Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County.   In western movies, cowboys and their horses are depicted galloping over hardscrabble land, the cowboys scraping the horse’s flanks with his spurs and flapping his arms, demanding more speed. Dressage is associated with rings, numbered and named, manners and subtle muscle messages.

Of course, these descriptions are exaggerated pictures of the two horsemanship categories, but another type of riding is being discovered by both western and dressage riders: the cowboy dressage. In this category, the rider communicates with the horse using cues and aids, points of contact using legs, hands, seat and voice, using the horse’s natural reaction to stimuli. Pressure of a rider’s leg encourages the horse to move away from it. The rider’s seat affects balance and hands act directly on the horse’s mouth to slow, lift, turn or bend.

These aids and an understanding of a horse’s natural instinct is the basis of Cowboy Dressage, with kindness as the guiding principle working with the horse and not against him. Rewards for responding include a relief from pressure, and when the horse reacts as requested.

On Sunday morning, Melanie Smith-Breidt, a certified trainer of Western and English riding disciplines, including reining, jumping and a lower level dressage from a basis of natural horsemanship, led a Cowboy Dressage Clinic at the Gilpin County Arena. Locals brought their horses in to learn as a team how to build trust and confidence and an understanding of the job each of them has to do. She uses the concept of lightness and soft feel in her instruction.

The clinic began with basic groundwork and the participants learned how to use their hands and gentle contact to move the horse in a desired direction. She also had the riders walk through obstacles within the ring. The clinic was an introduction to cowboy dressage. Riders can use two hands, different bits, different courses.

Denise Arther of Gilpin County attended the event. She has been riding horses in the mountains for decades and says she is not really into speed or competition.

This was about developing a soft feel, in a quiet precise approach. “I am trying to develop a softness inside myself that translates to the horse as well. About partnership, helping the horse to get there. I just want a relationship with my horse to get to a higher level. I can’t be hard inside and expect the horse to understand it.”

The Peak to Peak Equestrian Club organized the clinic. They will also sponsor the upcoming July 21 Peak to Peak Buckle Series Gymkhana and the July 22 Complete Equestrian Vaulters clinic.

(Originally published in the Jun 28, 2018, print edition of the Mountain-Ear.)