Fometimes, people get intimidated when they watch videos of World Champion Working Equitation competitor Pedro Torres as he and the Lusitano stallion Oxidado perform effortless flying changes and canter pirouettes in the
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By Julie Alonzo
www.weunited.us
orking Equitation is not just fun, it’s also a great way to extend the partnership between horse and rider as the versatility required helps encourage continued development and greater horsemanship over time.
The Ease of Handling test is also scored, with points for each obstacle ranging from 0 to 10, and collective marks also awarded. Some obstacles, such as Jumping Over Bales of Straw, and Sidestepping Over a Log are not performed at the Children’s or Introductory Level. The majority of obstacles, however, can be found at all levels. In Ease of Handling, greater complexity is introduced by requiring more challenging gaits within and between obstacles and increasing the expectations for how lead changes are performed as one moves up the levels.
The Speed trial is only performed by riders in Novice A and above. It’s important to note that there is no requirement that the Speed trial be done at a particular gait. In fact, it is quite common (and even advisable) for lower-level riders to perform their Speed trial at the trot to help maintain the horse’s relaxation around the obstacles.
Event organizers can opt to split classes in a variety of ways, such as offering Divisions for Amateur and Open riders. Although one might assume that Open riders have a significant advantage of Amateurs, the data does not appear to support this contention. On the contrary, analysis of scoring trends across all licensed 2017 working equitation competitions to date provides fairly convincing evidence that this is a sport in which Amateur riders can be quite competitive (see Table).
Intrigued yet? We sure hope so! To find out more about this great sport, please visit our website at: www.WEUnited.us.
26 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Michael T. Photography
meter dressage court. Each level has its own dressage test, starting off in the Introductory level with simple movements such as walking and trotting straight lines and circles and culminating at the highest levels with lateral movements, extensions and collections at trot and canter, canter pirouettes, and flying lead changes. Then, they demonstrate their ability to successfully negotiate a variety of obstacles with finesse in the part of the competition called Ease of Handling. For Novice A levels and above, riders then move on to perform obstacles at speed. Finally, in team competitions, riders may enter the timed Cow Trial in which they work with 3-4 teammates to cut a designated cow from a herd and move it into a holding pen on the other side of the arena.
Each of the trials demands slightly different qualities from horses and riders, yet they are all connected by the overall goal of solid horsemanship.
In the Dressage trial, the movements are designed to illustrate the progressively greater expectations as horses and riders move from rudimentary riding skills to those expected of the most advanced. The Introductory level is limited to walk and trot, offering a safe place for beginning riders and inexperienced horses to enter the sport and gain experience in the competition environment. Judges look for things such as the ability to maintain straightness down centerline; consistent and correct bending in circles; balance, straightness and immobility in the halt; straight, smooth reinback; and correct shape and size of movements such as 20 meter circles and 10 meter half circles. They also look for impulsion and submission in the horse and the quality of the horse’s gaits.
W
Makenzie Holley and Lipizzan mare Terra Blanca, Intermediate A level Speed trial.
Photo courtesy of Michael T. Photography
the versatility required helps encourage continued development and greater horsemanship over time.
In the sport, riders first ride a designated pattern in a 20 x 40