Whiling away my quarantine, I found some Youtube video (sorry, don’t know how to post a link) of European “arena trail” competitions that look really exciting and fun. If you go to Youtube and type in “Pedro Torres,” you can find a whole collection of videos. The trail courses require advanced dressage skills for pinpoint accuracy and short bursts of speed followed by immediate slowing to address tight turns in the next set of problems. As in the jumper ring, the winner seems to be determined by fastest time with the fewest faults on course. Do any USEF competitions include “working equitation” like this?
I believe there are a few organizations promoting open working equitation competitions in the US - not through USEF yet as far as I’m aware.
The IALHA offers working equitation at its breed shows. I know ERAHC hosts some events around me.
There are two organizations right now in the US that offer working equitation- Working Equitation United and Confederation for Working Equitation. They were one organization at one point and both offer excellent shows.
I ride eventing and got into working equitation because another fellow eventer and close friend of mine was diagnosed with MS. She was looking for another horse sport to try since eventing was no longer in the cards. I helped groom for her at clinics and events and slowly started learning the sport. Here is what I have come to see about the sport.
- It’s something any type of rider and horse can participate in.
- It’s fairly low impact but demands a rideability, obedience and harmony with and from a horse.
- It seems like there many tedious rules but in time and experience, they make sense and add to the challenge.
- It adds to variety of your training regiment.
- Any riding style in allowed- hunter/jumper included. They want to see correct riding but you could use English saddle!
- Lower cost to participate in comparison to a rated HJ show.
- Working with cows can be really fun (most shows don’t have cows but nationals does).
I really urge everyone to try a clinic and then a show. I did one and enjoyed it. I still jump and event but I plan on working some WE shows into my schedule too!
There are also other obstacle challenge classes around. Similar to working equitation, some with speed some with out. I started doing some a few years ago. They are great fun to see what your horse will do, and it really is great training to teach your horse to be a thinker instead of being afraid of everything! I have found that the competitions go by many names, “cowboy race”, “obstacle challenge”, “trail challenge “, “versatility challenge” are a few I can think of. Working Equitation has a Dressage element to it as well I believe.
The Horse World Expo at Harrisburg, PA does a Trail Challenge which is timed but a slower competition and Equine Affaire does a “Versatile Horse and Rider” competition and it is very fast! There are Facebook groups that list the local competitions around.
As I have a lusitano, I find these very interesting and fun-looking. Especially given the dressage component (the big European events are 3-phase; dressage test, “rideability” obstacle and the speed obstacle). Pedro Torres is one of the top Working Eq riders in the world, and easy on the eyes, too, lol.
edited to add: I’m pretty sure the competitions have levels, like dressage or H/J shows. PT videos are the Grand Prix equivalent…
No USEF as of yet, but WE seems to be growing in popularity. I hope it takes off more, I’d love to get more involved but there isn’t a lot in the way of trainers/shows/clinics unless I drive to Waco. I think it fits an interesting niche for those of us that don’t want to ride Western, like dressage, but want a little variety and “thrill”. Eventing offers that to some extent, of course, but if you’re only willing and able to go so far on the jumping side of things (I’m not up for THAT much excitement, personally), you might top out well before you’ve reached your limits on the dressage side.
If you’re willing to switch to western, another venue to look into is Extreme Cowboy Racing.
Thanks for the info! It seems like trail obstacles, taken at speed or not, would be fantastic schooling opportunities even for horse/rider teams that focus their showing lives in hunter/jumper world or dressage. What a great way to engage a horse’s brain and help a young horse figure out where his legs are. And of course riders have to be clear and dextrous with their aids. I’m in favor of all kinds of cross-training. I think it makes horses happier and more resilient in new situations.
Depending on where you are, there might be equestrian obstacle facilities or workshops with everything from hills to suspension bridges to teeter-totters. Some of them are even indoors.
Yes, and I was thinking that it would also, at the lower levels, be a good way to bring down an older horse, whose body may not be up for the FEI collection, but would benefit from keeping his mind busy
