Training for Working Equitation: 101 Exercises for Every Horse and Rider

The only book available devoted to learning and perfecting working equitation obstacles.

Working equitation is a competitive equestrian sport that originated in Europe, with the first European Championship held in 1996. It quickly gained a fanbase for its beauty and its focus on classical horsemanship ideals and developing handiness under saddle. In 2004 the World Association for Working Equitation (WAWE) was established, and today, many countries have their own national organizations for governing working equitation competitions, including the United States--the USAWE was formed in 2020. Heralding the advent of a brand-new way to pursue and demonstrate horse-and-rider connection, working equitation competitor and trainer Ali Kermeen has written a much-needed reference for preparing both horse and rider to participate.

The Working Equitation Training Manual provides a one-of-a-kind progressive training system to those new to the sport. Lessons focus on developing confidence with the obstacle phases of working equitation while incorporating dressage principles. The elements of each obstacle are broken down and then brought back together in step-by-step exercises that:

• Prepare horse and rider to perform an obstacle properly.


• Introduce horses and riders to competition obstacles.


• Help improve and polish an obstacle’s execution.

With clear diagrams and color photographs, a helpful glossary of terms to help those unfamiliar with working equitation terminology, and variations and benefits for every exercise, readers are provided an appealing introduction to an exciting option for adding diversity to daily training, as well as showing and competing in other sports. ＂I started teaching these skills to all my students, regardless of their riding discipline,＂ says Ali. ＂These working equitation exercises help my riders excel at dressage, endurance, trail riding, pony clubbing, eventing, jumping, gaited horses, groundwork, Cowboy Dressage, and breed shows.＂ The
Working Equitation Training Manual promises to do the same for
you.

Ali Kermeen grew up riding at a top eventing barn in the East Bay of San Francisco, California. As a junior rider she developed a love for enjoying horses in all disciplines, including dressage, eventing, hunter/jumper, gymkhana, western, and trail riding. She has carried this love of different disciplines into her professional life, with the basis of all her training being dressage principles integrated with Tom Dorrance-style horsemanship. Ali is a Certified Horsemen’s Association (CHA) Master Instructor in both English and Western, a United States Eventing Association (USEA) Certified Level 1 Instructor, a Cowboy Dressage Level 2 Recommended Clinician, a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) ＂L＂ judge program graduate with distinction, a USDF Silver and Bronze Medalist, and has been coach of Santa Clara University’s dressage team since its inception in 2013. When Ali saw a video on the internet of a rider competing in a working equitation speed round, she noted characteristics of the sport that mirrored those in all the various disciplines she pursued. It was if she had been training for it her whole life without even knowing it. Since then, Ali has become a hub of working equitation activity in her area, offering lessons and clinics, and competing successfully at Intermediate B (level 5) in USAWE (United States of America Working Equitation) rated competitions. She also is a USAWE committee volunteer.