Virtual Reality
Learning and horse showing from the comfort of home
By Lindsey Buhrmann
Imagine being able to participate in educational programs and horse shows without ever leaving your property. Thanks to North American Western Dressage (NAWD) and its sister organization for traditional dressage enthusiasts called Dressage on a Dime (DOD), these things – and more – are possible.
NAWD and DOD offer casual, fun and affordable ways to learn horsemanship skills through virtual horse shows, a vibrant online community, live events and clinics at host barns across the United States and Canada, as well as through a competitive and educational year-end award program called TRAX: Total Recognition for Accomplishing eXcellence.
The organization was established seven years ago by Jen Johnson of Minnesota. “I was inspired to get involved with Western dressage in 2010 before it was even a discipline by a photograph of a horse doing a lovely haunches-in down the long side of a dressage arena in a Western saddle,” Johnson said. “I called up my sister, Greta Liubakka, and said, ‘We need to do this!’ I am a Western rider but had taken a few dressage lessons but felt more comfortable in my Western saddle.”
NAWD has since evolved from a regional club to a national organization that includes a variety of disciplines. “We focus on helping riders from all backgrounds learn how the classical principles found in dressage can help every horse carry itself better, which improves health and long-term soundness,” Johnson said. “Our programs now include groundwork, trail and ranch horse. We also invite traditional dressage riders to participate and have removed some of the constraints by allowing more options for tack choices, such as bitless bridles.”
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