Cattle Trial
The Cattle trial takes place in an enclosed arena with cattle-appropriate fencing (minimum size of 230 by 100 feet is recommended). During this trial, a team of three or four riders work together as each rider separates a designated cow from the herd and moves it across the enclosure to a holding pen.
Each person has three minutes to cut and herd their designated cow. Riders who fail to move their designated cow to the holding pen within the three minutes allowed receive “no time” (and therefore no points/awards) for the trial.
The fastest individual overall time (including any time penalties added) is placed highest in the Cattle Trial.
At this time, most Working Equitation competitions in the United States do not offer the Cattle Trial; however, several regions are starting to include the trial in some of their competitions.
Cutting the designated cow from the herd.
Teammates help hold the cattle in the containment zone while the competitor is cutting their designated cow from the herd.
Once competitors have moved their cow out of the herd and across the containment zone line, their teammates help to move the cow into the holding pen at the other end of the arena.
The clock stops once the designated cow is fully in the holding pen (pictured here), the rider’s horse is outside the pen, and the rest of the cattle are all behind the containment zone line.
The cattle trial is a wonderful test of the partnership between horse and rider.
| LINKS | Updated | Description |
| Banner Order Form | Order the USAWE Banner using the form provided in the link. All banner orders must be submitted at least 20 business days (4 weeks) before your needed date. | |
| Course Design Approval Guide | 01/14/2023 | Covers basic course design requirements. EOH and Speed courses must be reviewed/approved by a licensed official. |
| Current Members | Show Manager is required to validate rider's entry form's USAWE membership number. List is updated by the Membership Committee | |
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11/1/2020
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Riders with disabilities use this form to apply for a Dispensation Certificate that approves the use of adaptive equipment and other allowances. | |
| Dressage arena dimensions | Provides Dressage arena dimensions and diagonal measurements to aid in setup. | |
| 4/25/2022 | Emergency Plan instructions prepared by Safety Coordinator. (Competition Manual 4.3) | |
| Entry Form (sample) - MS Word | 2/2/2022 | First page can be modified as needed. Second page cannot be changed. (Competition Manual 4.3) |
| Entry Order - One Day Show (L1 - L7) - MS Word Sample | 3/24/2022 | A sample Entry Order (Start List) for Show Managers |
| GIRA.io User's Manual | 1/10/2023 |
For competitions that want to use the GIRA.io online scoring/placing program. Use GIRA to select show participants, create your show's Entry Order (Start List) and personalized Dressage, Ease of Handling, Speed, and Cattle Scorecards, score/place each Division and Performance Level and download Show Results in the format needed by Results@usawe.org |
| GIRA.io Quick Reference Guide | 1/10/2023 | For those familiar with GIRA who just need a checklist of steps. |
| GIRA.io Show Entries |
1/27/2022 |
Instructions on setting show up to accept show entries using the GIRA online software program. |
| Guest Judge Card Application | 1/24/2021 | Judges must hold a current WE Judge License issued by their country's national WE organization and apply for a USAWE international Guest Judge License. |
| Horse Recording Form | All horses competing at USAWE licensed competitions must be registered with USAWE. Complete the horse recording process on our Membership page or use the link to the left for a direct connection to the form. List is updated by the Membership Committee. | |
| Insurance - address to use when requesting a certificate of additional insured for USAWE as required for licensed shows |
USAWE Email a PDF of the insurance policy to Competitions@usawe.org |
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| *Judge Evaluation form | Show Manager uses this online form to assess Judge(s) performance. (Competition Manual 7. 2) | |
| Liability Release Form | 2/21/2022 | USAWE Release, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnification Agreement may be used for licensed competitions. |
| Licensed Official Confirmation & Contract - MS Word Sample |
3/24/2022 |
A sample licensed official confirmation & contract |
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To use for prize lists & show advertising for USAWE licensed competitions. Visit Corporate Records for the USAWE Brand Logo Guidelines Questions? Contact the Marketing Committee |
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| Non-member Voucher |
Non-members can use a One-Time Voucher to cover the non-member fee at a single licensed (non-championship) show (one per lifetime). Names will automatically appear on the Membership Info voucher list so show secretaries can verify voucher status. |
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| Obstacle Specifications Checklist.pdf | 9/7/2021 | List of obstacle specifications (per performance level) for EOH and Speed course setup/reset. Useful for Judge, TD and ground crew. |
| Planning Your Show Schedule - Recommended Time Allotments | 3/24/2022 | Recommended time allotments to help Working Equitation show managers plan your show day (Entry Order, Ride Times, Breaks, Course Setup for Performance Levels, Course Walks, Protest Filings, Awards, etc.) for Dressage, EOH, Speed, and Cattle Trials. |
| Prize List (sample) | 1/29/2022 | Suggested basic information to be included in a prize list. (Competition Manual 4.2) |
| Protest Requirement Summary | 10/20/2021 | A synopsis of protest requirements and time limits. (Competition Manual 5.3) |
| Recorded Horses | Show Manager is required to validate show entry's USAWE horse recording number. List is updated by the Membership Committee. | |
| Results Submission Guide | 11/27/2021 | Provides instructions for submitting show results. Updated for the 2022 show season. |
| *Results Sheet - WE Competition (non Gira) | 11/27/2021 |
Use this form to report show results for a WE competition (Dressage, EOH, Speed, Cattle trials). If you use the GIRA online scoring program, download and send in the Excel file that program provides instead. Email Show Results (manual excel or GIRA file) to Results@usawe.org |
| Revision 5, 12/1/2021 |
Non-GIRA Scoresheets Secretary can manually enter EOH and Speed obstacle data in advance, as well as competitor data. Secretary manually enters Cattle trial competitor data. |
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| Show Entries - Google Form |
3/24/2022 |
Instructions to create an online Working Equitation show entry form using a Google Form |
| Show Entries - Google Form Sample |
3/24/2022 |
A sample Google Form online Working Equitation show entry form |
| Tack and Attire Checklist | 9/25/2021 | Useful for Technical Delegate, Paddock and Gate Steward. |
| TD Duties and Responsibilities | 10/28/2020 | A list of duties the Technical Delegate (TD) should complete at all licensed WE competitions. |
| *TD Evaluation form | Show Manager uses this online form to assess TD performance. (Competition Manual 7. 2) | |
| TD Report worksheet | TD can use this worksheet to keep track of information during a competition that can later be used when filing the online Technical Delegate Report Form. | |
| *TD Report form | TD uses this online form to report on licensed competitions. (Competition Manual 7.1 ) |
USAWE Logo design by Alexandra Crippen of Crippen Designs.
The logo represents the four trials of Working Equitation and highlights the diversity for which the sport is known in the United States.
- The first image depicts a mule, being ridden in Western tack and attire in the Dressage trial.
- The second image showcases an Iberian horse in traditional Iberian tack and attire performing in the EOH trial.
- The third image shows a horse of indeterminate breeding and a rider in English tack and attire, competing in the Speed trial.
- Together, all three riders represent a team competing together in the Cattle trial. Although the cow is not shown directly, the three teammates are working in concert. The image is intended to elicit the feeling of excitement and movement as the team moves their designated cow toward the holding pen to the far right, off the page. (Think of it as a "silent cow", much as the letter "e" at the end of a word is often referred to as "the silent 'e'" in recognition of its existence without being read aloud).
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