The Working Equitation Training Manual: 101 Exercises for Schooling and Competing

by Ali Kermeen

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646011216
Publisher:	Trafalgar Square
Publication date:	06/07/2022
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	1,034,477
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Introduction 1

The Exercises 15

Square Halts 16

Immobility 17

Halting Precisely 19

Transitions on a Straight Line 20

The Jug 21

Switch Cup 22

Staircase Halts 23

Staircase Transitions 25

Ride a Square 26

Octagon 27

Square with Transitions 29

Rein-Back 30

The Box Step 31

Compass Control 33

Leg-Yield 34

Poll Flexions 35

Slalom with One Bend (Introduction to Half-Pass) 37

Spiral and Hold 38

Choose a One-Handed Rein Hold 40

Preparation for One-Handed Riding 43

Pivot 46

The Swing 47

One-Handed Rein-Back 49

Half-Turn-on-the-Forehand 50

One Step at a Time 51

Groundwork: Placing Feet Next to Obstacles 53

Leg-Yield Swoop 55

Opening the Rope Gate 56

Closing the Rope Gate 57

Rope Gate 59

Turn-on-the-Forehand in Motion 60

Gate Catch 62

Dry Gate 63

The Swinging Gate 65

Backward Gate 67

Guessing Gate 69

Controlling the Walk Rhythm 70

The Bridge 71

Varied Footing 73

Water 74

Nose to the Wall Leg-Yield 75

Develop Haunches-In 77

Haunches-In with Circles 78

Spiraling in Toward Turn-on-the-Haunches 79

Half-Turn-on-the-Haunches 80

Charlie Brown 81

Livestock Pen 83

Yin Yang 84

Circle a Chicken 85

Introducing the Pole or Garrocha 87

Crinolina 89

Garrocha Turns 90

Remove Pole 93

Skewer Ring 94

Replace Pole 96

Juggling 98

Target Practice 99

Shoulder-In 100

Slalom 101

Leg-Yield Slalom 103

Shallow Slalom with Cones 104

Counting Strides on a Deep Slalom 106

Tempi Changes on a Straight Line 107

Adjustability at Canter 108

Ribbon Candy Double Slalom 110

Double Slalom 111

Double Slalom Facing Posts 113

Shoulder-In Down Transitions 114

Figure Eight 115

Figure Eight with Transitions 116

Canter Figure Eight with Lead Changes 117

Elongated Figure Eight with Shoulder-In 119

One-Handed Figure Eight 121

Drums 122

Drums with Cones 124

Groundwork: Side-Pass Rail 126

Side-Pass Rail 127

Full Pass over Rail 129

Parallel Sidestep Rails 130

In-Line Side-Pass Rails 131

Side-Pass "L" 133

Rounding Posts 1 135

Rein-Back Half-Circle 136

Rein-Back "S" 138

Rounding Posts 2 139

Bell Corridor 140

Rein-Back "L" 142

Ground Rail 144

The Jump 145

Angled Jump 147

Walk Up a Bank 149

Up Bank 151

Walk Down a Bank 153

Down Bank 155

Mounting with an Object 156

Move a Sack 158

Tracking a Dragged Log 159

Groundwork: Dragging a Log 161

Dragging a Log 162

Experience Cattle 165

Combining Exercises 166

Course Riding 169

Sample Ease of Handling Courses 174

Sample Speed Course 177

Appendix A Obstacle Construction 178

Appendix B Glossary of Terms 181

Acknowledgments 185

Index 186

Editorial Reviews

“The Working Equitation Training Manual is essential for both the novice and seasoned rider. Kermeen’s book is packed with ideas and exercises to expand your working equitation practice. The easy-to-understand lessons and diagrams focus on developing confidence with the obstacle phases of working equitation, while incorporating dressage principles. ...a valuable resource to be referenced time and time again.” —Cowgirl Magazine 

"One of the beauties of the book is that it’s not just for working equitation fans. The exercises provide fun ways to spice up schooling sessions and challenge the accuracy and basic flatwork skills of horses and riders at any pace. … I’m thrilled to have The Working Equitation Training Manual in my tack room for easy reference when I need exercises to focus my flatwork. … Ultimately, this book is an excellent resource for riders wanting to liven up their flatwork or excel at the sport of working equitation." —Horse Journals

“Ali Kermeen's passion for Working Equitation is apparent in this highly detailed body of work. Ali takes you step by step through a strategic process for both horse and rider improvement that will be effective no matter what discipline you pursue. And the exercises she shares, with their diagrams and written clarity, are must-haves for anyone interested in the discipline of Working Equitation." —Eitan Beth-Halachmy, Founder of Cowboy Dressage and author of Cowboy Dressage and Dressage the Cowboy Way

"A wonderful collection of exercises that breaks down each task in to specific steps, this book offers fun and interesting ways to fulfill a focused and precise ride!" —Jec Aristotle Ballou author of 101 Dressage Exercises for Horse and Rider and 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses

"What a fantastic book! I was introduced to Working Equitation a few years ago and immediately fell in love. The Working Equitation Training Manual helps riders of all stages—total newbies to the sport all the way to professional dressage riders, like myself. Ali Kermeen breaks down the training process into easy-to-follow exercises that build on one another. Working Equitation is a great way to bond with your horse, challenge your dressage skills, and add some fun obstacles to make training sessions more interesting. I have already been adding Ali's unique exercises into my daily training. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to try Working Equitation or just improve their riding skills.” —Sandra Beaulieu, USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, Author of Freestyle: The Ultimate Guide to Riding, Training, and Competing to Music

“This title offers a beautifully balanced approach to the increasingly popular discipline of Working Equitation. Clear and concise instruction, graded in difficulty and delivered with care and attention to details, all working equitation aficionados will love this reference book…. Nicely produced book with excellent layout, this is a great title that the sport sorely needed.” —Catskill Horse Magazine

From the Publisher