North American Western Dressage Judge Julie Slater
Julie has been riding horses since she was five years old and has over 30 years of horse training experience. Julie has always been interested in Dressage and has competed and coached in the areas of Extreme Cowboy Racing, Reining, and Working Cowhorse.
As Julie says “Having been born and raised in Germany, I have a fondness for dressage. The way a horse looks and feels under me, when we are doing “Dressagy” work – well it just chimes with me.” When Julie moved to the states, she got involved with ranching and she really appreciates a very good ranch horse and the way he takes responsibility for his job.
Julie’s training philosophy is one where she works with the horse to tell the rider what he wants to be good at. As a coach, Julie can work with riders of any level and believes that all riders (from novice to expert) benefit from eyes on the ground. Over her career, Julie has trained around a 1000 horses.
Would you like to send Julie a video? She will evaluate your progress and design a lesson just for you and your horse. Email her a short description along with the video to get started for only $25 per lesson. slaterhorsetraining@gmail.com
- 1995-2001 Buckle Winner (x8) at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Mule Division
- 2011 and 2012 IPHDA World Champion and Saddle winner
- 2002 KDEA Dressage Horse Of the Year (2nd Level)
- Former Judge for IPHDA and EXCA
- Member of AQHA, USEF, EXCA, FQHR, IPHDA, NAWD
She showed her nice extreme trail/working cowhorse Smoochie at NAWD 3rd Level, gaining a 64.886 in 2014. Since becoming a NAWD Professional and Judge, she has coached several rider to scores over 65%. She doesn’t have time to do a lot of showing herself, but has managed to gain several scores in the 70s for Intro and Basic.
Julie believes that Western Dressage is a much cleaner version of traditional dressage because the breed of horse is not rewarded, the tack is freer, and there is still room to grow.
“Every once in a while, I get a horse who is not the best cowpony in the world, but will fit dressage perfectly. Western dressage allows me to train him through the levels to his and my best abilities, allowing him to gain confidence thru success and me to stretch my abilities.
When NAWD asked for a committment to avoid training behind the vertical, I gladly signed it. Since then, as I strive to live to that promise, I have learned so much.”
–Julie Slater
Slater Horse Training
30284 US 160
Alton, MO
(620) 295-0657.
slaterhorsetraining@gmail.com
Https://www.facebook.com/julieslaterHT
