You dressage riders already know the fun and value of a dressage schooling show, so for YOU GUYS this is just a reminder of the upcoming shows at Sonesta Farms on September 24 and October 29.

But for those of you on this list that are western or h/j riders and trainers, this email is for you!

A schooling dressage show is a fun way to test your or your students’ riding on the flat. The lower level tests are well within the riding ability of most (and some do not even require cantering).

Sonesta Farms’ Dressage Schooling Shows welcome riders from other disciplines who want to “try out” dressage and get some feedback from quality judges on where you are in your riding and what you might need to work on.

And we are excited to report that the USEF has now approved and published several WESTERN DRESSAGE TESTS. Sonesta Farms will offer those classes at our schooling shows!

Yes, that’s right. You can ride in your western tack and be judged on western gaits instead of English ones! Our judges are perfectly qualified to judge it.

So, if you are a western rider, you don’t need to ride in English tack or fear having your nice jog judged down because it’s not a big English trot! How cool is that?!

To learn more about Western Dressage, visit http://www.westerndressageassociation.org/ and you can see the Western Dressage tests at http://www.usef.org/.

For you hunter/jumper riders and trainers, you can see the 2011 Introductory Tests for dressage at http://www.usdf.org/downloads/forms/index.asp?TypePass=Tests. And you can order a test booklet that contains all the tests from Intro through 4th level for just $5 from the USEF at http://www.usef.org/.

And there is even a dressage test that involves jumping some low jumps! Called Prix Caprilli tests, they are truly a fun way to combine jumping with dressage. Email me for a copy of the tests.

Please come and join us for a fun time at our shows on September 24 and October 29. Entry forms are on our website at www.sonestafarms.com/shows.htm or on the website of the Houston Dressage Society at www.houstondressagesociety.org