My name is Asha Austin, and I have been riding western dressage for about a year with Bentley, my lease horse of two and a half years. I was awarded the WDAA Youth Educational Scholarship in April of 2025. Unfortunately, the Lynn Palm clinic I was planning on attending was canceled, but WDAA was very kind, and let me use the scholarship for another educational event. With the help of my trainer, I was able to use the scholarship for three lessons with veterinarian and FEI level trainer; Tina Steward. During our lessons, Tina helped Bentley and I become more fluid and collected in the canter to prepare for Basic level. Over the course of three months, my canter improved significantly with Tina’s help, and I can tell that Bentley and I have become more fluid as a pair. Thank you so much WDAA for this opportunity!!

Kristen Whittaker Clinic in Pattison, TX

My name is Aubrey Welch, and I ride at MacDonald Dressage in Pattison, TX. I have been riding my horse, Penny, for a little over a year. Recently, Penny and I attended the Kristen Whittaker Clinic in Pattison, TX. We had an amazing time during the 3-day clinic! Our goals going into the clinic were to get a better stretch in the free jog and working walk and also to improve our harmony. At the clinic, we worked on turn on the haunches to stop Penny from trying to leave the area. We also worked on lateral movements to improve bending and balance.

The clinic was a great opportunity for Penny and me to practice loading and unloading from our trailer, being around other horses and riders, and building our partnership. Thank you so much to the WDAA for the opportunity to attend this clinic! Penny and I are feeling much more confident for our next show, and we cannot wait for the WDAA World Championship Show in September!

December 2024 WDAA Scholarship winner - Harper Cadotte of Dunkrik MD

Hello! My name is Harper Cadotte, I am a western dressage youth competitor. I earned the second WDAA Youth Educational Scholarship. While my show season has not yet started, I look forward to using this scholarship to further my education and horsemanship. I hope to use the scholarship to attend a clinic hosted by Lynn Newton in late August. This will be my second year of showing western dressage on my lease of three years Tommy. Tommy is a registered American Paint Horse and at sixteen is still the goofiest boy. We have continued to learn together and are progressing through the levels together. He will now be showing level One in addition to Basic this show season. Additionally, I have been riding a half Arabian half quarter horse mare named Cece and developing her education under saddle, she is currently three and will be making her entrance into western dressage at Intro level this show season alongside Tommy. This scholarship will help me further my education with both of these special horses and better educate me in western dressage. 

August: Riley Whittaker, Norwell, MA

Hello, I am Riley Whittaker, a Western Dressage youth competitor. I earned the WDAA Youth Educational Scholarship, made available by a grant from US Equestrian.   I used this scholarship to be a participant in the Sean Patrick Horsemanship Clinic at Mountain Lane Farm on October 4th-6th. I brought my 6-year-old Oakley to Temple NH for a long weekend experience. In this clinic we worked on groundwork, softness, haunches in, turn on the forehand, lateral work, leg yields and many other important things to help further my horsemanship.   I improved on slowing down and correctly teaching the basics, along with helping my horse further with new teaching aids. By receiving the chance to participate in this clinic, I was able to create a stronger partnership with my horse and create better teaching aids. This is important as a Western Dressage competitor as I was able to harmonize with my horse better and learn new techniques to further myself and my horses’ advancement through the levels.   I want to say thank you to the WDAA Educational Scholarship for this amazing opportunity!