Equine Obstacle and Working Equitation Training Center

01/11/2024

12/19/2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

12/04/2023

OK , Working Equitation do-it-yourselfers, look at this awesome podium made out of 55gal drums.... How easy and fun is that!!! Follow me for more WE tips...

12/03/2023

THIS IS WORKING EQUITATION! An international sport, where a rider who learns Working Equitation in the USA can participate in a WE competition anywhere in the world! This is my friend and client who retired to Mexico a year ago. Competing in her 2nd Mexico WE competition. (Please note there is a problem with the Gira results as the dressage is not registering, she did DQ in EOH but won the speed! 4th overall).
She is riding a Kiger Mustang, a branded USA BLM mustang from the wilds of the USA. (I adopted Kali the same time I adopted Robin Bond’s Kiger Zapata KCA.. so proof USA Bred horses can rock in WE). Pictures of me competing on Kiger Kalypso in the USA and owner Chris riding her in Mexico!! THIS IS WORKING EQUITATION!!!

09/09/2021

I am sure the ring is in the bottom of this barrel!!

09/09/2021

There can be a lot of discussion about this course. Notice how some obstacles can only be executed one way they are to close to the wall for any thing but right handed. Also note the closeness of one obstacle to the other. No issues with distance between obstacles. Well done with many opportunities for study, discussion and learning.

Medalla de Plata y 3º clasificado en esta prueba de Manejabilidad, empatado con el 2º clasificado, Categoría Seniors Domados, del III Concurso de Equitación ...

09/09/2021

Awesome video showing a small part of what we offer here at the Equine Obstacle Training Center. Everyone welcome to come out and give it a try. Located in Riverside, CA

Last week we decided to load up the horses and head for town. We went to an Equine Obstacle Course down in Perris CA and worked through the obstacles. Thanks...

09/05/2021

Here is another Working Equitation Training Tip Game for ya'll to continue your horsemanship journey. When you approach your training with greater purpose, it brings clarity.

08/23/2021

To improve your rein connection, imagine your point of contact with the bit is in your elbows, triceps and back, and that your arms, wrists and hands are just extensions of the reins. This allows the connection to be held in your body rather than your hands and allows the hands and arms to be soft. — Jessica Miller

Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

08/22/2021

To all BLM Mustang riding USAWE members. I joyfully sponsor the Yearend Highpoint BLM Mustang Award every year with USAWE. I want to make sure everyone who is eligible has their points recorded correctly. When you apply for your USAWE horse ID number be sure to list your horse’s breed exactly as “ BLM Mustang”. (The horse must have a BLM brand or have been conceived in the wild. No domestic bred qualify). There are approximately 40 horses that are listed under ‘Grade’ Mustang. These horses are not eligible for the yearend BLM Mustang Highpoint. If any of you have horses that are actually BLM branded Mustangs please change the breed information on your USAWE Horse ID # so you qualify for the awards. Change from ‘Grade’ to BLM Mustang.
To give more clarity even if your horse has other numbers, this is what you should place in the columns:
The registration number should be your horse’s BLM number, It is their neck freeze brand 8 numbers long
The Reg. with – BLM
Dam – Wild Born
Sire – Wild Born
Breeder – BLM
If you horse is correctly listed as a BLM Mustang, but there are different words than listed above, (such as: NA, unsure, don’t know, mother nature, from the wild, in the wild, etc) it makes it difficult to use the sort / search functions, so it would be much appreciated if you could check all your horses and make sure they are listed appropriately. Hope you have an amazing show season with your mustang in Working Equitation.

08/20/2021

Beautiful!!

For the Tokyo Olympics, Santiago Varela and his team had produced some seriously stunning fences.

08/18/2021

"Horses are like water, in some respects. They fill empty spaces that the rider provides, which has positive as well as negative repercussions. The rider can form the horse’s posture and gaits by utilizing this principle. On the other hand, the horse will escape through holes in the rider’s seat and network of the aids, just like water runs through cracks and holes in a bowl. That is not ill will, but simply the path of the least resistance, which is followed by water, electricity, energy, and horses alike.

This principle has an obvious physical dimension, but also a less obvious, mental one. The horse will leak through holes in the rider’s concentration as much as through gaps in the seat and aids. The more distracted and unfocused the horse is, the more disciplined and focused the rider has to be, in order to direct the horse’s attention towards the work through a combination of concentration and gymnastic exercises."

- Thomas Ritter
artisticdressage.com

08/15/2021

08/15/2021

A generalised view of equine coat colours from 2016, to give a good basic understanding. Produced by Kholran, an equine artist.

Update 14/8/18: Thanks to all who have enjoyed these pics.

Equine coat colour testing is available from several labs worldwide
Here are three links for further information.

Practical Horse Genetics in NSW, Australia
http://practicalhorsegenetics.com.au/index.php?test=all

UC Davis and Animal Genetics in the USA
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/coatcolorhorse.php
http://www.animalgenetics.us/Equine/Coat_Color/Index.asp

08/11/2021

Sadly both Dr Reiner Klimke and Susan Hayes Woods are no longer with us, but this edited interview from 1995 is a pignant reminder that modern dressage started to go wrong over 20 years ago...

SUSAN’S INTERVIEW WITH DR. REINER KLIMKE AT THE AACHEN CHIO JULY 1995

Susan: I was watching you as you schooled Biotop in the indoor arena this morning, and it was wonderful. I noticed you were working him in a fat snaffle, and I wondered if you could talk about the importance of working in the snaffle for upper level horses.

Klimke: I ride at home only once a week on the double bridle.

Susan: Do you mean for most of your Grand Prix horses, or for this one especially?

Klimke: All. I want to have them very light in my hand. It is easier when they are really “through”, and they take the bit and take your hands. Then they are not afraid to come out to the double bridle.

Susan: Biotop seems to be very “out” to the bridle–there is not a lot of overflexing.

Klimke: And when he goes in extensions, the neck and frame extend too. And yet there are horses who make their extensions with overflexed necks and they score just as well…

Susan: Can you explain that?

Klimke: Well, when I tell you this, I don’t want to sound jealous, but I live for classical riding. Classical riding means that the horse must go: that is, the energy must come through and the horse reaches forward. But the judges don’t always mark accordingly. I don’t mind; I know what is right. I have been in this sport for nearly 40 years.

Susan: I also saw today that you were doing a lot of work on the basic paces, and simple transitions.

Klimke: Yes. The horse must go forward and he must be happy. If the horse is happy and he trusts you, then you can teach him. If you punish him, that is wrong.

Susan: They never forget. Is there any place for punishment in riding?

Klimke: I hate to punish a horse. It must not be. It can happen to anybody. Sometimes you lose your patience, you try to make the horse a slave. But it is not right. Sometimes you see riders blowing up, even here, with top riders. I say to myself, “Poor horse, I wouldn’t like to be in your stable.”

Susan: Why does it happen? A lot of these riders will teach and talk about riding classically, and mean to do it, but then it is different here. Is it the pressure?

Klimke: I think everybody wants to win. Perhaps they think if they make a horse tired it will be submissive. Sometimes it may work, but if you really look you can see what is wrong. Some judges don’t have a really good eye, and they judge by punishing mistakes, like too many or too few strides in a pirouette, for example.

Susan: Too much counting and not enough…

Klimke: Yes. The principle is: how is the walk, how is the trot, how is the canter, how is the acceptance of the bridle, how does the back work–all of these things. And in addition, the figures. But they deduct too much if a figure is not 100% okay. You see? If you make a pirouette and the horse really uses his hindquarters, and maybe the pirouette is a little big, you should not be given a 5.

Susan: That’s a little extreme.

Klimke: Yes. It can be at least a 6, can also be a 7, when the horse really canters classically. Even if the circle was too large, remember that you must deduct from 10. The judge must be able to see the main achievement of a horse and rider, in a movement.

Susan: This brings up another question, and that is–there are some amazing equine athletes here, and some of them get a lot of points because of that. Where are the places in the Grand Prix test where the talent can’t cover up the problems with the training?

Klimke: I look only at the way that the horse moves, in all three gaits. He must come from behind, with a swinging back. The head and neck must seek the bit. I hate it if the horse comes behind the vertical and stays there. When the horse is really “through”, you must be able to open and close the frame, and keep him reaching into the bit. And right now, in the judging, in my opinion, this doesn’t count for enough. But sooner or later, good riding will be rewarded. You must not lose your patience, you see. And don’t give up.

https://woodsdressage.com/ for the full interview and about Susan Hayes Woods

Concordia Equestrians.
Register as a Friend or Professional and help us make the world a better place to be a horse www.concordiaequestrians.org

08/09/2021

08/07/2021

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/magical-horses-spain-portugal-wow-5747178

A unique, socially distanced version of the South West Iberian Show was held in 2020

07/27/2021

07/26/2021

If you want it bad enough you can do it!!! All it takes is work, hard work and more work!!! Smallest horse to every finish the Tevis cup!!! Now go ride your horse!!

Congratulations to Kyla Law and her Hackney pony Piece of Perfection, a/k/a “Flash the Hackney Pony” for successfully competing the Tevis Cup 100 mile ride! We could not be any more proud of Kyla and Flash.
Click on the link below for their complete results and split times.

https://teviswebcast.erictotten.xyz/results-by-rider?racer_no=95