Howdy!
Stacy Sutton is a Western Dressage Association of America "Train the Trainers Graduate". Stacy is available for teaching Western Dressage lessons and training horses on location at Vineyard Oak Dressage Training. She hosts two day Intensive Western Dressage Clinics starting from the popular "Introduction to Western Dressage" clinic on to progressive and higher level clinics at the farm, and on-going Mini-Clinics for continued educations for local Western Dressage Riders. Stacy is also available for off site clinics and educational events as time and scheduling allows.
Stacy's students regularly and successfully compete in Western Dressage Shows and have won multiple high score of the day awards, show series Championships, and have won top placings in the California Western Dressage Affiliate (CAWDA) Year End Awards Program.
Although showing is not a requirement for Stacy's students, it does give incentive for her student's to benefit from judges feedback and award honors from the correct, solid, and sound training techniques they learn from Stacy in their day to day training. As a result and to their delight, many of Stacy's students achievements have exceeded their original expectations. For Stacy, this is one of the most joyful and rewarding things she could ask for as a teacher!
Stacy and her students are also passionate about participating in demonstrations and events to help others learn and enjoy this fun and fast growing discipline! We invite you to join us on the Western Dressage Journey!
Feel free to CONTACT Stacy to schedule your lesson, training reservation, or clinic today!
What is Western Dressage?
Western Dressage is a coming together of the centuries-old concepts of Classical Dressage training to the Western traditions of producing athletic and supple working stock horses. By using this marriage of principles, the Western Dressage rider can produce an obedient and willing horse that moves forward, in a soft manner, who is able to carry itself with a strong and supple development of musculature, without resistance.
Western Dressage is a discipline developed by the Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) and recognized by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). The organizations have developed the Western Dressage “tests” in order to assist the horse and rider with a correct training system and a means to gain written feedback from the judge during the training process.
Western Dressage invites all breeds to participate. It focuses on the partnership between horse and rider, with both working together to achieve success. It is a progressive dance, and learning the steps is as enjoyable as the final result. Both in daily training and in competition, Western Dressage gives the rider step by step tools with a clear understanding of what comes next. A horse and rider can do as much or as little as meets their goals and needs. A rider can choose to train and show at the walk/jog level regardless of the age of the horse, or can choose tests with a desire to move on towards more difficult maneuvers and collection. The tests are systematic and progressive in nature and should culminate in a happy, harmonious, horse and rider relationship.
Western Dressage is ridden in Western tack and attire and basic Western stock saddles. One can ride with either one hand or two hands and the rider should have a “light” contact with the horse (not a loose or draped rein) and can ride in either a snaffle or a curb bit depending on the test.
Western Dressage tools help the rider learn to control all of their horses body parts. This also gives both the rider and the horse security, safety and confidence. Western Dressage is for the average horse and the average rider and is a fun way to develop better skills and enjoy enhanced communication with your horse, whatever its breed.