Working Equitation was born from the everyday work of herding cattle on horseback. In 1996, Italy, France and Spain brought their field-riding traditions together as an international discipline, and in 1997 Portugal, whose riding culture remains central to the sport, joined them. These four founding nations still shape the rules today.
The World Association for Working Equitation (WAWE) is the international governing body for the discipline, uniting national federations under a shared standard. From 9-13 September, the WAWE Working Equitation World Championship will be held in Spain at the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre.
The World Championship is conducted at the highest level, with all riders required to achieve qualifying scores at a WAWE qualifying event.
Working Equitation is a relatively new equestrian sport in Australia, and for the first time Australian competitors have qualified for the World Championships: Tamara Patch, Elizaveta Strounina, Karen Yanik and Perry Nancarrow will fly the flag.
Meet the Aussie team
Australian-based rider Tamara Patch shifted her focus to Working Equitation after competing in a variety of equestrian disciplines.
“I shifted my focus to Working Equitation as it suited my family commitments and available time. A few friends convinced me to give it a go in 2023, and three years later I’m honoured to be representing Australia at the World Championships,” she says.
Tamara will ride a borrowed horse from Gilberto Filipe’s stables in Portugal for the Championship.
“I’ve recently returned home after spending time there meeting and riding my lovely horse, and I’m really looking forward to partnering with him again at the World Championship.”
Elizaveta Strounina is based in France and became involved in the sport after wanting to try it with her dressage horse.
“I felt my horse would be more suited to working equitation,” she explains, adding that the same horse will be her World Championship partner. “I was also attracted by the fact that this sport is so multi-disciplinary and truly requires a horse that is well-rounded, both mentally and physically.”
Karen Yanik developed a strong interest in dressage before transitioning to Working Equitation during its early introduction to Australia. She says she’s particularly drawn to the discipline because it gives classical training practical relevance, producing a well-trained, capable and functional horse. Based in Australia, she will compete on a borrowed horse at the Championship.
Perry Nancarrow was introduced to classical dressage from an early age by the late Don Baxter. As a teenager, he became interested in applying his classical dressage training to working equitation. Dianne Pelling introduced Perry to Pedro Neves, a member of the winning Portuguese team in 2009. Perry then worked with for Pedro for 10 years after relocating to Portugal. Perry will be riding H-Bacara, a horse he has trained since its purchase by Ulrike Pohlig in 2020.
Australia is one of 22 countries represented, alongside Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. A total of 74 horse-and-rider combinations will compete.
Working Equitation in Australia
Working Equitation was first introduced to Australia in 2007 by Gillian Kennerley. Gillian later conducted displays at Equitana in 2012 with her Lusitano, highlighting the dressage principles behind the sport and running clinics to train riders and coaches.
Australian National Working Equitation Ltd is the official governing body for Working Equitation in Australia, having signed a Protocol Agreement with the World Association of Working Equitation in 2016.
Benefits for horses
More than an exciting competitive sport for riders, Working Equitation also offers benefits for equine participants.
“Because working equitation requires a very high degree of cooperation from the horse, for example with the long rein-backs, tight turns, ability to accelerate to full speed and come back to a halt almost instantly without the horse getting hot, and not to mention the ability to work cattle, this sport really focuses on giving horses the mental capacity of to handle any situation,” explains Elizaveta Strounina.
As Tamara Patch explains, Working Equitation challenges both horse and rider to keep growing together:
“There is always something new to learn, and the goal is to build a harmonious partnership through confidence, trust and continual improvement.”
For Australian riders interested in trying Working Equitation, visit www.anwe.org.au or contact a state association to find nearest club.
