Discipline, dedication, dressage: Heart Mountain Dressage Club shares passion for equitation and horsemanship

As its name implies, the Cowboy State is home to equestrians of all kinds. 

One may find cattlemen on gritty versatile ranch horses trailing pairs to summer range; rodeo cowboys on quick-footed athletes competing in the roping arena; a sturdy and reliable pack string hauling wild game out of the backcountry; a well-groomed and patient-minded halter champion receiving another show ribbon and well-bred thoroughbreds racing around a dusty track, among others.

Among the mix is a close-knit and dedicated group of equestrians working hard to share their passion for the art and discipline of dressage and the benefits it has in developing horses and riders of all ages. 

Heart Mountain Dressage Club

In 1989, the Heart Mountain Dressage Club was started as a group member organization of the U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) and an official nonprofit through the state of Wyoming.

According to Heart Mountain Dressage Club President Austen Samet-Brown, original membership was small and consisted of a mix of individuals who had moved into the Big Horn Basin from the East Coast and others who grew up on ranches in the area. 

“It was a small group of riders with a passion for dressage, the way it develops young horses, the horsemanship it teaches and how it can be applied to basically all forms of riding, especially regarding what many were doing on their farms or ranches and in everyday life,” Austen says. “Heart Mountain Dressage Club was established to bring the classical art of English riding to the Big Horn Basin.” 

Today, Heart Mountain Dressage Club is made up of about 35 long-time members, with about five or six new members joining each year. 

“Sometimes members will join for a year, then take a couple of years off. But anyone who has ever joined our club stays on our list, so we can send them the monthly newsletters and information for all of our upcoming shows and clinics. This way they can stay up-to-date on what’s happening,” she shares. “We also utilize Facebook and our website to share the news of upcoming events and to post entry forms so riders can sign up to ride in our shows and clinics.”

Austen also notes the club hosts three organized schooling shows each year – one in the spring, one in the summer and one in the fall. The shows are affordable, low pressure and open to all riders.

“Western tack, English tack, proper dressage show attire or your best set of riding chinks – anything goes,” Austen says. “We do require the use of helmets and proper riding boots, but other than that these are just nice local schooling shows to get horses and riders out to practice dressage.”

Austen notes the shows are still held to high standards in an effort to make it worthwhile for riders who travel across the state and surrounding area to get practice and helpful feedback from certified instructors. 

“We offer the official tests provided to us by the USDF, the Western Dressage Association of America, the U.S. Eventing Federation and the USA Working Equitation, as well as some jumping dressage tests specially designed for us by one of our long-time members and certified instructors,” she adds.

Heart Mountain Dressage Club also hosts clinics once a month on everything from desensitization, horsemanship and working equitation, to learning how to ride Classical English dressage and/or Western dressage and everything in between.

“We strive to offer a little bit of everything and to let people know anyone can ride dressage,” she continues. “Dressage can benefit all riders and horses at varying levels – all the way from colts to more experienced competitive horses and walk trot riders to professional equestrians.”

Upcoming events

With April in the rearview, Heart Mountain Dressage Club is gearing up for its 2025 show season, which will kick off with a Ride-a-Test Clinic May 24-25.

Austen explains the concept of the clinic is to allow riders to pick a test they intend to show over the summer, ride the test for the clinician who will judge it as if it were a real show and then score the rider and horse and give them feedback on how to improve.

“The Ride-a-Test Clinic is a really cool way to jump into the show season so riders can get a baseline of where they are and what they need to improve on,” Austen states. “The clinic is also the perfect time for anyone who wants to come out and learn how to ride dressage. It is a great way for someone who knows nothing about dressage to get a big crash course in how to ride a dressage test.” 

After the clinic, the club will host its first show June 7 with a clinic to follow on June 8 in Lovell; a second show and clinic will be held on Aug. 2-3 in Powell and a third show and clinic on Oct. 11-12 in Lovell. 

Austen notes ribbons through sixth place are given to winners in each class, as well as division high-point winners and overall high-point winners at the end of each show. A yearly division high point award is given at the conclusion of the three-show series. 

“Even though every show is a competition, it is also a really great learning experience,” she says. “Riders get written feedback from all of the judges regarding what they can improve and what they did well.”

Open arms

Overall, Austen notes the goal of Heart Mountain Dressage Club is to share members’ passion for and bring awareness to the sport of dressage and the art of riding harmoniously with one’s horse. 

Currently, the group has been partnering with local 4-H groups to introduce dressage to the younger generation. The club also recently offered two youth scholarships to allow students to attend clinics and lessons in the area and to participate in shows for free. 

“Those are a few of the big things we have been pushing. We are just trying to get some younger riders interested and show them what else is out there for horseback riding,” Austen states. “We’re trying to let younger riders know trail riding or loping barrels aren’t the only things they can do with a horse. Dressage is just a different style of riding, and it is so much more than just going around in circles in an arena. It is a good way for horses and riders to work on building a solid connection and lasting partnership.”

Austen reiterates the Heart Mountain Dressage Club’s arms are open to riders and horse enthusiasts from all walks of life.

“We love to see new people and all the different kinds of horses,” she says. “We invite everyone to come join us – anyone interested in dressage, English riding and, of course, all Western riders are welcome. We want to show them dressage can benefit any rider and any horse. It’s pretty much all-inclusive, and we offer something for every rider.”

All Heart Mountain Dressage Club events, shows and clinics are open to the public and free for spectators and information regarding events can be found online and on Facebook.

“We just want to encourage as many people as we can to come out, check out what we do and ride with us,” Austen concludes.

For more information on the Heart Mountain Dressage Club, visit heartmountaindressageclub.com.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.