What happens when an FEI dressage rider trades in her shadbelly for cowboy boots? For BC native Janine Little, the result was an introduction to the fun world of Western Dressage, an epic road trip to Oklahoma, and a world championship title.
As a clinician who teaches across the continent and sees an increasing number of students in Western dressage tack each year, Little figured the best way to help them was to gain some hands-on experience in the sport herself. And it just so happened that she was searching for something new to try with her long-time partner Billionaire (aka Bono), owned by Shawneen Jacobs.
“I’ve trained Bono from late in his three-year-old year up to FEI Grand Prix and he is always a joy to work with and show,” says Little. “He’s by Belissimo M and traditional dressage work comes easily to him. You can even do one-tempis with no reins on him; he’s that nifty. But over the last several years I started to feel a bit stuck in competitions. We would always get the same comments: ‘lovely, obedient, well-trained horse…needs more of everything…’ This horse is a good boy. He’s enjoyable, he shows up to work everyday and we’re far from perfect so we aren’t done training, but I also don’t need ‘more’ of anything from him. I want to keep having goals and a partnership with this horse I enjoy so much, so I decided to shift gears and give Western dressage a try.”
Part of the sport’s appeal, according to Little, is that the type or breed of horse doesn’t matter. She feels the emphasis is on achieving an obedient, correct, clean test without tension or mistakes, and the scoring system is “more black and white,” compared to traditional dressage.
“Some of the movements are different. We see pivots, double rein backs and turns on the forehand, which is different from traditional dressage. The Western tests are configured a bit more interestingly, too. Some tests start in the lope work then do the jog work, some have the lope work interrupted with jog and walk work in between.”
Janine and Bono.
Little and Bono first ventured into the show ring last summer close to their Jupiter, Florida home base, competing at Level 5 (currently the highest level of Western Dressage), which is roughly equivalent to FEI Intermediate 1. When their successes qualified the pair for the World Western Dressage Championships in Oklahoma, Little packed up the trailer and hit the road.
“I went in with zero expectations and no clue exactly what I was showing up for or what I was doing. But I have to say, it was a wonderful experience!” Little recounts.
She enjoyed the down-to-earth atmosphere where most competitors did their own trailering, feeding, mucking and grooming, supported by family and friends rather than an army of professional grooms and staff.
“It was lovely to see horse lovers of all ages and all levels just having fun and enjoying their animals. And what a diverse bunch! There were Warmbloods, Saddlebreds, Friesians, PREs, Lusitanos, Morgans, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Gypsy Vanners, Appaloosas, Mustangs, even mules. Where else in the competitive horse world do you see this kind of diversity and inclusion within a single discipline?”
“The competition was challenging and we had fantastic moments as well as very humbling moments where we forgot everything we knew,” she continues. “In the end Bono, being the ever-willing dude that he is, pulled off the win in the Level 5 division. What a guy!”
Buoyed by the experience, Little has now incorporated some Western dressage work into some of her other horses’ programs, and encourages all dressage riders to be open-minded about the sport.
“Some of my dressage friends first scoffed at the idea when I mentioned I was trying Western dressage. For those who still scoff, I strongly suggest you put a Western saddle on your horse and go through all the Intermediate 1 movements with zero tension, zero anticipation, and complete obedience and harmony. It’s fun, but it’s HARD!”
Little hopes her Western adventures will encourage more riders to think outside the box, have fun, and try new things in pursuit of their dressage goals.
“It’s about the journey,” she says. “At the end of the day the goal should be to enjoy your horse and refine your partnership. Regardless of the saddle you ride in or the outfit you wear, those principles should never change.”
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