Working Equitation General Tips

At my first working equitation clinic someone joked about how many different ways there are to get disqualified in working equitation.  Unfortunately I did see a few DQs this weekend, but was lucky enough to avoid it myself.  I read the rulebook before the show, and I also had a coach with me who walked the course with me and helped me navigate through the weekend.  So here are some general thoughts and tips to help me remember next time, and maybe help someone else.

- The Order of Go is not the same as a dressage ride time.  If the person before you is done, you have to go in right away and don't have the option to wait until your designated time.  So make sure you're ready and have a feel for how quickly they're moving through the order!

- If reining one-handed, you must use the same hand on the rein throughout your round!  I mentioned this before but it bears repeating.  Be sure you are paying attention as the bell you need to ring or cup you need to lift may be on the opposite side, requiring you to reach across your body. 

- You can also get DQ-ed if you go through an obstacle you haven't completed yet.  Pay particular attention to the more spaced out ones, like the two barrels with the bull in between them.  If there is something in the arena that is not part of your course (like for Intro if they have additional obstacles for the higher levels) then you can go through those.

- Obstacles may have markers (usually small cones) in front of them - if so you need to go through the marker otherwise you get DQ-ed.  If you are changing gait you would do it at/just before the marker.

- You plan your own route between the obstacles, bearing in mind the above you want it to flow smooth (not too many unnecessary changes of bend) and approach each obstacle as straight as you can.  At Intro you have to trot between each obstacle, so if the obstacles are close make sure you have room for a few trot steps.  You can add circles (just don't go through any uncompleted obstacles!), which you see especially at higher levels where you need to canter, and be on the correct lead.

- You can ask to move how the pole is sitting in the barrel before you start your round - it was suggested to me that it's easiest to have the pole leaning away from me.

- The cloverleaf pattern is not the same as how you run barrels.  At Intro you can trot or walk - doing it well at the trot gets you the best scores.  You want the loops to be the same size around each barrel - so consider both your turning radius as well as anything around the barrels that you need to navigate by. 

- For the slalom (line of poles you weave through, they are each 6 meters apart), you need to start with the number on your right side so going to the left of the first pole.  At Intro you are required to trot.  For this one you don't want to do loops around the poles, just a change of bend after your leg passes the pole ideally with a step or two leg yield.

- Ah my old nemesis, the gate!  You want to approach it straight on as you transition to the walk, then turn parallel to it as you unlatch it.  Then you want to push it away from you, and can slide your hand along the top as you maneuver your horse through.  Then push hindquarters over and back up to close and latch - easier said than done!  My coach suggested I work on making sure Cupid is very comfortable putting his feet very close to standards / gates to help us get it next time.

- The "pen" - you need to go around it both directions, and can go either direction first unless the course map specifies otherwise.  At Intro you do it at the walk, and the judge looks for a nice bend through the horse's body.  Once you complete the first direction you come out and ideally turn on the haunches to change direction.

- The bridge is straight forward.  At Intro you have to walk over it, so a smooth down transition and calmly over the bridge at a nice round, forward walk.