A Beginner’s Guide to Western Dressage: How It Works, How It’s Judged, and How to Start

A Beginner’s Guide to Western Dressage: How It Works, How It’s Judged, and How to Start

March 4, 2026 · 54 min

About this episode

Cindy Butler discusses the unique aspects of Western Dressage and how beginners can get started in the sport.

Western Dressage continues to grow in popularity for good reason, but what truly sets it apart, and how can riders begin their journey in the sport? In this episode of Ask an Expert, Cindy Butler, president of the Western Dressage Association of America, explains what makes Western Dressage unique, how competition and judging work, and what riders need to know before giving it a try! Episode Highlights: 8:45: What Western Dressage is, how it developed, and what makes it different from other equestrian disciplines 17:30: How horses and riders are evaluated in Western Dressage and the key differences from traditional Dressage scoring and expectations 23:50: The skills horses and riders need to succeed and how movements and technical demands progress through the levels 26:30: The different ways to compete in Western Dressage and advice for preparing for your first show 32:00: Recommended attire and equipment 41:20: Where and how to get started in Western Dressage Meet the Expert, Cindy Butler Cindy Butler is the president of the Western Dressage Association of America. She holds a bachelor's degree in equestrian science and business administration from William Woods College and has…

People in this episode

Guest: Cindy Butler

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Western Dressage Association of America

Places: William Woods College

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