Western Dressage Coming to AQHA World Show
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By Susan Winslow
While most of the talk about new things this year has focused on restrictions due to Coronavirus, there is a positive development in the Western Dressage world. This year, on November 20th and 21st, AQHA is including Western Dressage Stakes and Western Dressage classes at the 2020 AQHA World Championship Show. Partnering with the Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA), the AQHA World Show is offering these new classes to give people an introduction to Dressage and to expand opportunities for riders to compete with their horses.
Cindy Butler, President of the WDAA, anticipates a positive response to the event, saying, “Western Dressage Association of America has been collaborating with the American Quarter Horse Association for several years to bring Western Dressage to AQHA. We are thrilled Western Dressage Stakes and Western Dressage classes will be offered at the AQHA World Championship Show this year. We’re excited for AQHA members to discover how much fun Western Dressage is and for them to have the opportunity to earn AQHA points as well as WDAA Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program points at shows all over the country.”
The AQHA World Show will feature two days of Western Dressage competition starting with the Western Dressage Stakes on November 20th. The event will showcase the sport–new to AQHA competition–giving spectators and prospective competitors a glimpse into the exciting nuances of Dressage at all levels including Training Level, First Level, Second Level, Third Level, Fourth Level, Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, and Grand Prix. The Western Dressage competition will run the following day, November 21st, with classes from Basic up to Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4. Judges will observe each ride to evaluate the communication between horse and rider including lightness, carriage, obedience and movement, which are the cornerstones of the sport.
Tests are judged on a point score for each maneuver. While each ride is individual, classes will run concurrently with riders of all levels competing together. Because riders of all ages and abilities will be competing in each division, a point handicap system for each level of test will be used in scoring to level the playing field. Buckles and trophies will go to the top three, and competitors will compete for ribbons for the top ten as well as cash payouts and an optional cash jackpot. All AQHA World Show Western Dressage competitors will receive a World Show jacket this year.
