Are you curious to learn about the practice of Cowboy Dressage™ and its origins? If so, here's our 101 guide. 

 

Cowboy Dressage is a growing concept in the world of western riding. Its foundations are purely rooted in the western riding discipline, with a bit of classic dressage influence. Cowboy Dressage incorporates the "soft feel" concept, described as a wordless, intimate and, for some, spiritual communication between the horse and rider. This partnership practice is all about the rider's release timing, relaxation, preparation and execution. 

The riders' goal is a true collection by shortening and lengthening the horse's frame, with the rider's seat and light use of the rein, to aid the horse in lightening its forehand and achieving self-carriage over time.

As a new member of the Cowboy Dressage World, you are asked to enter into a "handshake agreement", which signifies that you agree always to be kind to your horse and put their welfare above any goal or achievement. This tradition stems from the historical Code of the West, where a cowboy's handshake was viewed as a binding signifier that his word was his bond. Integrity over success is the binding principle; in other words, the horse comes before your ambitions.

 

Cowboy Dressage UK Clinic
Clinic with Ethan Beth-Halachmy
held at Sovereign Quarter Horse | 2016

 

 

The History Behind Modern-Day Cowboy Dressage

 

Eitan Beth-Halachmy and his wife and life-partner, Debbie (born in California), are considered the founders of the modern-day Cowboy Dressage™ movement. Eitan's passion for riding was inspired during his pre-veterinary training at the University of Vienna, where he also worked as a stall cleaner at the famed Spanish Riding school. As a keen observer, he thoroughly absorbed all he saw and heard, which is evident in his riding style, even when in a western saddle. Eitan's horsemanship journey and philosophy were also strongly influenced by the practice of a Hungarian cavalry officer. 

After Eitan left his veterinary medicine education, Eitan and Debbie met in the United States to pursue his consuming desire to train horses. Their combined adventure began with Eitan's inspiring demonstration rides across the U.S. on Debbie's home-bred stallion, Holiday Compadre. In 2002, the United States Equestrian Foundation (USEF) formally recognised Eitan's horsemanship, awarding him with the Barbara Worth Oakford Memorial Trophy. Eitan (known to his friends as "8") has since received several more honours and awards throughout the years from demonstrations and Equestrian societies worldwide.

Throughout this campaign, Eitan, his wife and agent Debbie, along with like-minded horse trainers, have recognised and championed the need for a kinder, more understanding path for horses in all disciplines. This realisation has driven their thinking onto the new path of educating horsemen and women on how to use the 'light hands' techniques, partnership mentality and horse and rider harmony into the realms of dressage. From this, Cowboy Dressage was born and has grown expeditiously in its short lifetime. The first Cowboy Dressage Finals show in California resulted in 503 entries, and the 2016 World Gathering attracted more than 1,000 entries.

 

The Fundamentals: Competition or Lifestyle?

 

Cowboy Dressage™ is not about competition but about lifestyle, partnership, harmony, education, commitment and being nice to your horse. The "Be nice" mantra is said a lot during clinics and even reflects on in Cowboy Dressage "competitions" and finals, known as gatherings, to reflect the culture of the discipline better. These events have judges and scores; however, the atmosphere is more of helping one another rather than competing against one another. The "soft-feel" score is multiplied by three to emphasise this practice and good horsemanship. You will also receive positive comments from judges to help you grow.

Eitan believes that horsemanship is an art form, and you should be able to develop an individual style by listening to your horse because "They are the best teachers." Eitan felt that the problem with traditional equitation was that it doesn't allow self-expression. Cowboy Dressage demonstrates the horse-rider partnership through light aids from the rider to create an elegant self-carriage of the horse. There should be a visual presentation of "soft feel" by the lack of extreme tension on the reins and soft communicative contact, a "give and take", as Eitan calls it. You are not there to achieve perfection, only to try and demonstrate the practice correctly whilst being kind to your horse and having a good time.

 

The event offers riders the opportunity to ride manoeuvres in a 20- by 40-meter dressage court, the court is broken into 5-meter increments to allow for easily understandable 10- and 20-meter circles to utilise the entire court. It also has its own western-based vocabulary such as stop instead of halt, change direction rather than change the rein, lope not canter etc. Manoeuvres include working to free walk, jog and free jog, and working and free lope. "Free" gate refers to where the horse is "opened up" with the hindquarters reaching up and underneath. There are various combinations and tests, including "Partnership on the Ground" and "Partnership on Horseback", youth or amateurs and even freestyle classes.

The court can also be arranged as a "Competition Court," to provide interest obstacles including poles and cones.. These patterns or tests tend to be longer and more flowing than many other western patterns seen at shows and can include a caller. For riders that care less about "winning" completions and care more about what the horse needs, they can find a home in Cowboy Dressage, as it aims to be inclusive to all. It is open to all breeds, and each horse is judged as per its breed and natural carriage or movement.

 

Competition Attire and Etiquette 

 

Mandatory competition attire includes:

  • A suitable western hat or protective headgear.
  • A long-sleeve shirt with any collar.
  • Trousers, pants or riding skirt.
  • Boots.
  • A necktie, kerchief, bolo tie or pin.
  • A vest, jacket, coat or sweater, chinks or chaps and gloves are optional. 

 

There are no age limits on bits for equipment, meaning that you can ride an older horse in a snaffle or bosal. You can also ride either one- or two-handed. Another piece of equipment not often seen in western riding but utilised in Cowboy Dressage™ is a whip or crop. However, overuse of a whip or crop is penalised. Specific equipment such as martingales, tie-downs and mechanical hackamores are prohibited. Prohibited equipment cannot be used in the warm-up arena, either.

When considering the controversial issue of riding and competing with younger horses, riders are expected to show good judgement and honour the horse, by choosing an appropriate test for the horses' level, such as a walk-jog test. The rule book states, "Be patient, be kind, be thoughtful. Your horse will thank you."

In closing, Cowboy Dressage™ is geared towards improving your horsemanship and rider/horse partnership through the "soft feel" practice. A superb opportunity for you to learn and grow with your horse and simply have a great time. UK attendees of these clinics have found great enjoyment and continue to show a growing enthusiasm towards Cowboy Dressage, which presents an ethos that resonates with so many. If you want to learn more, Cowboy Dressage is available to you for free. Information, tests and articles are available at www.cowboydressage.com.