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Working Equitation . . .
by Julie Alonzo
. . . Building A Partnership
additional affiliates in the early-stages of forming groups in
Idaho, Nevada, and Virginia. The FPSH, as an early supporter of
WE-USA, is now working with WEIAUSA to continue to advance
the sport in the United States. The recent successful working
equitation clinic, demonstration, and schooling show at Mayfest,
hosted by Rancho del Lago in McDade, TX were put on by Bruce
W. Menke, of Working Equitation Texas, LLC, the Texas state affiliate of WEIAUSA.
F
or people who want to learn more about the sport, WEIAUSA offers a variety of educational opportunities, including
demonstrations, introductory clinics, more advanced riders’
seminars, in-depth judge training and licensing, schooling shows,
and recognized competitions. Membership in WEIAUSA is open
to all people interested in the sport, and all breeds are welcome at
WEIAUSA competitions.
You can learn more about Working Equitation at:
www.WEIAUSA.com . The Events calendar is updated
regularly, as new opportunities to practice this great new
sport are planned across the country.
Antonio Garcia Roldán riding for Haras dos Cavaleiros
W
ith its foundation firmly centered in the classical
horsemanship approaches so prevalent in the equestrian
communities in the four Southern European nations
where the sport was invented (Portugal, Italy, France, and Spain)
and an eye on making the sport enjoyable for horses, human
competitors, and spectators alike, Working Equitation offers
something for just about everyone. And, unlike most equestrian
sports in the United States, Working Equitation welcomes a variety of tack and attire. So long as the horse’s tack and the rider’s
attire are from a single tradition, they can be working western,
dressage, hunt seat, traditional Portuguese or Spanish, Australian
stock horse, Charro, etc. Competitors show in the same tack/attire in all phases of the competition. P.R.E.s, with their incredible
athleticism, great minds, and willingness to work hard in partnership with their riders, are naturals at the sport.
Competitions begin with a Dressage trial (called Functionality
in the USEF AL rules), where horse and rider are judged on the
quality with which they complete a series of specified movements,
including riding straight lines and circles at all three gaits, halting squarely, and reining back without resistance, and (in levels
beyond the most basic) performing lateral movements such as leg
yields and half passes, as well as flying lead changes and canter
pirouettes.
26 } THE P.R.E. HORSE Issue 2, 2014
The second phase, Ease of Handling, requires horse and rider to
maneuver around and through a variety of obstacles, demonstrating the quality of their gaits, transitions, symmetry, and balance.
In particular, the horse should demonstrate collection, impulsion, and a willingness to move forward while maintaining calmness and responding to the rider’s cues without resistance. The
obstacles vary from lateral movement over a slightly raised log, to
reining back in an ‘L’ shape; to jumping a small jump (no higher
than a hay bale, laid on its side); crossing a slightly-raised wooden
bridge; picking up, using, and depositing a lance; opening and
Kiki Teague riding Legado de Fuego
closing a gate while mounted, and demonstrating a series of very
collected small circles with flying changes at each change of direction in the drums, parallel post slalom, and figure-8, etc.
T
hese same types of obstacles are also used in the third
phase: Speed. The key difference between the Ease of
Handling and the Speed phase is what is judged. Whereas
style and way of going are of paramount importance in Ease of
Handling, the Speed phase is a timed event, with the fastest time
placing highest.
In team competitions, a fourth phase, the Cow Trial, is added. In
this phase, teams of three to four move cattle, one at a time, from
a holding area, across the arena, and into a secondary pen. Like
the Speed phase, the Cow Trial is a timed event.
In March of 2014, two of the largest working equitation organizations in the US joined forces, when the Florida-based Working
Equitation USA asked Working Equitation International Association of the United States of America (WEIAUSA) to absorb their
members and carry on their good work. WEIAUSA currently
has active state affiliates in California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, with
Ms.Godfrey riding a horse she just met at Mayfest 2014
THE P.R.E. HORSE Issue 2, 2014 { 27