow-horse supersire Reminic, National Reining Horse Association Futurity champion Boomernic, and scores of cow horse snaffle bit futurity winners. See Ward's complete dossier.

It was the get and grand-get and great-grand-get of Fillinic—the fruits of a breeding program cannily orchestrated by Ward—that the horseman rode to such renown over four decades, the 1960s through the ’90s.

In the May 2012 issue, we shared with you how to set—and achieve—your riding goals. Sometimes when working toward a goal, riders hit a plateau. Check out these 7 tips to ride it out.

Plateau: The perceived inability to move forward when learning a new skill.

Based on “please, help me!” questions and other forms of reader feedback, this is how many horse owners regard a riding or training plateau—as a place where one gets stuck. Frustratingly stuck.

But what if you could experience a plateau from a different perspective? Rather than treating it like a negative, discouraging spell in your riding, why not spin that around and see it as an opportunity for improvement? A chance to work with your horse to better understand each other to reach a goal?

Here, with input from a pro with experience guiding aspiring riders up the achievement stairway, we’ll define what a plateau is and isn’t, and offer seven tactics that will help you and your horse off a plateau and back on your way toward reaching your goals.

What a plateau is
Whether experienced in athletics, education, personal relationships, or elsewhere, plateaus are universal facts of life. The key past frustration lies in seeing a plateau for what it is:

• A chance to brush up on foundation skills to ensure that the needed building blocks are in place for improvement.
• An opportunity to work toward a well-defined goal.
• A time to refine and finesse the nuances of your riding.
• A chance to learn about yourself and your horse.

Embrace the plateau and realize that on the plateau is when real improvement occurs—for both you and your horse. Set an attainable goal, develop a vision to reach it, and then start working. Move slowly in the right direction, and be sure that all of your actions support the end goal. (Example: If your goal is to improve your horse’s lope, you aren’t likely to achieve it by devoting most of each training session to the jog.)

When you get there, you might call it a breakthrough, but, in fact, you’ve been working toward that end all along, taking baby steps that led you to achieving your goal.

What a plateau isn't
Don’t get bogged down in seeing a plateau as a source of frustration and even boredom. A plateau isn’t:

• A place that you and your horse are stuck and can’t get past.
• Something you can “bust through” or rush to get through.
• A time to give up.

If you focus on this negative view of a plateau, you run the risk of getting burned out and rushing your horse for results. This can lead to resentment between you and your horse, and even to injury.

To get back on a positive track, use any of the seven improvement tactics suggested below.

1. Step Back to Go Forward
Improvement tactic: Return to the basics of your horse’s training.

Why it works: When something isn’t working as you attempt to advance with your horse, it’s likely that one or more elements of his foundational training needs tuning. Before you can successfully move forward in building a reliable, solid mount, all the basics must be solid.

For example, if you’re having trouble backing your horse in a straight line, go back and examine your ability to move and control each of his four corners (both shoulders and hips). Your horse’s ability to back straight is only as good as your ability to isolate and move those individual corners. Maybe he doesn’t yield his right shoulder well or is stiffer in one hip than the other. Improve these areas, and your back-ups will improve as well.

2 Cross-Train Your Brain
Improvement tactic: Read a book or watch a DVD, but think outside the box when choosing it.

Why it works: Books and DVDs are chock full of information. Not only that, they’re something you can study almost anytime, and without trailering to a lesson.

To get the most out of them, think critically when choosing which one you read or watch. Let’s say you want to improve your Western riding patterns. Reading a book or watching a DVD about Western riding might offer some new insight while reiterating what you already know. That’s fine, but why not think critically and choose a discipline that’s tangentially related, so you can learn something new? Choose a dressage book or DVD and apply its techniques to your own training methods.

For example, Western riding calls for flying lead changes that require your horse to demonstrate suppleness, balance, and straightness. Dressage exercises develop those skills in the horse so he can perform those advanced maneuvers.

3 Go to Class
Improvement tactic: Attend a clinic-as an auditor if you're not able to participate as a rider.

Why it works: Auditing a clinic is a cost-effective way to learn and gives you some unique opportunities. You can closely watch other riders and really listen to questions and answers without the distraction of your own horse.

Obviously, if you ride in a clinic, your issues will get special attention from the presenter. Either way, watch the expert closely to give yourself a better picture of where you’re headed. If you’re not sure whose clinic to attend, ask other horsemen who you respect whom they admire and would want to learn from.

4. Switch Horses
Improvement tactic: Ride someone else’s horse.

Why it works: Think about the professional riders whom you admire. They ride a variety of horses every single day. This automatically hones their riding skills as they compare and adapt from one horse to another. This tactic of riding more than one horse can work for you as well.

Ideally, ride a horse that’s better-trained than your own. Riding an advanced horse gives you a feel for what a maneuver is supposed be like, which you can apply to your own mount. Having a first-hand understanding of how what you’re working toward feels can make all the difference. But you can also learn from a horse that’s not as far along as yours. At the very least, you’ll come away with an appreciation for what you have taught your horse so far.

5. Employ Fresh Eyes
Improvement tactic: Take a lesson from a trainer or other instructor who’s new to you.

Why it works: You can elicit a light-bulb moment simply by having another set of eyes look at you, your horse, and what you’re doing. The trainer/teacher might address the exact same problems other trainers, books, or DVDs have covered, but in a different way that speaks to you on a different level. Or he/she might see a problem that’s gone unidentified by others who’ve tried to help you.

If it’s not feasible for you to haul to or pay for a lesson, don’t fall into the excuse trap of “I can’t.” Get creative on your own behalf. Some ideas: Look into instructors who might be willing to travel to you. Ask a friend if you can observe one of her lessons. Have someone video your riding, and then post the result for comments via your favorite social media.

6. Seek Balance
Improvement tactic: Carefully manage your work/play balance.

Why it works: Over-training and under-training both lead to burnout and boredom. Committed practice is important, but be sure to balance it with healthy breaks.

How you define a break is up to you. Maybe you go for a quiet, relaxing trail ride after—or instead of—an intense training session. Or perhaps you need some time away from the barn. Figure out what gives both you and your horse time to take a deep breath and relax mentally and physically.

7. Lighten Up
Improvement tactic: Enjoy the process and the journey.

Why it works: When you get completely wrapped up in getting to the end goal, you might miss things your horse is telling you, such as when he reveals holes in his basic training (see No. 1). Furthermore, tunnel vision eliminates your ability to identify other ways to reach your goals, leaving you stuck

Have a vision and set a goal, but don’t try to push toward it too quickly at any cost. That can lead to injury, burnout, and frustration for both you and your horse. Instead, take your time, pay close attention to your horse’s and your own actions, figure out what will work best for you both, and enjoy the learning process. The next time you find yourself in a rut, you’ll rely on the experience you gained getting off this riding plateau to move forward again.

Don't Call it A Breakthrough
“People will work on something for a long time and feel like they’re grinding away every day,” says trainer Carol Dal Porto, Brentwood, Calif. “They don’t think they’re getting it. They think they’re stuck. Suddenly one day, they get it! They think it’s a breakthrough! but, in my experience, the breakthrough didn’t happen on that single day with that single ride. All the practice on the plateau solidified the horse and rider’s skills. if you’re working toward something every day, you know that something great is bound to happen.”

The editors thank Carol Dal Porto for contributing insight to this article. Carol and her husband, Steve, run Dal Porto ranch in Brentwood, California, where they’ve trained multiple open, amateur, and youth champions across many breeds.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Zzzzzz.

That sound you hear is that of time passing by and of you, worn out by the daily grind and put to sleep by the notion of yet another “stay-cation” spent at home catching up on chores. Is that going to put snapshots in your scrapbook or be something the kids remember fondly for life? Not likely!

Before another year gets away with no getaway, why not rekindle life’s fun factor by going on a vacation trip based on your love for horses? There are lots of ways to make that happen and plenty of price-point options.

As proof, we rounded up details on 50 great escapes that range from across the country and around the world to just down the road a piece. Tip: Many of the vacations presented here will allow you to bring your own horse, so if that interests you, be sure to inquire about it when you find a listing that sounds like it’s up your alley.

With eight categories to pick from in this article and multiple locales named within each, you can go on 50 vicarious vacations right now. Send us a postcard from the one you pick!

Cattle Drive/Cowboy Work
Help real ranch hands drive and sort cattle, plus perform other ranch chores. Don’t forget to bring your chaps.

Appeal: If you’ve always wanted to cowboy up, here’s your chance to try your hand at traditional ranch chores—up to and including cattle drives—on veteran, well-behaved cow ponies. Tip: Inquire about seasonal opportunities; cattle drives typically take place in the spring and fall.

Offered by: McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch in Libby, northwest Montana. Polish your skills with Buck Brannaman-influenced horsemanship coaching, then practice cattle sorting, cutting, and ranch penning on talented horses. You can also ride trails, plus help with colt gentling in the spring.

More info: mmgranch.net; (406) 293-5000.

CALIFORNIA. Hunewill Guest Ranch, Bridgeport. Try the Big Fall Cattle Gather; the Hunewill (pronounced “honeywell”) was established in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill. hunewillranch.com; (760) 932-7710.

COLORADO. Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Loveland. Learn about low-impact rotational grazing as you help ranch hands move and work Red Saler cows and calves. sylvandale.com; (877) 667-3999.

MISSOURI. RS Ranch Gaited Getaways, Bourbon. Ride one of the ranch’s Missouri Fox Trotters or bring your own horse to help out on a 500-acre ranch that still uses draft horses to perform heavy work. rsranchtrailrides.com; (573) 732-4590.

OHIO. Smoke Rise Ranch, Glouster. Participate in cattle drives, team penning, cutting, and guided trail rides, plus enjoy pool parties, music, and dancing deep in the Hocking Hills. smokeriseranch.com; (800) 292-1732.

TEXAS. Running-R Guest Ranch, Bandera. Play cowhand in the Texas Hill Country; the Running-R adjoins a 5,500-acre state natural area with over 40 miles of trails. rrranch.com; (830) 796-3984.

Luxury and cowboy can go together at ranches like Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa. Try your hand at cutting and ride the range, or play the 18-hole championship golf course.

Photo courtesy of Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa

Resort Luxury With Horses
Pamper yourself at a handsome facility offering multiple actives, deluxe accommodations, and fine dining.

Appeal: Vacation at a multi-purpose resort, and the non- riding members of your family will have plenty to do, such as fish, swim, play golf, go touring—or spend a relaxing after- noon at the spa. Tip: Be prepared to open your wallet; resorts, especially the most luxurious ones, can be pricey.

Offered by: Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa, Lajitas, Texas. This full-service resort’s equestrian center offers riding lessons and trail rides through the desert mountains bordering Mexico. Its extracurricular activities include 18-hole championship golf; fossil explorations and bird-watching expeditions; and historical tours of Lajitas, where Comanche Indians and Pancho Villa once roamed.

More info: lajitasgolfresort.com; (432) 424-5000.

ARIZONA. Rancho de los Caballeros, Wickenburg. Ride all week and never see the same trail twice, or try your hand at team penning; other activities include tennis, golf, and trap/ skeet shooting. sunc.com; (928) 684-5484.

CALIFORNIA. Alisal Guest Ranch, Solvang. Trail ride over 10,000 acres in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country, or play golf on a course designed in 1956 by the legendary Billy Bell, Jr. alisal.com; (805) 688-4215.

COLORADO. Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash. Explore trails on 5,000 acres of privately owned wilderness, then luxuriate at the nature-based spa and in a lavish private cabin or cozy lodge room. devilsthumbranch.com; (800) 933-4339. NEW YORK. Rocking Horse Ranch, Highland. Ride with confidence on a trail ride matched to your ability; kids will love the indoor water park—with 250-foot water slide. rhranch.com; (800) 647-2624.

NORTH CAROLINA. Pisgah View Ranch, Candler. See the Blue Ridge Mountains on horseback, mountain bike, or foot; enjoy nightly entertainment and games from horseshoes to volleyball. pisgahviewranch.net; (866) 252-8361.

WYOMING. Red Reflet Guest Ranch, Ten Sleep. Help with the working-ranch chores or ride out on the range, then retreat to a deluxe chalet with private hot tub and stocked wine cooler. red-reflet-ranch.net; (866) 766-2340.

Need help finding your favorite H&R article from 2011? This complete list of 2011 articles should help.

From breaking bad riding habits and self-help for your riding fears to despooking tools for every horse and keeping your show horse honest, H&R's 50th anniversary year is packed with information. Find your favorite articles from 2011 here.

Al Dunning’s How’s My Riding?
“Back With Authority,” Feb., pg. 28
“Better Pleasure Practice,” March, pg. 44
“A Cut Above,” April, pg. 46
“Turnaround Techniques,” July, pg. 46
“No Chair-Riding,” Aug. pg. 38
“Get Into Position Down the Fence,” Sept. pg. 32
“A Steady Stop,” Oct. pg. 34
“Circle Up!” Dec. pg. 32

Barns, Property Maintenance
“Making Mesh Work,” Your Horse Your Life, Jan., pg. 45
“Ground Control” (Arena Maker), Your Horse Your Life, Jan., pg. 46
“Nibble Stoppers,” Your Horse Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
“Barn-Planning Worksheet,” Your Horse Your Life, Feb., pg. 21
“The Horse Owner’s Guide to Tractors,” March, pg. 64
“How-Weather Horsekeeping,” Your Horse Your Life, Aug. pg. 22
“Get Organized!” Your Horse Your Life, Aug. pg. 24
“Custom Labels,” Your Horse Your Life, Nov. pg. 18
“Is Your Barn Hazard-Free?” Your Horse Your Life, Dec. pg. 21

Behavior
“Insecure Mare,” Whole Horse Q&A, Jan., pg. 8
“Build Good Habits From the Start,” Clinton Anderson’s Lessons from Real Life, Jan., pg. 52
“Mouthy Colt,” Whole Horse Q&A, March, pg. 17
“Baby Business,” Your Horse Your Life, July, pg. 26
“Water; Shoeing Needs,” Whole Horse Q&A, Sept. pg. 16
“Do You Match Your Horse?” Your Horse Your Life, Oct. pg. 22
“Mare Slams Her Stall Wall,” Whole Horse Q&A, Nov. pg. 10
“Skin Scald; Frantic Feed Time,” Whole Horse Q&A, Dec. pg. 12
“Casting Call for Bad Actors,” Your Horse Your Life, Dec. pg. 18

Bob Avila’s Winning Insights
“Makeover Magic,” Jan., pg. 50
“Rollbacks Revealed,” Feb., pg. 24
“Negative Thinking,” March, pg. 34
“Vintage Warm Up,” April, pg. 36
“The Price Is…Right?” May, pg. 33
“Got ‘Cow’” June, pg. 37
“The Science of Straight Part I: Sidepass for straightness,” July, pg. 42
“The Science of Straight Part II: Straightness in action—the lead change,” Aug. pg. 34
“All About Heart,” Sept. pg. 30
“Gimmick-Free Bits: Part 1,” Oct. pg. 32
“Gimmick-Free Bits: Part 2,” Nov. pg. 24
“Lessons, for Free,” Dec. pg. 30

Breed, Show Associations
“Ownership Not Required,” Your Horse Your Life, March, pg. 20
“Single-Day Shows for Arabians,” Your Horse Your Life, June, pg. 22
“More Opportunities for ‘Oldsters’,” Your Horse Your Life, June, pg. 28
“Paint World Entrants Must Qualify for 2012,” Your Horse Your Life, July, pg. 24
“Color, Disease Testing for Paints,” Your Horse Your Life, Oct. pg. 22

Breeding, Foaling
“Rejected Foal,” Your Horse Your Life, Jan., pg. 49
“Baby Business,” Your Horse Your Life, July, pg. 26
“Small-Breeder Realities,” pg. 38
“Babies on Board—Not,” Your Horse Your Life, Dec. pg. 18

Buying, Selling Horses
“Nerved-Horse Value,” Whole Horse Q&A, Jan., pg. 8
“The Price Is…Right?” May, pg. 33

Clinton Anderson’s Lessons from Real Life
“Build Good Habits From the Start,” Jan., pg. 52
“De-Spooking Takes Patience,” Feb., pg. 22
“Consistency is Key,” March, pg. 32
“Allow The Mistake,” April, pg. 34
“Know Your Limits,” May, pg. 29
“Suitability Is Key,” June, pg. 33

Clinton Anderson’s Philosophy
“Understanding Your Prey Animal,” July, pg. 39
“Train Both ‘Lefty’ And ‘Righty,’” Aug. pg. 32
“Get Your Horse to THINK,” Sept. pg. 28
“The Finer Points of Pressure,” Oct. pg 28
“Use Your Body to Communicate,” Nov. pg. 22
“The Magic of Approach-and-Retreat,” Dec. pg. 28

Commentary
“POV Blindness,” Aug. pg. 12

Conformation Clinic
Leigh Bennett Evaluates Aged Tennessee Walking Horse Geldings, Practice Pen, Jan., pg. 54
Margo Ball Evaluates Aged Paint Mares, Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 31
Gigi Bailey Evaluates 2-Year-Old Quarter Horse Stallions, Practice Pen, March, pg. 39
Rick Baker Evaluates Aged Quarter Horse mares, Practice Pen, April, pg. 41
Jolene Montgomery Evaluates Barrel Horses, Practice Pen, May, pg. 37
Tracy Boyd Evaluates Aged Tennessee Walking Horse mares, Practice Pen, June, pg. 41
Clay Cavinder Evaluates Aged Quarter Horse geldings, Practice Pen, July, pg. 49
Margo Ball Evaluates Aged Appaloosa Geldings, Practice Pen, Aug. pg. 41
Gary Potter Evaluates Aged Quarter Horse Mares, Practice Pen, Sept. pg. 35
Gene Carr Evaluates Aged Pony of the Americas mares, Practice Pen, Oct. pg. 37
Don Topliff Evaluates 3-Year-Old Quarter Horse geldings, Practice Pen, Nov. pg. 27
John Pipkin Evaluates 5-Year-Old Quarter Horse mares, Practice Pen, Dec. pg. 35

Economy
“Boom, Before Bust” (Vintage quote), Your Horse Your Life, Feb., pg. 16
“Gallop Poll: Pump-Pain Plans,” Your Horse Your Life, May, pg. 20
“Club Support,” Your Horse Your Life, May, pg. 24
“Fuel Efficiency,” Your Horse Your Life, Aug. pg. 24
“Recycled Billboard Vinyls,” Your Horse Your Life, Aug. pg. 24
“50 Years of Changing Trends,” Dec. pg. 44
“H&R Gold: Riding It Out,” Dec. pg. 60

Or will you?

As an adult amateur who’s competed and won at this level since I was a youth exhibitor, I’ve learned there’s more—much more—to a first-place go than being a good rider on a good horse. While those attributes may get you to the arena gate, they’re essentially the same ones your rivals possess. For your best shot at finishing in front of them, you need another set of attributes, ones that add up to planning, planning, and more planning. You need to know how to create a ready-to-win roadmap, with no detail left unmanaged, and no controllable element left to chance. Otherwise, the smallest chink in your preparatory armor can be all it takes to ruin your chances and leave you making a long, disappointed drive back home.

Using this month’s World Championship Quarter Horse Show in Oklahoma City as my example, I’ll jump-start you on learning how to draft your own big-show blue- print. I’ll share the process I use to plan for the health, comfort, and safety of my World-winning gelding, Zippo LT (“LT”). I’ll give highlights of how my trainers and I peak him for top performance at just the right time. And, I’ll provide extra key tips known to veterans of the major shows, but often learned the hard way by first-timers.

Create A Team
Though you may picture yourself as the one in the spotlight, winning at competition’s upper level isn’t a do-it-yourself project. Even if you have the skills, confidence, and experience to show without the aid of a professional trainer, you’ll still need assistance from other people invested in your success. That’s why it’s important to create a team of people you can depend on and fully trust to help with every detail. The sooner you begin to build your team and establish a good working relationship with each member, the better off you’ll be.

Your trainer, vet, farrier, and parents, or significant other are among those whose help you’ll count on. Others, who may not be so obvious, include such helpers as these: the mechanic who’ll service your rig for the trip; the friend or family member who’ll take care of your place while you’re gone; the dry cleaner, seamstress, and hat shaper responsible for making your outfits look like a million; the co-worker who’ll take up your slack at your job; the driver, paid or unpaid, who’ll help get your horse to the show; the best friend who’ll be your emotional sponge; and the assistant (trust me, you’ll need one) who’ll help you get ready for your classes. Every exhibitor has a unique set of needs, so you might need other helpers as well.

While each of your team members will have a separate job, their cumulative efforts will add up to one critical benefit—the freed-up mental space you’ll need to devote full concentration to your performances. The fewer things left for you to worry about and to pour precious energies into doing yourself, the sharper you’ll be when it counts.

Start Early
The November AQHA World Show requires pre-qualification, so it’s only natural to want to kick back, relax, and rest your horse after you’ve earned the necessary points earlier in the year. But don’t make the common first-timer mistake of giving yourself a month to get ready. That’s not enough time, especially if you also go to school or work at a full time job. My trainers and I begin getting our game plan together four months out, which means we start in July.

One of the first things I do is schedule a thorough vet exam for LT, including vaccinations and bloodwork. If he has any issues, such as need for supplements, this leaves enough time for them to be corrected before the show. Keep in mind that you’ll be putting your horse into an ultra-stressful travel and show environment. He’ll need all the health help you can give him. Also remember to book a date for getting his pre-trip health and travel papers issued. You don’t want a forced delay in departure simply because results of your horse’s Coggins test aren’t back yet.

I also plot out my horse’s farrier appointments for optimal timing. LT’s shoes are reset every six weeks, and I want him freshly shod at least a week before he leaves for the two-week show. That leaves enough time for him to recover from any minor soreness, but also means I have to think ahead to get the timing right.

Other advice: This isn’t the time to make drastic changes in how your horse is shod, or to try out a new farrier. You could hurt your campaign more than you help it by venturing into the unknown.

If you’ll be hauling your horse yourself, use part of your lead time to get your truck tuned up, your tires checked (or replaced, if necessary), your trailer’s floor and wiring checked, and so forth. Plot your route. If you’ll need to lay over, know where you’ll stay and where you’ll put your horse for the night. If you intend to use a shipper, as some exhibitors do to minimize travel stress on themselves, get the space booked and confirmed early on. Ditto for your hotel room.

Get your order in early for any new clothing, especially if it’ll be custom and require fittings. Send your show hat out to be professionally cleaned and shaped. The latter task’s more important than you might think, because a clean, crisp hat makes a good first impression. At showing’s upper level, it’s all about the details, and this is one of the easiest for you to control.