Cowboy Dressage. Jessica Black
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Soft Feel has four steps: Preparation, Execution, Release, and Relaxation.
Preparation: This refers to the rider’s subtle use of aids and cues to signal to the horse a request, such as a change of gait or direction. This should be evident to the observer, if at all, only in small shifts of weight or changes of rein. An important aspect of this essential first part of Soft Feel is Fresh Rein. This means the slight adjustment of the reins with the rider’s hand(s) that informs the horse that a change is expected. If there is no change of position, there can be no subsequent release or reward.
Execution: This refers to the horse’s completion of the requested maneuver, for example, a transition into a lope, or a turn-on-the-haunches.
Release: The execution must be immediately followed by Release, the third step. The release of pressure, from the rider’s leg, seat, or rein, is the horse’s reward for having performed the desired behavior.
Relaxation: Finally, after the maneuver has been completed, the horse and rider must show the Relaxation that comes from complete understanding and harmony between partners.
The distinguishing feature of Soft Feel is its two-way nature: any rider can send a message to a horse, but the true Cowboy Dressage partnership can only happen when the rider feels the horse send a message back. We will come back to Soft Feel many times in this book, once the importance of each step has been explained with reference to the nature of the horse and his relationship with the rider.
Soft Feel is introduced here because of its essential contribution, not only to building the Cowboy Dressage horse at home, but also to its importance in the fast growing world of Cowboy Dressage competitions. Soft Feel is the guiding principle for competitors and judges. When a clinician or judge looks at an entry or participant, he or she assesses the communication between horse and rider, with specific reference to the aspects of Soft Feel mentioned here. If followed, these ensure that it is not just about completing the pattern; it is about completing it smoothly, willingly, and kindly.
Emphasis on Kindness
Cowboy Dressage does not yet have a complete rulebook because it has grown naturally out of Eitan’s knowledge and the effort to base everything on the guiding principle of kindness. In order to meet the needs of an increasingly large community that demands more Cowboy Dressage divisions and tests every day, guidelines and rules for shows and judging are being developed, always maintaining kindness as a primary goal.
The rules and guidelines tend to be flexible. They are centered on the gradual progression toward a better relationship between horse and rider rather than on details of equipment. The most stringent rule is that you have to use a Western saddle. Most Western-style bits are acceptable as long as you use them kindly, although there are expectations regarding the level of training needed for a horse to be shown in an advanced bit (fig. 1.4). (More on that later. See p. 34 for details.)
1.4 – Jeff Sanders reassures his horse Simon during a Cowboy Dressage test. The most important part of Cowboy Dressage is the relationship between horse and rider. The emphasis on kindness is seen in the way riders reward their horses in Cowboy Dressage competition. A few soft strokes during the test can reassure and give confidence to the horse at the same time it gives the rider time to think.
Again, the focus is on the relationship between rider and mount. Cowboy Dressage competitions reward kindness, and not only because riders who treat their horses with kindness and respect will get more cooperation from their mounts. The results of treating the horse fairly on a daily basis will indeed be evident in his performance, but what the Cowboy Dressage judge is looking for is the calm demeanor and attentive attitude that are the immediate result of active kindness. As the new discipline becomes bigger with additional members, horse breeds, and styles, all competition tests and standards will be developed with reference to the central tenet of Cowboy Dressage: Be kind to your horse.
PATIENCE AND KINDNESS
The importance of kindness came as a revelation to Eitan and represented a sea change in his attitude toward himself, horses, and other people. Raised in the harsh conditions of Israel just before and after its statehood, Eitan’s early life was highly militaristic out of necessity. Kindness and softness were not in his vocabulary, except perhaps as descriptions of the weakness of people who would not survive or could not make it in their chosen profession.
He was raised according to the tenet Never Lie, and you just cannot be kind with that mentality. Meeting Debbie and falling in love with her was just a first step toward learning to appreciate the importance of kindness. Deb remembers struggling to make her husband understand that truth should never be an excuse to destroy someone; conversely, the kindness of little lies and oblique encouragement to overcome weaknesses works much more efficiently to help others become better horsepersons and better people.
At some point, not too long ago, Eitan “got it,” and like many people of strong convictions, swung from one extreme to another as soon as he realized how mistaken he had been. His early life in Rishon LeZion and his military experience had taught him that if you broke in the process of training, you weren’t worthy, and he applied this to the horses and humans he taught. But this does not work. In the long run, for every strong horse that turns into a superstar, you are going to lose many wonderful mounts that maybe needed a bit more time, a bit more patience, or a gentler approach.
People have lives beyond their horses, families, jobs, and the daily hassles we all experience. A little patience goes a long way when you are trying to teach someone, and one day, Eitan saw that clearly. He realized that he would be a better rider and a better teacher, as well as a better person, if he practiced patience and kindness. It was a moment of personal growth that was so surprising that it still feels new, “like it just came out of the package,” he says in wonder.
Cowboy Dressage or Western Dressage?
In 2010, the Western Dressage Association of America was created to organize some aspects of the budding new discipline inspired by Eitan Beth-Halachmy and his work with horses such as Holiday Compadre and Santa Fe Renegade. At the time, people were using the terms “Cowboy Dressage” and “Western Dressage” interchangeably. Some people still do, and this can lead to confusion, although in many ways, Cowboy Dressage and Western Dressage are similar.
Both trace their roots back to the inspiration of Eitan Beth-Halachmy, and the sacrifices he and Debbie made in order to share the vision with a wider audience. Cowboy Dressage and Western Dressage can appear very similar, perhaps due to the shared origin—Eitan on Holiday Compadre will forever be the founding image for both, the spark that lit the fire. However, they are gradually evolving to fit the needs of different groups of people, and as time goes by, the differences become more apparent.
Some groups try to minimize the difference: in Oregon, the Cowboy/Western Dressage Alliance caters to those who want to do one or the other, or both. In fact, many people who are active in the Cowboy Dressage community also compete in Western Dressage. Cowboy Dressage clubs keep up with the events in Western Dressage circles, and vice versa. Riders who want to do both have many opportunities to do so, and are often successful in both arenas (fig. 1.5).
1.5 – Melissa Walker and GPM Genesis B compete successfully in both Western Dressage and Cowboy Dressage. Here they are shown with Western Dressage ribbons won at the 2013 World Championship Morgan Horse Show.
It can still be difficult for anyone but the connoisseur to say what differentiates the two. Both emphasize the relationship between horse and rider. Both seek to combine the best of the Western cowboy tradition and traditional dressage; both focus on training that takes into consideration the horse’s nature.