Georgia Western Dressage Trainer’s Corner: Nancy Conley
Nancy Conley is a Western Dressage Association of America Train the Trainer graduate. She is also the newly elected Vice President of the Western Dressage Association of Georgia. Below is a question and answer session with Nancy about her Western Dressage journey.
Where do you give lessons or provide training?
Balanced Riding Stables in Calhoun, Georgia and freelance lessons/training.
How should people contact you?
Email: Balancedride@bellsouth.net
Phone: 706-260-8304
Why Western Dressage?
For over 25 years of training, coaching, showing, English and Western disciplines I have incorporated traditional dressage. It feels natural for me to teach Western Dressage.
Describe your personal journey to become a Western Dressage trainer.
The first 23 years of my life my sisters and I owned horses and learned to ride by the seat of our pants. We pretended to be cowboys and Indians, knights in shining armor so we could save the queen. Raced through the soybean fields like Kentucky Derby race horses, trail rode for miles, we would made our own trails and never had any fear of what could happen to us. Trained our ponies to lay down, bow without knowing how we did it. Those were the days. When I was 13 years old, I started reading how-to-train-your horse books and magazines. I didn’t have money for lessons so I had no choice but to teach myself. My grade mare, Lady, was my guinea pig for Western events. When we were ready to show I had to ride her to the show seven miles away. That was my first show — had a great time. I was so proud of my horse.
At around 23 years old I started taking Dressage lessons to learn how to correctly ride with balance and communication. I have continued to study, go to clinics and I also get lessons to help improve my skills. For over 25 years instructing, coaching and competing in many disciplines English and Western, it only makes sense for me to love the new sport of Western Dressage and to call myself a Western Dressage trainer and instructor.
What sort of horse excels at Western Dressage?
I can’t say what type of horse excels, but to say all horses can benefit from Western Dressage. I went to the World Show and competed this year and I saw all shapes and size horses competing and doing very well.
What sort of rider excels at Western Dressage?
Anyone that has the desire to improve the communication and partnership with their horse and a lot of practice.
What’s the one thing you would tell anyone considering competing in Western Dressage?
Read your rules on Western Dressage. USEF Western Dressage. That’s a good place to start.
How would you describe your Western Dressage training style?
I like to analyze the riders to see where they are in their riding skills and then I help them build on what they know. I am straightforward to the point but I also want to keep it fun. I work with riders to build confidence to start riding or to ride again. I find it very rewarding.
What’s the most common mistake you see people make in the Western Dressage show ring?
Not studying the geometry of the arena. You can have a great ride but if your geometry is off, you lose points. Where is X? Where do you start and finish your circles etc…
How do you memorize a test?
I study my test on paper and on foot then on the horse. That works for me.
What do you wear in the show ring?
Jeans, chaps, nice shirt and vest. I like to show in my Western hat but I always wear my helmet when training.
What kind of bit/tack do you use in the Western Dressage arena?
Right now on my horse, Truly Unsurpassed, I use a snaffle bit and plain Western saddle.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned from Western Dressage?
It surprises me that riders think that they can just go out and ride Western Dressage because it’s in a Western saddle and assume it would be easy. It takes a lot of hours of discipline and training to be competitive at Western Dressage.
Describe one of your clinics.
My clinics consist of horseless rider, demonstration, and horseback clinics teaching correct balanced riding.
What’s been your most rewarding experience with Western Dressage?
When the Spring Classic put the Western Dressage classes for open riders in Conyers, Georgia, I was on board. At that time I had been training Truly Unsurpassed and my student Meagen Pass we entered the show. Meagen and Truly Unsurpassed winning high point and the trophy that year and the following year winning high point and trophy again under my coaching. Making my goal to go to the WDAA World Show in 2015 was another fun and rewarding experience. Placing 5th Level 1 test 2, 6th basic level 3. I have a new goal to go back in 2016.
How do you plan to grow the sport in Georgia in 2016?
Give my time to help our WDAGA with the sport of Western Dressage. For those who to desire to learn, I will be available for lessons and training.
What do you think is the next big thing in the world of Western Dressage?
I don’t know. I do feel like we are on a journey and we are not there yet this is still in the beginning stage of the game.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I hope you all have a great year. Let’s enjoy this journey together. Support your affiliations and help get Western Dressage to become a popular equine sport and activity.
