101 Western Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider

The Ringside Guide for Any Rider at Any Level

Softness - Looseness - Engagement - Adjustability - Ground Work

CLASSICAL DRESSAGE MEETS WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP in the growing equestrian discipline of Western Dressage. 
Dressage work demands that horses be responsive, supple, and balanced - desirable qualities whether your
horse is navigating trails, working cattle, or performing in a dressage competition.

Following a comprehensive training path, these 101 exercises, presented as full arena diagrams with 
step-by-step instructions, develop your horse's natural ability to carry himself correctly. Practicing
them will also improve your own riding skills and strengthen your relationship and communication
with your horse.

Western Dressage can make your horse the best he can be, whether the goal is pleasure riding, the
highest levels of competition, or somewhere in between.

List of contents

Contents

Foreword by Al Dunning

1.       What is Western Dressage?
2.       Softness

1.       Correct Flexion
2.       Releasing Tension
3.       Arena Diamond
4.       Random Rails
5.       Serpentine with Poles
6.       Haunches-in Prep
7.       Circle 8s
8.       Circle Prep
9.       Lope Chute
10.   Box Turns
11.   Testing Balance #1
12.   Testing Balance #2
13.   Leg-yield to Smaller Circle
14.   Lope Lightness
15.   Quarter Pirouette and Halt
16.   Fine Tuning
17.   Half-pass to Leg-yield
18.   Shoulder-in to Haunches-in
19.   Two Circles at Once

3.       Looseness

20.   Controlled Wandering
21.   Snake over Poles
22.   Circle Review
23.   Free Wheelin’
24.   Sit and Stretch
25.   Warm-up Figure 8
26.   Stretching and Rounding
27.   Cavalletti Half-circles
28.   Suspension Square
29.   Testing the Walks
30.   Adjust the Walk #1
31.   Adjust the Walk #2
32.   Raised Fan
33.   Turn Both Ends
34.   Jog Diagonals
35.   Three Step, Three Step
36.   Leg-yield to Lengthening

4.       Rider Development

37.   Getting Centered
38.   Rider Posture
39.   Rider Coordination
40.   Independent Seat
41.   Finding Feel
42.   Developing Seat
43.   The 4x4x4
44.   No Hands
45.   Pelvic Rock
46.   Mindful Corners
47.   Lope Transitions on Centerline
48.   Box Transitions #1
49.   Box Transitions #2
5.       Engagement
50.   Circle Up
51.   Balance Pattern
52.   Over and Forward
53.   Working to Lengthened Jog
54.   Two Poles plus a Stride
55.   Step Under
56.   Collected Walk
57.   Collect – Extend
58.   Schaukel #1
59.   Schaukel #2
60.   Collection Serpentines
61.   Jog Half-pass
62.   Lope Bowtie
63.   Counter to True
64.   Counter-lope Serpentine
65.   Lope Half-pass #1
66.   Lope Half-pass #2
67.   Pirouette to Half-pass
68.   Very Collected Strides
69.   Shoulder-in on Circle
70.   Counter-lope Circle 8s
71.   Rein-back to Lope
72.   Lope Pirouette

6.       Adjustability

73.   Flat Top
74.   Serpentine through Lanes
75.   Diamond-shaped Circle
76.   Octagon-shaped Circle
77.   Figure 8 Lengthening
78.   Circle – Square
79.   Pentagon Turns
80.   Leave One Out
81.   Leave One Out, Lope
82.   Lengthen to Leg-yield
83.   Spiral In to Turn on Forehand
84.   Lope Leg-yield
85.   Elevating Gaits
86.   Baby Counter-Lope
87.   Counter-True Transitions
88.   Double Diagonal
89.   Reiner Dressage Circle
90.   Flying Changes

7.       Ground Work

91.   Changing Strides In-hand
92.   Ground Work Triangle
93.   Lateral Flexion
94.   Cloverleaf
95.   Yielding In-hand
96.   Shoulder-in from the Ground
97.   Varying Circles In-hand
98.   Balance Circles In-hand
99.   Leg-yield In-hand
100.   Schaukel In-hand
101.   Piaffe Steps

Glossary
Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

About the author

Jec Ballou is the author of  101 Western Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider, 101 Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider, and Equine Fitness. She is a national advisor to the Western Dressage Association of America and contributed to the current rules for the sport. She teaches clinics across the United States. She lives in Santa Cruz, California.

Stephanie Boyles is the co-author of 101 Western Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider, founder of Unbridled Rider, and the creator of the mobile applications 101 Dressage and 101 Western Dressage. Boyles lives in Boulder, CO.

Al Dunning has been training award-winning Quarter Horses and outstanding riders for more than 40 years. He and his students have won numerous national titles in reining, cutting, working cow horse, and other disciplines. He owns Almosta Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona (www.aldunning.com).

Summary

This series of Western Dressage exercises are designed to improve suppleness, balance in movement, and responsiveness. Each exercise has a specific goal in mind, and they are organized by different areas of focus: softness, looseness, rider development, engagement, adjustability, and ground work. With illustrated step-by-step instructions and full arena diagrams, you’ll quickly be on your way to mastering this exciting discipline.

Product details

• Authors: Jec Aristotle Ballou, Jec Boyles Aristotle Ballou, Jec Aristotle Ballou, Stephanie Boyles, Boyles Stephanie
• Assisted by: Al Dunning (Foreword)
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 27.12.2022
• EAN: 9781635866612
• ISBN: 978-1-63586-661-2
• No. of pages: 240
• Series: Read & Ride
• Subjects: Guides > Nature; NATURE / Animals / Horses, PETS / Horses, Horses & ponies, Equestrian and animal sports, Horses and ponies: general interest