Working Equitation Holding Competition Friday - Sunday

By Robert Thomas

Working Equitation Canada Camp and Competition 2024 Is at Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds (250 Thatcher Drive East) competitions run Friday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm daily

Spectators are welcome and the event is FREE to attend

Over the past week a group of riders and horses have been going through their paces as part of an international horse show - the Working Equitation Canada Camp and Competition 2024 - being held at the Moose Jaw Exhibition grounds.

The last few days (camp portion of the event) have been one of getting accustomed to horses, going through the paces while learning and from Friday (today) to Sunday there will three full days of competition.

“This is an opportunity for people from Canada, the United States we have people from Australia and the Netherlands to gather together and learn and grow in the sport of Working Equitation,” Darcy Henkel president of Working Equitation Canada told MJ Independent.

One of the riders negotiating obstacles as part of the camp on Thursday afternoon - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas

Working Equitation is a newer recognized equine sport which is not the fast paced rodeo sports but rather it is based upon using horses for working purposes. To develop your horse to do good field work.

“The short answer it is an opportunity to build a relationship with your horse,” Henkel said.

The relationship between rider and horse is built through four phases - dressage, ease of handling (going through obstacles), speed through obstacles and cattle.

“This is horses that are working. They are your partner out in the field. You’re moving cattle, bulls or whatever,” she said.

Working Equitation was established in 1996 as a sport and has several different national bodies worldwide including Working Equitation Canada under the international umbrella organization World Association of Working Equitation (WAWE pronounced wowee).

The sport originated in the countries of Italy, Spain, France and Portugal said “we want to showcase our riders,” Henkel said, adding “they put the sport together and Canada started in 2017.”

It’s one reason there are garrocha poles as cattle farmers use them to herd and catch cattle versus lariats in Canada and the United States.

So far the event being held in Moose Jaw has been held twice in the United States and Canada. A planned event could not be held in Australia due to COVID - 19 restrictions.

One of the competitors takes a brief pause out in the ring as part of the camp portion of the event - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas

Asked about the Moose Jaw event Henkel said it has been great.

“This has been great. There are over 130 riders here. I’ve just gotten into town and I get to wander through the barns and see what they are doing outside. It’s fantastic.”

Asked if she was surprised to see four riders travel half way around the world to attend the event in Moose Jaw Henkel said she wasn’t.

“Since I started this this is my fourth one and no I am not surprised because it’s been from the very beginning and the inception of this type of camp that people have travelled,” Henkel said.

For Canadian organization the goal is not to just develop and grow the sport but at the same time select finalists to represent Canada at the world championships to be held in 2026 in Spain.

The last world championships were held in 2022 in France.

“There will be in the future qualifiers. We will be able to field a team in 2026 for the world championships in Spain,” she said, adding “we will have qualifiers and be able to pick a team of three riders and hopefully send them to Spain.”

Today (Friday August 30th) will be the dressage show (competition).

Saturday will be the obstacle show.

Sunday will be the speed portion of the show.

Competition gets underway 9 am daily and wraps up at approximately at 6 pm daily.

The event is FREE to attend and spectators are more than welcome - a concession is open on site.