Activities
Clinic: An Introduction to Working Equitation
The morning of Saturday, May 16, 2009 was clear and a little windy at Redcliff Ranch, near Carr, Colorado. Ten horse and rider pairs gathered at the indoor arena for a fun day of exploring the individual classes and tasks that make up the new Working Equitation Competition. The objective of Working Equitation is to exhibit the horse in a variety of environments showcasing his ability to be a partner with the rider, working in harmony to negotiate obstacles and work stock. The horse is shown as he would be seen in a working environment on the ranch or farm. The rider is similarly attired (in a manner customary for the breed being shown, or customary for the country of origin).
Our guide for the discovery of WE was Amy Star, assisted by Kellee James. Amy began the day with an explanation of current rules and requirements for Working Equitation. Each clinic participant received a booklet explaining the rules, and also including some great pictures of working horses in Italy, France, Spain, Mexico and the US. Clinic participants then alternated between working through a dressage type pattern with Kellee in the indoor, and exploring customary obstacles for WE in the outdoor arena. Obstacles in WE competition are scored for success at precision and for speed. At midday, we enjoyed a tasty catered lunch around tables in the indoor arena, and had a great time swapping stories while watching video of actual working WE competition. After lunch, we finished up with the obstacle course, and brought fifteen steers and heifers into the arena. Amy had us move all the cattle around the arena in a figure 8 pattern, then practice sorting an individual bovine from the herd.
Finally, we worked in teams to push a group of cows through a gateway made from cones and poles, finding in the process that the skills we developed through the day regarding precision and speed with our horses were absolutely necessary in order to coerce the unruly bovines through the barrier. Overall, the clinic let everyone enjoy tackling WE activities in a relaxed and lighthearted manner, while providing ample opportunity to share experiences with other Iberian horse lovers.