Welcome to Australian National Working Equitation Limited.
Working equitation is the ultimate equestrian discipline in creating harmony between horse and rider with a strong focus on training and versatility.
History
The discipline of working equitation
The discipline of working equitation was created to celebrate the partnership between horse and rider with a focus on versatility, agility, athleticism and training. Open to all breeds of horse and levels of rider, Australian National Working Equitation upholds the principles of classical dressage.
Working equitation was pioneered by four countries: Italy, Portugal, Spain, and France, with the first International competition being held in 1996. In 2004, the World Association for Working Equitation was established to govern the sport internationally. Since that time, the sport has continued to grow around the world.
Gillian Kennerley introduced Working Equitation to Australia in 2007 when she emigrated from the United Kingdom. Gillian had trained in WE in the U.K. and Portugal. Bringing her Lusitano horse to Australia enabled her to give displays at Equitana in Sydney, 2012 highlighting the dressage principles involved in this new sport. Running workshops where interested riders could come and learn about this new discipline resulted in a small group of people who had been trained in the sport as coaches. As interest and numbers grew the sport became known Australia wide. Gillian organised the first Working Equitation competition in Australia and trained our first judges. Her passion and drive was instrumental in introducing WE to Australia.
Life Members
Glynis Dickson
Chris Fowles.
Governance
Australian National Working Equitation Ltd.
Australian National Working Equitation Limited is the official governing body for working equitation in Australia having signed a Protocol Agreement with the World Association of Working Equitation in 2016.
Ally grew up in the Pony Club system, taking a shine to eventing and competing up to 1* on thoroughbreds she had trained off the track. After she left school, she groomed and rode for several different disciplines including showing, show jumping, polo, endurance, and camp drafting which has given her exposure and appreciation of several different disciplines. After University, she focused on dressage and took a break from competition. She is looking forward to getting her ASH mare competing in Working Equitation.
Professionally, Ally is a Chartered Accountant who runs her own firm in regional NSW. In business she strives to help businesses achieve their goals and brings this same energy to the board. She has also held several positions with not-for-profit organisations over the years from local to state level.
Ally believes in supporting and developing the sport from grass roots level up to high performance. She believes the sport has so much potential and would love to see how far it can go.
Having started riding from 2 yrs old the love for horses only grew, competing in all disciplines Pony Club had to offer, Kath continued on with eventing with some Show Jumping and dressage on the side.
When Kath started a family, she wound down from eventing and moved more into cow horses, with her partner’s passion for cutting and campdrafting they now have moved onto Quarter horses and stockhorses with starting Sparrowhawk Equine and Stud.
Kath is a part of multiple committee’s as VP, Secretary, treasurer, event coordinator, youth educator and Training & Development Officer in Campdrafting and Working equitation.
It was in the off season that Kath first found the discipline of Working equitation.
Kath then became a ANWE Judge and mentor for the sport in WA, with of course the Cattle phase her favourite.
Kath sees so much potential for working equitation in Australia, and she is thankful to be part of the development of this great equine sport.
One of Megan’s first memories is being hoisted onto the front of the stockman’s saddle at the age of three to go and “get the mail” while visiting at her Auntie’s farm. Lessons at Mr. Proudfoot’s Riding school and Pony Club was the foundation of a lifelong passion leading on to a career with horses. After gaining degrees in Education in Australia and England and teaching in schools both in Australia and Spain, Megan pursued the equestrian disciplines of Eventing, Showjumping and Dressage.
Living in Madrid, Spain and Meilen, Switzerland Megan had the opportunity to ride, train and coach with some wonderful people. After six years abroad, returning to Australia in 1983 She studied and passed the Equestrian Australia Coaching examination, level 1 General. Competing at ODE at 1* level, Showjumping at 1.20m and Dressage at FEI level she quickly gained the EA level 2 Dressage and General Coaching qualification as well as the Coach Educator and National Assessor certificates. She is a full time Coach.
When Covid hit opportunities to compete were nearly non existant. Some of her students suggested she take her Grand Prix Dressage horse to a Working Equitation training day at Blayney. Her horse loved it and so did Megan. The combination has been competing at Masters level for 18 months now and both are thoroughly enjoying it. Megan gained her WE Coach Accreditation in June, 2022.
The combination of Dressage, Ease of Handling, Speed and working with cattle is, in her opinion, the ultimate test of horse and rider. Megan is supportive of this sport become a recognised discipline through coaching and coach training.
Therese grew up in a farming family riding horses from the early age of 2 years old.
Horses were a way of life on the farm with most days bringing the cowing in for milking or attending to the beef herd
Therese attended pony club competing in show jumping, and games along with the stockman’s rides that are now known as stockman’s challenges
After starting her family Therese had a long break from riding and got back into horses after her children moved onto their own careers.
Therese and her husband started the club Working Equitation North East Victoria in 2016 after attending a Working Equitation Clinic and knew the sport was exactly what she was after
Therese still has a strong present in the sport at state and club level and in the running of competitions and is keen to promote and develop the sport of Working Equitation further.
Therese enjoys training her home bred ASH gelding in all four phases of Working Equitation and has ridden to Con 2 level.