Home / Equestrian sports / Working Equitation
Traditional and historic
Working Equitation is a sport that grew out of the everyday riding of cattle herders in southern Europe. It tests how obedient, nimble and brave a horse is at farm-style tasks.
| Group | Traditional and historic |
|---|---|
| Also called | WE, equitação de trabalho |
| Olympic | no |
| Governing body | WAWE (World Association for Working Equitation) |
| Where it is popular | The sport comes from Portugal, Spain, Italy and France. Today it is ridden across Europe, in the USA and in other countries. |
A competition has several trials. First comes dressage in a 20 x 40 m arena, with judges scoring each movement from 0 to 10. Next is Ease of Handling: a course of farm-style obstacles such as a small bridge, a gate to open and close, a slalom and a jug. In the Speed trial riders tackle a similar course against the clock, including spearing a ring with a long pole. Team events (four riders per team) add a cattle trial, where riders separate a chosen cow from the herd.
Traditionally riders use Iberian horses such as the Lusitano and the Pure Spanish Horse (Andalusian), plus the herders' local breeds in France and Italy. Horses of any breed are welcome to compete.
Riders wear the traditional working dress of their country, and the horse's tack follows national traditions too. Helmets are compulsory for juniors and young riders and strongly recommended for adults.
The main events are the World Working Equitation Championship and the European Working Equitation Championship.
A good start is a riding club with solid dressage basics, since entry-level courses are ridden at walk and trot. There are separate classes for juniors under 16 and young riders under 21.
The first European Working Equitation Championship was held in Italy in 1996, and the first World Championship took place in Beja, Portugal, in 2002.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, cavalo-lusitano.com, madbarn.com, horseillustrated.com