We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine March 2017 | Page 33

a great way to see where you need improvement and what you are doing correctly. I am so glad to be a part of this group, and it also makes you want to improve your relationship with your horse.”

Education Matters

Johnson says education and progressive training are at the heart of NAWD. “We start from the ground up. Our ‘Six Feet on the Ground’ program applies the training scale from the ground to help you develop a solid foundation for your horsemanship, and our new NAWD Trail program puts your Western dressage knowledge to the test with practical obstacles and a judging system based on the classical training scale,” Johnson said.

“NAWD has benefited my younger horse and I with Six Feet on the Ground,” said Crystal Short of Wisconsin. “With my older horse, it benefits us to just keep up on all the movement to help him stay relaxed, limber; we really love having something to do to keep active. I love the comments given so you know how to improve, and the praise when you do a good job.”

Lindsey Buhrmann is a member of North American Western Dressage and the year-end 2016 Amateur Champion for its groundwork program, Six Feet on the Ground.