Sometimes, 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 Dressage and Ease of Handling Trial and race around obstacles lightning fast in the Speed trial.
Working Equitation United
A Level for Every Rider
www.weunited.us
“If that is what it takes,” they exclaim, “I’m WAY out of my league!”
Fortunately, the United States Rules for Working Equitation provide a gentle ramp into the sport, with seven different levels designed to “stair step” up in difficulty as one moves from the Introductory level to the Master’s Level. In addition, there is a Children’s level, specifically limited to riders 8-13 years of age.
In Working Equitation, with its emphasis on the partnership between horses and riders, level goes by horse/rider pairs. In other words, a rider might compete in a lower level with a less-experienced horse and a higher level with a more experienced horse. Likewise, a beginning rider is allowed to ride a more-experienced horse in a lower level. Horse/rider pairs are allowed to move up (or jump) levels, but are not allowed to move back down the levels unless they meet the requirements for demotion outlined in the rules. This regulation is intended to help ensure that all competitors have a fair chance and that they are competing against others at approximately the same place in their training/experience when they go to a working equitation competition.
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.
36 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Novice B, Open Rider Pablo Mata on Damasco DC at the 2017 Heart of Texas Series, #2
Photo: Kellee Campbell, Sandhaven Performance Horses