JOIN
WORKING EQUITATION ACADEMY!
THE FIRST ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM DEDICATED TO WORKING EQUITATION
➢ WHATEVER YOUR FAVORITE DISCIPLINE: DRESSAGE, JUMPING, EVENTING
➢ WETHER YOU JUST WANT TO HAVE MORE FUN WITH YOUR HORSE OR IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE IN COMPETITION
➢ WHATEVER THE BREED OF YOUR HORSE AND YOUR CURRENT LEVEL
THE COURSE IS DIVIDED IN 2 MODULES
MODULE 1
A training program that makes sense for your horse!
Wether your intention is to get into working equitation or not, the Module 1 will teach you simple exercises to train your horse in a fun way that make sense for him, by using different setups and following gradual steps.
And if you do want to get into working equitation, by the end of the course, you will be ready to take on the different obstacles of the handling tests!
MODULE 2
Working Equitation as a sport
In this module we dive deep into the sport of working equitation and its competition aspect. We cover all the different obstacles one can find in the handling tests one by one.
We also cover the 4 tests: dressage, technical handling, speed handling and cow trial.
You will learn how to train your horse for each test, how to manage the warm up, how to improve your performance, what to focus on and the pitfalls to avoid. Working Equitation will have no secrets left for you!
MODULE 1:
A TRAINING PROGRAM MEANT FOR RIDERS OF ALL DISCIPLINES
Wether you want to get into working equitation or not!
You will learn:
➤ To build a common language with your horse by establishing basic cues that will allow your horse to be more responsive
➤ To gain more precision in your trajectory (always useful in a dressage test or jumping course!)
➤ To improve the quality of your horse's canter which, amongst other things, will lead you to the flying lead changes
➤ To work on tight bends and take on the half-pirouettes
➤ To be able to identify by yourself what to work on when you encounter a difficulty so you know what the problem is and how to fix it!
IN MODULE 1 YOU WILL LEARN:
THE BASIC CUES
In the 1st part, you will establish a common language between you and your horse in order to achieve the basic control of your horse's shoulders and haunches. You are going to work on your scales, just like a musician, in order to check the quality of your horse's response to your legs and seat cues.
THE QUALITY OF THE CANTER
In working equitation, a good canter is essential! So we will put a strong focus on the quality of your horse's canter. We are going to establish three different canters: collected, regular and extended. From there we'll look for your "reference canter", with a little more collection than your working canter and a little more impulsion than your collected canter. It's this quality of canter that will lead you to flying lead changes, half-pirouettes, etc.
STRETCHING AND LATERAL WORK
The third part of the training program will focus on finding relaxation and helping your horse to be more supple in his body. As a matter of fact, the more effort you ask from your horse, the more stiff his body will become. So our goal is to help him find relaxation even in the more advanced work. In order to achieve this, we will use lateral work and stretching exercises.
FLYING LEAD CHANGES AND HALF-PIROUETTES
At this stage, we will have achieved both control and relaxation. It's now time to take on the more advanced exercises in canter: flying lead changes, tight bends ans half-pirouettes, which we will need and use a lot in working equitation.
THE ONE SETUP THAT RULES THEM ALL
The cross is Hervé's favorites setup because it allows you to check if all the building blocks are in place. The goal here is to go through all the steps we covered so far within one setup, and establish where you are at. We will follow Hervé's philosophy:
1st step - Seeking the proper posture
2nd step - Seeking relaxation in this posture
3rd step - Mobilizing the horse's strength
Final step - Finding relaxation within the physical effort
RIDING ONE-HANDED
In working equitation we need to hold the reins in one hand in order to have the other hand free to hold a tool, like a rope, a garrocha (traditional spanish stick used to handle the bulls) or even to open and close a gate. But riding one handed properly requires preparation! So we are going to teach you the specific cues to put in place.
And, by the way, even if you don't want to get into working equitation, this will be a fabulous way for you to learn to use your aids better, by using more of your seat and legs and less of your hands!
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOOLS
Now that you know how to ride one-handed, it's time to put your free hand in a good use!
This part is the fun part, where we'll start to play with different tools ans a few "obstacles" typical of the handling part, like the bridge and the gate, in order to help you become more confortable riding with one hand and to prep you for Module 2!
THE WORKBOOKS
All seven parts come with a downloadable workbook. They really are the book version of the videos, as you will find a recap of the important notions to remember from each lesson, and all the exercises and setups that we use in the course.
MORE THAN 700 RIDERS HAVE ALREADY JOINED US ALL OVER THE WORLD!
What about you?
Marie-Hélène
"This program help us to make progress in an amazing way! All the exercises suggested by Hervé allow us to reach and pass different stages without ever feeling that it's unattainable."
Pauline
"The program is brilliant! It's fun and it brings real progress, whatever our level and pace!"
Myriam
"I've just finished Module 1 and I loved the program. My horses and myself have made huge progress. I've actually just joined Module 2!"
Emeline
"Videos are a great tool when you work on your own with no coach!"
Sophie
"The program is fabulous. I wasn't expected to make so much progress with an online program. It's designed super well."
Nanie
"Today I've worked on the basics. It's impressive how efficient those exercises are! This course is a real booster."
MODULE 2:
DIVE DEEP INTO THE SPORT OF WORKING EQUITATION
Wether you want to compete or not!
Working Equitation is a complete sport made of 4 different tests
Technical Handling
The goal is to go through an obstacle course made of the same obstacles that one can encounter when working in the fields with cattle, like going over a bridge, opening a gate, ringing a bell, jumping over a bale of straw, going backwards, sideways, weaving in and out of trees, etc.
This part is all about precision and control.
Speed Handling
The goal is still to go through an obstacle course made of the same obstacles than in the technical handling test, organized in a different order, but this time it's all about... the speed!
This time it's about being able to take very sharp turns, speeding up in an instant and slowing down in an instant as well.
Dressage
You will have to show a series of figures in a required order and required gaits. The movements are mimicking the ones one will have to execute when working with cattle and they also highlight the horse's physical abilities.
In the dressage ring, you need fluidity and precision.
Cow Trial
Here you will work in teams of 4 riders. Each rider will have to isolate one cow from the rest of the herd and to drive her into a small pen, the 3 other riders being there to help him keep the rest of the herd steady.
You'll need to be very reactive and quick in your actions.
IN MODULE 2 YOU WILL LEARN:
Indispensable if you want to compete in working equitation, Module 2 will also be very useful if you want to put in action what you've learnt in Module 1 in a fun and practical way, so your dressage training will find a purpose!
DISCOVER ALL THE OBSTACLES OF WORKING EQUITATION
The term "obstacle" signifies a difficulty to be surmounted by the rider and his horse such as the figure eight between two drums, the wooden bridge, the slalom between parallel posts, the pen, the gate, side-stepping over a log, etc.
We cover all of them in details. You'll learn how to approach and perform each obstacle one by one at first and then you'll learn how to complete a full course of obstacles.
LEARN APPRENEZ À BIEN MONTER UNE SPEED!
The speed trial is more technical than you'd think! Going fast is one thing, but taking sharp turns, being able to speed up in a split second as well as slowing down in a split second too is key!
In this chapter, you will learn specific exercises to prepare your horse for this trial, that will allow you to be faster and to be more in control of your speed and direction. We will also cover all the obstacles again, one by one and as a course, to teach you the specific strategies for this trial.
OPTIMIZE YOUR DRESSAGE TEST
Three different riders will show you their dressage tests, of three different levels.
The goal is to present the test in the conditions of a competition and then to analyse what to improve and how.
For this part, we called on a national judge of working equitation to judge the tests and to explain what is expected in a competition so you'll know exactly what to focus on.
LEARN HOW TO ISOLATE A COW FROM THE HERD
First, you will learn a bit of theory, about the origin of cow herding and cutting, the different kinds of cattle and the different ways to handle them. We will teach you how the trial goes in competition, the roles of each team members, how to approach a cow and drive her where you want, away from the herd.
Then we will put the theory in practice. You will learn specific exercises to train your horse, focusing on shoulders mobility and responsiveness, and we will show you practical examples of cow herding and cutting.
THE WORKBOOKS
All four parts come with a downloadable workbook. They really are the book version of the videos, as you will find a recap of the important notions to remember from each lesson, and all the exercises and setups that we use in the course.
WE ARE HERE TO SHARE OUR EXPERTISE WITH YOU
Hervé Maurel is a French professional rider, coach and international competitor specialized in working equitation
Hervé Maurel
Professional rider and coach specialized in working equitation, international competitor and several time medalist, he's also the official trainer of the French team, who is currently competing in the 2022 World Championship in France.
Over his 30 years of teaching riders of all levels and training horses, Hervé has developed a unique teaching method based on simple setups. His playful and logical way of training makes sense for both the rider and the horse and it will inevitably help you to make a giant leap forward in your progression!
Pierre Beaupère
Professional rider and Dressage coach, Pierre Beaupère has met Hervé Maurel in 2018, seeking help for the flying lead changes, as he had at the time some recurring difficulties with it with his horse Topkapi. Besides, since he has always been attracted by working equitation, meeting Hervé was the best way to be introduced to the discipline.
Hervé's approach not only fixed Topkapi's flying lead changes, but it also gave Pierre the missing keys to perfect his horse's training and take on working equitation.
In Module 1, Pierre demonstrates the more advanced version of the exercises and rides one-handed.
Cynthia Maugard
Cynthia is an amateur rider and basically she is our guinea pig in this course!
She performs all the exercises in the basic version, with her horse Balayo who, at the time of the shooting in 2019, was still rather green in his training, meaning he was going in all three gaits in a frame and doing just a little lateral work at the trot. They both had never practice working equitation before.
We wanted to make a "real life" training program so you will see all the difficulties they encountered, that you may encounter as well, and how to overcome them.
Cynthia and Balayo have come a long way since then, they are now competing in Confirmed level and on their way to the Masters!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Choose your plan
If you're just interested by the training program, you can get the Module 1 alone. And if you want to take on Woking Equitation, then you can get the pack Module 1 & 2 to be all set to jump into the discipline!
Receive your login details
Once the purchase is processed via our 100% safe online payment platform, you will receive your login details automatically by email, which will enable you to access your library and watch the videos.
Get lifetime access to the course
The videos will be delivered progressively over 6 months, to give you time to implement each exercise but everyone will progress at his own pace. You will keep unlimited lifetime access to all the videos.
THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING OF 2023!
Join Our Waitlist!
Sign up to our waitlist to be notified of the opening of the English version and take advantage of a special launch offer!
