Working Equitation;
Is a skilled equestrian discipline that combines various elements to test both the horse and rider’s training and abilities and celebrate the cultural heritage of traditional equestrian practices.
Origins and Purpose:
Working Equitation originated from the working practices of horsemen in different countries. These horsemen used horses for practical tasks on farms or ranches, such as herding cattle. The sport aims to showcase traditional riding styles, costumes, and equipment from various countries while preserving their cultural heritage It promotes competition between the traditional riding styles used during fieldwork.
Discipline Classes:
Dressage Trial: Similar to traditional dressage, the horse and rider perform a series of predetermined movements in a designated arena. The emphasis is on harmony, precision, and elegance.
Ease of Handling Trial: In this trial, the horse and rider navigate a course with various obstacles, such as gates, bridges, and side-passing poles. Smoothness, precision, and control are essential as they tackle each obstacle.
Speed Trial: Competitors complete a course of obstacles against the clock.
Cattle Handling Trial: Reflecting the discipline’s historical roots, this trial showcases the horse and rider’s ability to work with livestock. At the most advanced level, the rider must ride with just one hand on the reins1.nternational Recognition:
Working Equitation became a competitive sport in 1996, initiated by Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal.
It is now recognized and practiced in more than 35 countries worldwide.
The World Association for Working Equitation governs the discipline internationally, while each country has its own association to set competition rules and support its development
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Taken from CoPilot
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Bitting wise I have put a few in that make good supportive Snaffles or some of my one and two rein Leverage Bits to give examples of what could be used
Harmony Eggbutt Snaffle
Harmony Eggbutt
The Harmony mouthpiece creates a smooth even curve around the Horses tongue and the roof of the mouth it actively encourages a horse to take the rein forward but as the curve it shallow it sets a parameter for the frame.
As the reins are used together the whole mouthpiece wraps around the tongue and lower jaw, evenly taking in the whole of the tongue, the sides of the bars and the sides of the lips in a perfect hoop. As the Round Lozenge is the correct length and the joints are neat and non-invasive the Horse should move forward into the contact. Both branches of the bit are curved forward to accommodate the shape of the Horse’s mouth conformation.
Very useful for Horses or Ponies that are uncomfortable with
A large joint or joints·
Large long plates or lozenges
That block on one side as you flex or turn
Or are busy in the mouth
Or have been pinched with a mouthpiece that has a severe close to the action
Liberty Eggbutt
Liberty Eggbutt
The Liberty has the most generous forward curve of all my mouthpieces and was new to the range for 2019 I have extensively researched how much or how little curve you need to help different Horses to be able to respond well and move forward and after prototyping the Liberty I am so pleased with the results
It has really soft curve forward and feels very even into the riders hands
Very useful for
Young Horses bitted for the first time
Started badly and are frightened of their mouths
Horses that have been started on head pressures and are now being introduced to a bit
Any Horse that is not strong and needs to be bitted very comfortably and forward
Any Horse that worries about tongue pressure and puts its tongue over the bit
Harmony Hanging Cheek
Harmony Hanging Cheek
The Harmony mouthpiece creates a smooth even curve around the Horses tongue and the roof of the mouth it actively encourages a horse to take the rein forward but as the curve it shallow it sets a parameter for the frame.
As the reins are used together the whole mouthpiece wraps around the tongue and lower jaw, evenly taking in the whole of the tongue, the sides of the bars and the sides of the lips in a perfect hoop. As the Round Lozenge is the correct length and the joints are neat and non-invasive the Horse should move forward into the contact. Both branches of the bit are curved forward to accommodate the shape of the Horse’s mouth conformation.
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Very useful for Horses or Ponies that are uncomfortable with
A large joint or joints
Large long plates or lozenges
That block on one side as you flex or turn
That are more confident with a supportive still cheek against the face
That work well with a jaw strap that if you need you are able to use on a Hanging cheek
That like a bit to be still and stay in the same place in the mouth
Harmony Mini Edgeware
Harmony Mini Edgeware
Was the first Jumping Schooling bit that I made I had a good range of Snaffles and Doubles and Pelhams but nothing in between it took a while to get the balance of the cheek right but after lots of trailing it ended up exactly how I wanted it to work
The Harmony mouthpiece is 13mm in diameter and has a round lozenge and joints that go with the shape of the tongue it encourages a horse to move towards the mouthpiece but because of the balance of pressures discourages the Horse from getting too strong or set on the mouthpiece. As the reins are used together the whole mouthpiece wraps around the tongue and lower jaw, it has a structured feel in the centre of the tongue to dissuade the horse from leaning on the bit. It has a generous forward curve to go with the conformation inside the mouth and to stop the mouthpiece pinching the sides of the jaw
Very useful for Horses or Ponies that need to
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· Pay more heed to the mouthpiece
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· Are just a little strong for a Snaffle and need a little more
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· That block on one side as you flex or turn
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For young or retraining Horses that are strong in a Snaffle and need comfortable signals to train them to be lighter in the bridle
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For Horses that are polite in the school but more enthusiastic when they are out and about
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Working Equitation when you want to ride with two reins on a well balanced lever age cheek
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Mini Edgeware Cheek
​It is exactly the same proportions above and below the mouthpiece so it sends the Horse to the end of the rein
It is very important to have good balance when you create a cheek piece The part of the cheek above the mouthpiece [the purchase] creates upper head and upper jaw pressure and the part of the cheekpiece below the mouthpiece [the shank] creates lower jaw pressure
In order to send the Horse to the end of the rein and give good release and reward for work done these two measurements must create balance This cheek must always be used with a balance strap or chain never without as this brings to bear a third point of pressure on the upper part of the lower jaw as the bit is used without a balance strap the bit will not work as it was designed to
Precision Mini Edgeware
Precision Mini Edgeware
After the success of the Precision Mouthpieces with an Eggbutt, a Loose Ring and a D Cheek I added this Mini Edgeware Cheek into the range in 2022 and I am thrilled with the feed back on it
The Precision mouthpiece is a combination of a generous forward curve to the branches of the mouthpiece, small non-invasive turned joints and an Oval Lozenge that is rounded on the roof of the mouth and Oval on the tongue side
The feel for the Horse and into the Riders hand is one of encouraging the Horse forward into the bit but when it gets there they should lighten up and yield and flex to the Riders signals ​
Very useful for Horses or Ponies that
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· need to Pay more heed to the mouthpiece
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· Are just a bit strong for a Snaffle and need a little more
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·Are in a Precision Snaffle and need another bit added in to the equation
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For Horses that are polite in the school but more enthusiastic when they are out and about
Mini Edgeware Cheek
​It is exactly the same proportions above and below the mouthpiece so it sends the Horse to the end of the rein
It is very important to have good balance when you create a cheek piece The part of the cheek above the mouthpiece [the purchase] creates upper head and upper jaw pressure and the part of the cheekpiece below the mouthpiece [the shank] creates lower jaw pressure
In order to send the Horse to the end of the rein and give good release and reward for work done these two measurements must create balance This cheek must always be used with a balance strap or chain never without as this brings to bear a third point of pressure on the upper part of the lower jaw as the bit is used without a balance strap the bit will not work as it was designed to