North American Western Dressage (NAWD) has released a series of three trail tests for Western Dressage enthusiasts. NAWD Trail tests are not an obstacle course, nor are they meant to desensitize your horse to scary objects. They are meant to test how well you and your horse are connected mentally and physically.

Can your horse maintain rhythm and relaxation over ground poles? Can horse bend laterally and demonstrate suppleness as you serpentine around cones? Can you negotiate and back your horse through ground poles and around a corner without resistance? Can you stop, wait and ride one-handed for short periods of time when your other hand is required to do specific tasks? You’ll discover Western Dressage also trains horse and rider for simple everyday tasks and trail riding!

Sherry Rosser Carroll & TA Rodansk

NAWD Trail tests your training, partnership, confidence, and skill. Tests are progressive and based on a simple court that remains consistent throughout each of the trail test levels. Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced Western Dressage Trail tests are located on the North American Western Dressage website using this link www.northamericanwesterndressage.org/tests/nawd-trail-tests

For the Western Dressage Trail tests you will simply need the following items:

• Gate

• 7 Ground Poles 8’ long

• 2 Ground Pole 4’ long

• 5 cones

• 2 barrels or hay/straw bales upon which you can place a bucket

• Bucket (water or feed)

• Binoculars (or sunglasses)

Michael Guerini & Especials Charm

Scoring is based on how well you demonstrate classical principles of rhythm, relaxation, suppleness, connection and impulsion as you negotiate the course. Individuals throughout Wisconsin and across the United States have already started practicing and are competing in live and virtual shows.

More information about North American Western Dressage is located online www.nawdhorse.org.