Working Equitation the Practical Application of Classical Dressage

Thanks Randy for all your help in the year 2013, I have to tell you that you have given me whole new feeling about my horse training, I am so happy I found you, your methods are working fabulously for me, thank you so much and I look forward the 2014 and all I have to learn from your online University!!!!! You are amazing thanks Dana Kesselring from Nebraska

So I'm sitting here thinkin about a million and one things quiet literally... Rethinking about some of the conversations we had at work today and I would just like to let everyone know I have one of the best bosses ever. Not only does Randy have an amazing gift with horses, he has a great sense of humor, makes my job easy and enjoyable, and we work awesome as a team. What more could you ask from a boss.

I was introduced to Working Equitation this weekend at the show. Had a great time! Fun and challenging. Made some new friends and learned more about Western Dressage - Kudos to Randy and Carbon for taking 1st Place with their 2nd Level Dressage test - an awesome sight to behold - very classy with Western style and finesse. Congrats again on your wins and Reserve Champion!

OK... it was a long time coming, but here it is. I have owned my Quarter/Morgan cross, Duelli for over 10 years… He is now 14. A few years ago, Duelli and I had a bad accident. The details of the accident aren’t important – the accident was 99.9% my fault (they usually are)… Long story short, I put Duelli in a bad situation and using his reactive side of his brain, he reared. I wasn’t ready (since this horse had NEVER reared in his life) and pulled back on the reins. This caused him to lose his balance and he flipped over on top of me. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days with a pelvis that was broken in 4 places. I spent the next 8 weeks in a wheelchair/walker/crutches…. No work, no driving, NO FUN. The injuries healed, but my confidence had taken a pretty hard hit. All of a sudden, I was really struggling with being afraid. I had never been afraid of riding in my whole lifetime of riding. I was so scared that I would have to get off and walk in the middle of trail rides. I would make excuses to not go riding at all. I even questioned if I should get out of horses. I started over from ground work and arena riding to rebuild my confidence. After some time, I realized that I was pretty confident in an enclosed space (ie roundpen, arena, etc) but terrified out in the open. When I first heard of Western Dressage last fall, I was thrilled. Finally, something that Duelli and I could do together within the confines of an arena. I would be confident and my horse would be learning something new. We have taken several clinics over the spring/summer and practiced a lot on our own… and guess what, I am no longer afraid. I have been trail riding all summer WITHOUT fear. Western Dressage is the perfect discipline for someone who is looking to get back into horses but is a little afraid. It’s great for green horses, it’s great for ANY horse, any discipline, and any person. Dressage is simply “training”. A wise trainer once said to me, “when you collect your horse, you collect their mind”. How true that is. My relationship with Duelli has skyrocketed this summer. Everyone at my barn always comments on how “connected” we are… I couldn’t be happier. Well, ok, I could… once I start nailing those more advanced dressage moves!!

I love watching you and your refined style,You have inspired me to go beyond barrel racing, reined cowhorse and roping,. Thank God for trainers like you.. You and Carbon are fluidity in motion..

Finally!! A trainer in Western Dressage. This is the most comprehensive information I have yet to find on this topic! Very well done, informative and inspiring.. Thank you for all you put into these videos...

This is a picture of myself on my horse: Celtic Smoking After Midnight, barn name: Smokey. We attended the Randy Byers Western Dressage clinic at Miller Stables in Tyler, MN. It was great! I have a lot of work to do, and change of tack, but I atleast have a place to start. I am really excited to have an event that combines Western attire with dressage. My horse is a Friesian Sport horse. I knew I wanted to do more than trail riding with him, but didn't know where to go. Western Dressage seems like a good fit. Thanks to all involved with the clinic

Dexter is a 5 year old Thoroughbred/Paint cross that came into my life just over a year ago. After owing and riding horses for 25 years I thought I could tackle a youngster. Wow was I in for a surprise. I love him with all my heart, but I didn't get him to just use as a lawn mower. He loved to toss his head, buck, and run through the reins - all dangerous habits. I enlisted Randy to help me with these issues and attended a Clinic as well. With some minor adjustments to equipment the head tossing ceased. Randy taught me how to disengage his hips to prevent him from taking off with me. Randy helped to instill the confidence I needed in both myself and Dexter. We are now enjoying our lessons and Dexter is on his way to becoming the talented Dressage horse that I always knew he could be. I forget the passenger lesson? THAT is the part of the Clinic that absolutely took me out of my comfort zone! But knowing that you have more knowledge and experience than I, and that you had the ability to "see" from a different level than I could, I complied.  Now, I must say that allowing Dexter to go at a trot with me having no hands on the reins, wherever he wanted in a large arena was a scary thing. But after a short while I began to realize that the holding the reins did nothing for my balance whatsoever. They only impeded my communication with my horse as I held on with a "death grip". That lesson taught me that gentle hands are much more effective. It also give me a boost of much-needed confidence as I learned to work together as a team with Dexter. Thanks Randy.

You & Carbon are wonderful ambassadors for a growing sport. CTDS wants to do our part in helping it flourish.

Lisa wrote: "What is really cool about it is that its a meld of both dressage and western whereby you get the western horse who can stand quietly, not get easily spooked and have phenomal ground work combined with a connected dressage horse that is engaged and the body parts are being controlled. Granted, I'm not hanging up my breeches and tall boots, but I'm learning a lot that will enhance my riding and help my horse and me smile Randy Byers teaches in a way that gets effective results and breaks things down in a simple, step by step, building block type of easily understandable format. Bottom line - it works!! His demo on his horse Carbon - was downright beautiful! Carbon was light, uber responsive, and Randy had complete control over all parts of Carbon's body with the lightest touch. The bond and partnership was terrific. His horse loves him and vise versa. All in all,there isn't a horse out there that wouldn't benefit in some way from Randy's training! Thanks Randy!!"

Hi Randy, I love seeing that huge smile on your face in the pictures from all the WD tests you and Carbon are doing. I have been watching a lot of HRTV and had people give me DVD's from different trainers to watch. I have to tell you that as I watch them, I know with even more certainty that when I decided to fly to Minnesota for a Randy Byers Clinic it was the best decision I have ever made. I have used the techniques that you teach on my horse and she is such a better horse for it. Thank You, Carol

This is my awesome horse Lyric. He was a bucking bronco until Randy turned him around for me. Now he is my trustworthy partner. I support Randy as an outstanding trainer. I have known him for several years,I know many horses and people that he has worked with and have seen him give WAY more than he receives.~ Susan Roswold