Reflections on Manuel Trigo Working Equitation Clinic

By Annika Swier

On March 28th and 29th 2025 Manuel Trigo taught a Working Equitation clinic in Austin, Texas. It was two lessons a day for two days. The lessons were small group lessons. There were eight working equitation obstacles. Before starting on the obstacles we warmed  up doing flat work that would better prepare us for riding the obstacles correctly. 

A few things I did this weekend that will make me a stronger rider or better with working equitation were our walk to trot and walk to canter transitions, which was something I never worked on with Jupiter. It was a good tool I will need to use in the future as I go up the levels.

The positive feedback I got from riding in such a diverse group was that it was eye opening to see how common my issues were with Jupiter in the equine world. So it was normalizing my experience.

We have done about 5 clinics with Manuel, auditing 3 clinics and riding in two. He is a super positive trainer and instructor. He brings a lot of classical dressage from Spain and France and Europe, and Doma Vaquera, that he can share with us in Austin Texas. 

I am happy I got to participate in the Working Equitation Clinic with my 4 year old mustang, Jupiter. I think overall it pushed me in different areas and showed me some new things that I can take away and use in other areas of our life together.