The Discipline
The Sport
Working Equitation tests the true working partnership of horse and rider across four demanding trials — rooted in the traditions of herding on horseback.
“One horse, one rider, four trials — the complete test of working horsemanship.”
Born from the everyday work of herding cattle across the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and the Camargue, Working Equitation celebrates the versatility, obedience and courage of the working horse. Competitors are ranked across all trials, rewarding the most complete partnership.
The Four Trials
01Precision & harmony
Dressage
A judged test of collection, transitions and lightness. The foundation trial reveals the partnership between horse and rider through classical movements performed in a marked arena.
02Control & finesse
Ease of Handling
A course of at least fifteen obstacles — including the gate, the bridge, the drums, the bell corridor and the pen — ridden with calm accuracy.
03Nerve & velocity
Speed
The same obstacles, ridden against the clock. Raw pace meets total control as the fastest clean round, with penalties converted to seconds, claims the day.
04Instinct & teamwork
Cow Trial
Teams cut and pen a single steer from the herd against the clock — the working heart of the discipline, born in the fields of the Iberian and Camargue traditions.
How It Works
Scoring & Rules
The Classification
The individual classification is decided across the first three trials. Percentages from Dressage and Ease of Handling and the times from the Speed trial are converted into points according to the placings in each trial; the sum of these points determines the final individual standings. National competitions usually comprise only these three trials.
Levels & One Hand
Competitions are ridden at different levels of difficulty, depending on the age of horse and rider and the complexity of the tests. At Masters level and at international events, riders ride with one hand on the reins; Young Riders may choose between one and two hands.
The Cow Trial
The Cow Trial is ridden by teams of three to four riders: a pre-designated cow must be separated from the herd and penned on the opposite side of the arena within a time limit of three minutes, including penalty seconds — incurred when other cattle leave the containment area or a second rider enters it. The Cow Trial has a team classification only and mainly decides the team results at international championships.
Based on a text by Antonio Vicente, WAWE International Judge.
History
A living tradition
The discipline was formalised in the 1990s to preserve and celebrate the working riding styles of Portugal, Spain, Italy and France. The first international championship was held in 1996, bringing these national traditions onto a shared stage.
Today, under the World Association for Working Equitation, riders from every continent compete under a common rulebook, united by a shared respect for the horse and the craft.
Roll of Honour
Past Championships
World & European Championships, 1996 — today
France - Les HerbiersEuropean Championship Juniors & Young Riders
- Individual
Filipe CarminhoJUNNicole SilvaYR- Team
- PortugalJUNPortugalYR
Czech Republic - LOWE OboristeEuropean Championship
- Individual
- Gilberto Filipe
- Team
- Portugal
Portugal - Ponte de Lima2nd World Championship Juniors & Young Riders
- Individual
- Nicole Silva
- Team
- Portugal
France - Les Herbiers6th World Championship
- Individual
- Gilberto Filipe
- Team
- Portugal
Portugal - Ponte de LimaWorld Championship Juniors & Young Riders
- Individual
- Diogo Duarte Oliveira
- Team
- Portugal
Germany - Munich-RiemEuropean Championship
- Individual
- Vasco Godinho & Eduardo Almeida (ex aequo)
- Team
- Portugal
Austria - Magna Racino4th World Championship
- Individual
- Bruno Pica da Conceicao
- Team
- Portugal
Italy - Livorno FerrarisEuropean Championship
- Individual
- Bruno Pica da Conceicao
- Team
- Portugal
Italy - Citta di CastelloEuropean Championship
- Individual
- Pedro Torres
- Team
- Portugal
Great Britain - HartpuryEuropean Championship
- Individual
- Miguel Fonseca
- Team
- Portugal
Portugal - Lisbon2nd World Championship
- Individual
- David Duarte Oliveira
- Team
- Portugal
ItalyEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —
FranceEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —
SpainEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —
ItalyEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —
FranceEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —
PortugalEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —
ItalyEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —
SpainEuropean Championship
- Individual
- —
- Team
- —