Whats it all about?

History of Working Equitation

Working Equitation was founded in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy but quickly expanded to Sweden, Germany, Austria, the UK and Brazil. The discipline of Working Equitation was created to promote the different types of equitation techniques, developed in countries that used the riding horse to work, on farms, ranches and with livestock. It is a great sport steeped in history as the goal is to preserve and carry on the cultural traditions of each country and their horses.

Working Equitation came to Australia in 2007 when Gill Kennerley began training people in the discipline (after 6 years training in the U.K.). And It has now grown in popularity here in Australia! Horse riders of all disciplines are embracing Working Equitation. The European sport has been an International Competition since 1996. It has now taken hold Worldwide.

Working Equitation is comprised of four phases, including working dressage, ease of handling with obstacles, speed obstacles and cattle handling. At the International level, the advanced riders must ride with the reins only in one hand but the lower levels may ride with both hands. This discipline is based on horses working on the ranch and in the fields. At the International level each country denotes the rider’s outfit and horse’s tack which should be based on their typical “working dress”. Lower levels may ride in the tack and attire of their choice.

No matter what your riding discipline or breed of horse, you can do it! We hope you join us in Working Equitation!

Competition Phases

1. The Working Dressage Test: Performed in a 20 x 40 arena with 2 tests per level, Dressage tests are a very important part of competition. They can be downloaded from the resource Page.

2. The Ease of Handling (Maneability) Phase: Horse and rider negotiates a variety of obstacles. They are judged on agility, submission, working attitude, ease of movement and of handling.

3.The Speed Phase: Horse and rider negotiates a variety of obstacles. They are judged on agility, submission, working attitude, ease of movement and of handling with obstacles at speed therefore timed to the second.

4. Cattle Phase: the cattle phase requires rider and horse to separate a previously defined group of cattle from a larger group of cattle.

Join Us – there are 6 clubs in WA

click here to find a club near you!