California Western Dressage Association

06/15/2026

🌟2026 CAWDA Rider Scholarship Grant Adult Amateur Awardee🌟 ✨Patricia Kellerhouse✨

"I would like to express my wholehearted appreciation for being a recipient of the educational AA division award.
Angel (also known by her jockey names, Bea and Thelma) is an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) I have had the privilege of riding and showing for the past four years. This May, we attended a clinic with USEF ‘R’ Western Dressage judge Michell Combs, and I was glad to learn she had experience with OTTBs. One of the best things about this sport is that any breed can participate, which also means training methods often need to be adapted to each horse.
We learned a technique that helped improve Angel’s short hind stride at the jog, which the judge noted is common in Thoroughbreds. During a 20-meter circle, we asked for a leg yield to the outside and then returned to the circle to encourageher to step farther underneath herself. My current trainer, Jessie Boneau, has us do similar exercises, but I did not fully appreciate their benefit until I watched the video, which myfriend Jean Wolff kindly recorded. I would highly recommend videotaping clinics.
Another important takeaway was realizing that my right side and hip were not bending correctly when I asked for the right lead.Angel already has limited bend in that direction, which is common in many OTTBs because of their history of racing primarily to the left. Together, those two factors created a real challenge. I also shared that I tend to pinch with my knees, likely from years of hunter/jumper and foxhunting. As a result, I became much more aware of my position, focused on opening my right side, and worked to keep my knees relaxed instead of gripping.
One final reflection is the journey each horse brings to training. Recent reports of animal cruelty at South Point made me think about equine trauma and the lasting impact of a horse’s past. As stories like Ginger and Black Beauty remind us, every horse’shistory matters. Angel raced when she was young, so speed was all she knew, and she later ended up in a kill pen before being rescued by her current owner, Virginia Deleon. There are stillparts of Angel’s story I do not know, and I often wonder how those experiences shape her today. In many ways, Angel and I are both survivors, and perhaps that is why we found each other.I cannot fully express how much Angel, my trainer, and herowner have helped me through some of the hardest challenges in my life.
Thank you again CAWDA for offering this wonderfulscholarship."

06/15/2026

🌺Show is closed and judging is in progress, results will be announced soon!🌺

06/13/2026

🚨 Attention Online International Challenge Exhibitors! 🚨

Before you submit your videos, please double-check these Tack Check MUST-DOs to avoid having your video rejected:

✅ Complete the entire tack check
✅ Make sure your sign is clearly visible and is the correct sign for your test
✅ Zoom in on the far end of the arena
✅ Make sure your tack check can be easily seen by the steward

🔍 Francie is reviewing bits with a magnifying glass, so let's make her job easier by zooming in and providing clear, detailed footage! The better we can see your equipment, the smoother the review process will be.

A few extra moments during filming can help ensure your entry is accepted.

Thank you!

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

06/12/2026

06/08/2026

WDAA Champion Spotlight: HD Redford GCH & Josephine Trott

HD Redford GCH, affectionately known as "Fred," is an AMHA-registered Morgan who has been my partner since 2007. Together, we have explored a variety of disciplines, including English dressage, trail riding, and low-level jumping before adding Western Dressage to our repertoire in 2019 as members of the California Western Dressage Association (CAWDA).

Fred is a six-time WDAA World Champion, earning titles in:

2020: Level 4 Test 2 A/J, Level 4 Test 4 A/J, and Costume Freestyle Level 1-4 A/J
2023: Level 5 Test 2 A/J, Level 5 Test 3 A/J, and Costume Freestyle Level 1-5 A/J

In addition, Fred has earned two WDAA World Championship Division Titles (2020 Level 4 Amateur and 2023 Level 5 Amateur) and a Reserve Champion Division Title (2023 Level 5 Open).

Our accomplishments also include being named the WDAA Online International Level 5 Amateur Division Champions for three consecutive years—2023, 2024, and 2025. Fred, at 21 years old, earned our highest score ever: at the 2024 Online International Challenge with an 88.9% in our Costume Freestyle. ur future goals are to keep him sound and healthy for many more years.

06/08/2026

This weekend, dedicated lifetime CAWDA member Brandie Haining traveled to the beautiful Catalina Island to introduce a new group of horse enthusiasts to the world of Western Dressage!

A graduate of the WDAA Train-the-Trainer Program, Brandie was hosted by The Catalina Island Saddle Club in Middle Ranch & The Santa Catalina Island Pony Club at Stacey and Mike King's private boarding stable. During the clinic she shared the fundamentals of Western Dressage, emphasizing how its principles can enhance performance and communication in all riding disciplines. She also introduced participants to the benefits of online showing, which offers a convenient and accessible way to participate in Western Dressage from home.

Brandie focused on the importance of correct rider position and how it helps the horse move more comfortably and effectively. She also helped dispel common misconceptions about dressage, explaining that dressage simply means the progressive training of both horse and rider to achieve balance, harmony, and clear communication.

One of the key concepts discussed was the idea of guiding the horse rather than pulling the horse. Riders learned how effective use of their seat, legs, and outside rein can encourage the horse to move correctly and willingly. Brandie spent time explaining the role of the outside rein in steering, balancing, half-halting, and supporting the horse, while maintaining steady contact with the inside rein to prevent the horse from over-bending.

“The biggest challenge for many beginners is learning how to correctly use two reins,” Brandie shared. “Once riders understand how to support the horse with the outside rein and guide the horse forward with their aids, everything starts to make more sense.”

Of course, Catalina Island offered a unique experience beyond the riding arena.
“I even saw some of the island’s buffalo roaming free. Occasionally, they wander into the stable area to say hello to the horses!” Brandie said.

Thank you, Brandie, for helping grow the Western Dressage community and sharing your knowledge with riders in new and exciting places! Brandie plans on returning in the fall!

06/08/2026

⚠️Attention the June 20 Cool Hills Ranch Show Series (Cool) has been cancelled