Dressage Beginner

Hi, I'm pretty experienced at western riding (including rodeo) and I have an arabian who can do both english and western very well. I've never ridden english in my life but know that dressage makes you a much better rider. I'd like to try it (or at least try some 'cowboy dressage'). My horse is very obedient and I've been working on simple stuff with her like moving her hindquarters. Is there anything else I can teach her that would help with dressage? Or any advice for me if I'm going to try it? Thanks :)

Dressage at the lower levels isn't so much about what you do as how you do it. You might want to start with checking out the training scale or training tree For-Horses Every horse regardless of discipline should be trained according to the training tree, but dressage riders are actually judged on it, because dressage, after all, means training.

After that, check out some dressage tests. This website Australian Dressage tests has tests you can check out. I don't think the U.S. Ones are available for free viewing without a membership to USDF. Be sure to check out the directives at the top of the test. For example, the preliminary test, which is comparable to USDF Training Level focuses on rythm and relaxation (the first two steps on the training tree) so your horse needs to not just perform the listed movements, but do it without any tension or resistance.

The novice test, which is comparable to our 1st level, expects to see that the horse has developed "thrust" (schwung on the German training tree) so the horse has to have developed some power in his hindquarters to meet the requirements of this level.

So that is what I mean by, it "isn't so much about what you do as how you do it." Between the two websites above, you should get a good start but it will take an in-person trainer to help you put that information to work.

My best advice would be to go with some lessons from the dressage trainer. If you want to learn a discipline (or at least to try), it's always best to deal with the professional. Good luck! :)

Thank you guys so much! I checked out the tree and the tests and I will definitely keep that in mind. It helped a lot, thank you! And I'll look into trainer :)