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
Sandhaven Performance Horses
A Powerhouse Breeder in Working Equitation
By Julie Alonzo
www.weunited.us
ith seven of their home-bred horses finishing the 2017 competition season in the Top Ten National and Regional rankings, Sandhaven Performance Horses has earned recognition as North America’s top breeder of Working Equitation mounts. In the process, this Texas breeding farm introduced a number of people to their breed of choice, the Australian Stock Horse.
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
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Sandhaven Catcandu with trainer Lisa Harding
Equitation mounts. In the process, this Texas breeding farm introduced a number of people to their breed of choice, the Australian Stock Horse.
Founded, owned and operated by Kellee Campbell, DVM, Sandhaven Performance Horses specializes in athletic Australian Stock Horses. On her website, Kellee provides a good explanation of the breed’s origin: “Australian Stock Horses were created from a small gene pool which has been heavily tested by the harsh demands of the Australian geography and work environment. Before European colonization, there were no horses native to Australia. The earliest settlers in that country relied entirely on animals imported from Europe for transportation and the working stock used to clear land in the British colony of New South Wales. There were limited breeds of horses available; English Thoroughbreds, English ponies, Arabs, Clydesdales and Suffolk Punches were the most widely utilized, with Thoroughbreds greatly outnumbering the other breeds. The settlers cross-bred among the available breeds to select for the most desired traits in their working/riding stock: hardiness, strength, speed and willing demeanor.”
Photographs by Kellee Campbell, DVM