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
The Making of a Working Equitation Judge
By Rebecca Algar
www.weunited.us
started riding at the age of 5, in England, which is where I went to school. I had the great good fortune of having an excellent teacher who gave me a solid foundation in riding and horsemanship that has helped me through the years in different disciplines.
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.
28 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Michael T. Photography
I started, as most children in England do, by riding in Pony Club, competing in mounted games and jumping. After an accelerated schooling (I hated school so much, I figured if I worked really hard I could graduate early), I left school at 17 and took an apprenticeship in a racing stable. There I learned a whole new meaning to the word “groom!” But that is story for another day …
I transferred to 3-Day Eventing, which was what I really wanted to do, and again, had a great teacher. I was fortunate enough to compete internationally, but a bad fall (fractured spine) had my doctor suggesting that a less violent form of exercise might be better, so I started concentrating on dressage. He never mentioned steeplechasing, though, so I did that as well!
I studied in Germany under Gerhard Bock, former Olympic coach, on a two-year scholarship, and then was offered an incredible job in England, building and managing a brand new privately-owned stable for a client who loved horses but had no experience with them. He was an international businessman, extraordinarily generous, and really loved the horses. I purchased some great up and coming horses for him, so they would be champions in his name – from Reserve Champion Pony of Britain to top-level jumping horses and everything in between! It was
not unusual for me to return to my house at 10:00 pm, exhausted and filthy, to receive a phone call telling me he would be there in 30 minutes with H.R.H. Prince [fill in the name], and I would scramble into clean clothes and be showing horses. The current King of Jordan was one of many such guests.
I
an excellent teacher who gave me a solid foundation in riding and horsemanship that has helped me through the years in different disciplines.
I started, as most children in England do, by riding in Pony Club, competing in mounted games and jumping. After an accelerated schooling (I hated school so much, I figured if I worked really hard I could graduate early), I left school at 17 and took an apprenticeship in a racing stable. There I learned a whole new meaning to the word “groom!” But that is story for another day …
dressage test, starting off in the Introductory level with simple movements such as walking and trotting straight lines and circles and culminating at
The Game Nun, 17 hand Irish Draught x TB mare, who Rebecca competed with at International level in 3 day event.