The Pacific Northwest Western Dressage Association (PNWWDA) was first envisioned by Stacy Sutton and Ann Marie Avansino who had been very involved in Western Dressage since its inception. They spent several years developing and running many educational events, symposiums, and exhibitions in Northern California. With this passion for Western Dressage, they both saw the need in the Northwest to further expand Western Dressage education and competition.

The PNWWDA was created to align with and promote the principles of the WDAA and independently organize quality educational programs, awards programs, and network and collaborate with like-minded Western Dressage enthusiasts and professionals throughout the Pacific Northwest.

US Pony Club Convention

Saturday January 25th Suzanne Morisse with the help of Mary Linton presented an Introduction to Western Dressage talk prepared by Ida Norris.

"We had people from several states including Texas, Montana, Connecticut, and Michigan. They had some great questions and were eager to share what is happening in Western Dressage in their area. The posters and handouts from WDAA were wonderful and the participants seemed excited to have something to take with them. Suzanne gave out some door prizes to youth who answered questions about their horses and Western Dressage."

Well, no surprise to you the Ellie Stine-Masek clinic was great! There were traditional dressage riders (up to Prix St. George) as well as several western dressage levels being ridden. Folks came down from Colorado and then continued on to the New Mexico Quarter Horse circuit. It was great fun to visit with folks and get some great instruction. Many thanks go out to the team at Dressage Club of New Mexico and The Dressage Foundation with Lynn Palm’s grant. Super thanks to Vert for sponsoring the rider’s dinner that included a most wonderful evening with clinician Ellie Stine-Masek.

The next thing that is on our calendar is a fundraising trail clinic at the Stanley arena on July 9th. Brigette Honea will be the clinician. Brigette has taken a lot of horses to the AQHA World Show and done very well. For more information, here is the New Mexico Quarter Horse website.

California Western Dressage Association announced its Western Dressage Judges’ Scholarship program, an annual award program to help potential Western Dressage judges achieve their goal.

CAWDA is offering a Western Dressage Judges' Scholarship to a selected CAWDA member who is considering becoming a Western Dressage judge or is in the process of going through the Western Dressage licensing program. All adult CAWDA members are eligible to apply except for those who are already USEF licensed large R western dressage judges. (Small "r" judges going for their large "R" may also apply.)

The CAWDA scholarship will cover the fee for the upcoming (2023) WDAA Judges’ seminar held in Colorado. One applicant will be selected by the CAWDA Board based on their application and a Board interview. Deadline for application submission is November 20, 2022.

Western Dressage judges are the cornerstone of our discipline. We are excited to be able to offer this award and welcome those who accept the challenge of becoming a licensed judge to apply.

For more information about the program and to access the scholarship application, visit our web page at https://cawda.org/judges-scholarship.