UNITING Horse-Lovers Across the Globe
By Julie Alonzo
www.weunited.us
orking Equitation is well-known for improving the partnership between horse and rider. What might be less evident at first are the many ways in which the sport fosters friendships between equine enthusiasts the world over.
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.
20 / Sport and Trail Magazine
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evident at first are the many ways in which the sport fosters friendships between equine enthusiasts the world over.
Recently, three WE United members from the United States had the opportunity to participate in a fabulous week of Working Equitation fun in New South Wales, Australia organized by the Stroud Riding Club and Australian WE United member and Judge Kim Peterson and her daughter Cody Wilson.
The week started with a three-day Working Equitation Camp, where instructors donated their time to teach an enthusiastic group of riders more about the sport. In addition to the three Americans (Judge Nicole Chastain Price, from California; and Oregonians Morgan Wagner and Julie Alonzo), a great variety of Australian and New Zealand WE aficionados provided classes. The courses included sessions on rider position (using a life-size horse ‘simulator’ to help pinpoint and improve issues related to balance and rhythm) as well as in-hand exercises to improve horse/human communication, dressage fundamentals and fine-tuning of the obstacles and strategies for planning one’s path in both Ease of Handling and Speed. One of the most popular classes was the Cattle Handling course, taught by expert cattleman and horseman Warren Pogonoski.
Mark Mason and Prospect, Australian Stock Horse, during their winning ride in the Dressage Trial. Mark will be returning to the US in July and September of this year for more WE adventures.
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