Willow Bend South brings dressage to northwest Florida
In an area where western-style horsemanship, barrel racing, calf roping and rodeos are popular pasttimes, European-originated equestrian traditions might seem like a horse of a different color. But Mary Jane and Bill Benson, owners of Willow Bend South, located in West Florida Electric Cooperative’s service area between Cottondale and Chipley, are working to change that perception.
Willow Bend South offers instruction in jumping and dressage, which Mary Jane defines as "harmony between the horse and rider." Dressage, pronounced like "massage," employs a logical, step-by-step progression from simple to increasingly complex movements, with skill levels ranging from basic training for the backyard horse up to Olympic sport. Dressage teaches a horse to be graceful, obedient and responsive, following the rider’s subtlest "aids" – a squeeze of the calf, closing of the fingers or shifting of weight in the saddle.
"Some people think dressage is only for the very wealthy. But you don’t have to go out and buy one of these expensive horses," Mary Jane explained. "Any horse and rider will benefit from basic training. You can take a $500 horse and go through the lower levels of training, and you’ll have a more enjoyable riding experience, no matter what you plan to do with that horse."
Although dressage develops practical skills for any horse – and significantly increases its value – "Not every horse can become a Grand Prix horse," said Mary Jane. Certain breeds’ bone structure, musculature, carriage and temperament make them best suited for higher training levels and competition. Typically, these are warmbloods – horses possessing Arabian or Thoroughbred blood in their ancestry, but not the pure breed. The horses usually don’t begin training until at least age three, after they’ve finished growing, and don’t show until age four or five.
The process that led the Bensons to bring dressage training and traditions to rural northwest Florida began over three decades ago. Mary Jane and her father bred, trained and showed Morgan horses at Willow Bend Farm, established in 1969, in upstate New York After winning numerous local and regional Grand Championships, she received training at Porlock Vale Equestrian Centre in England to become a riding instructor in dressage and jumping.
Upon her return to New York in 1973, Willow Bend Farm became Willow Bend School of Horsemanship. The school continued to grow, holding competitions and riding camps. Mary Jane and Bill, who married in 1976, stayed busy there until deciding to relocate to the warmer climate of Florida in 1991.
Willow Bend South consists of 50 hilly acres with a cross country riding course, three riding arenas, one of which is covered, a clubhouse and boarding facilities, currently undergoing expansion to shelter up to 40 horses, with a tack room. Activities include schooling shows, fun shows, camps, exhibitions and clinics. "I have a goal of offering three-day events, with dressage the first day, cross country the second day and then jumping in the arena," Mary Jane added. "I’ll bring in prominent clinicians. I always bring in rated judges and then have a clinic the day after the judging."
Willow Bend South provides horseshoeing, or farrier, services, as well. Bill is an Oklahoma Farrier College graduate who’s worked in the business since 1974 and is a widely-known specialist in the art of balance and corrective shoeing.
For additional information, visit Willow Bend South at 1856 Porter Rd. (off County Road 276), Cottondale, call 638-8352 or 326-1722 or e-mail willow@wfeca.net.
2005 "Mane" Events
WBS Dressage and
Combined Schooling,
April 9
May 7
June 4
July 9
Sept. 10
Oct. 8
WBS Clinics
Centered Riding
April 22, 23 and 24
Dressage (Clinician Bill Woods)
July 10
Northwest Florida Chapter of Deep South Dressage and Combined Training Association
Dessage and Jumping Combined Schooling Show
Feb. 19
Ft. Rucker Equestrian Center, Ft. Rucker, Ala.
On the Web
Willow Bend South
www.willowbendsouth.com
Deep South Dressage and Combined Training Association
www.dsdcta.org
United States Dressage Federation
www.usdf.org
 |
Page created and maintained by West Florida Electric Cooperative, Inc. © 2001.
designed by embryo design