WE United Judges
WE United recognizes four levels of Judge Licensure for Working Equitation competitions in the United States:
- Learner (L) judges are eligible to officiate over Working Equitation schooling shows.
- Recorded (r) judges are eligible to officiate over B-Rated competitions, up through Intermediate level classes.
- Registered (R) judges are eligible to officiate over A-Rated, B-Rated, and Regional Championship competitions at all levels.
- Senior (S) judges may officiate over all WE competitions at all levels in the United States, with no restrictions.
Event organizers are encouraged to contact the judges directly if they are interested in having them officiate at an event they are hosting.
Honorarium rates will vary, based on the individual judges’ availability and proximity to the event, etc. To help with planning / budgeting, we recommend that the following minimum honorariums be considered:
- “L” Judges: $250/judging day
- “r” Judges: $350/judging day
- “R” and “S” Judges: $450/judging day
Organizers should plan to cover travel costs (transportation, lodging, and meals) as well as an honorarium for each judging day. It is generally better to pay reimbursable expenses (travel costs) separate from honorariums due to tax requirements.
The following people have successfully completed judge training and earned certification as Working Equitation Judges.
SENIOR (S) JUDGES
CALIFORNIA
- Nicole Chastain, nicole
@nicolechastain.com - Polly Limond, pkfarm1
@att.net
FLORIDA
- Rebecca Algar, ellobocutn@aol.com
KENTUCKY
- Wayne Hipsley equconsult@aol.com
TEXAS
- Doreen Atkinson, doreenatkinson@yahoo.com
- Michael Vermaas, michaelvermaas@att.net
REGISTERED (R) JUDGES
CALIFORNIA
- Barbara Price, torrepinonfarms@aol.com
OREGON
- Cari Schwartz, carischwartz@yahoo.com
TEXAS
- Tarrin Warren, tntfarmsqtrhorses@yahoo.com
WE UNITED “R” JUDGES LIVING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
AUSTRALIA
- Kim Peterson, kimpetersonaus
@gmail.com
RECORDED (r) JUDGES
CALIFORNIA
- Sue Watkins, horseysue@gmail.com ***
ILLINOIS
- Erica Peet, ericalpeet78@gmail.com
WASHINGTON
- Kim Roe, bluegatefarm
@yahoo.com
WE UNITED “r” JUDGES LIVING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
CANADA
- Jill Barron, barronbarn@hotmail.com
LEARNER (L) JUDGES
CALIFORNIA
- Sarah Pinney, valedor16@aol.com
- Rhonda Smith, emmaclyde1999
@gmail.com
NEBRASKA
- Kelli Paulson, crannellcreek@gmail.com
OREGON
- Caitlin Huntress, Cdhpdx@gmail.com
TEXAS
- Lisa Harding, Lmharding81@yahoo.com
VIRGINIA
- Kimberly da Silva, kagarvis@gmail.com
WASHINGTON
- Kristen Snyder, kaayten@yahoo.com
- Becky Mathews, becky@riverrunequine.com
WISCONSIN
- Kris Blacklock, blacklockk@yahoo.com
WE UNITED “L” JUDGES LIVING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
CANADA
- Deb Erickson, deb@highlandstable.com
(*** = Passed Rules Exams with Honors)
WE United Technical Delegates
WE United recognizes two levels of Technical Delegate (TD) Licensure for Working Equitation competitions in the United States: “TD” and “L” License Holders.
A “TD” license will be required for technical delegates at all A-Rated and Championship competitions licensed after July 1, 2017. WE United encourages show managers to utilize either “TD” or “L” license holders for B-Rated competitions.
The following people have successfully completed TD training and earned certification as Working Equitation TDs.
TECHNICAL DELEGATES
ARIZONA
- Ashley Bowers, ashleycbowers@yahoo.com***
CALIFORNIA
- Sue Watkins, horseysue@gmail.com ***
KENTUCKY
- Aimee Ziller, aimlssnet@yahoo.com
NORTH CAROLINA
- Elizabeth Morosani, thegoodhorse1@gmail.com***
OREGON
- Tracey Erway, tracey@erway.com ***
TEXAS
- Doreen Atkinson, doreenatkinson@yahoo.com
- Bruce W. Menke, el_barnstormer@yahoo.com***
WISCONSIN
- Kris Blacklock, blacklockk@yahoo.com ***
WE UNITED TDS LIVING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
ALBERTA, CANADA
- Jill Barron, barronbarn@hotmail.com
- Deb Erickson, deb@highlandstable.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
- Trish Hyatt, trish@trishhyatt.com
(*** = Passed Rules Exams with Honors)
LEARNER (L) TDs
OREGON
- Kaylene Selk-Toews, kaylene.toews@gmail.com
WE UNITED “L” TDS LIVING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
AUSTRALIA
- Kim Peterson, kimpetersonaus
@gmail.com
WE UNITED LICENSED OFFICIALS
CODE OF ETHICS & CONDUCT
WE UNITED OFFICIALS PROGRAM
Well-educated, professional officials are an essential part of supporting the on-going development and growth of a sport. WE United takes this responsibility seriously and is proud of the depth of knowledge demonstrated by our current licensed officials. We also are aware of the need for continuous improvement and expansion to ensure that officials recognized by WE United continue to set the bar for professionalism and depth of knowledge.
The sport of Working Equitation has been maturing in the United States since 2010. Initially, U.S. event organizers depended on international judges to officiate at WE competitions here. During Phase 1 of WE United Judge Development, we worked closely with internationally-recognized experts to provide the instruction to all applicants seeking judge licensure. Through this process, the pool of available judges with Working Equitation experience has been growing, with the emphasis in the early years on identifying and training a cadre of officials with sufficient knowledge to support the sport as it began to expand across the country.
In 2019, WE United moved to Phase 2 of our Judge and Technical Delegate Development plan: Deepening the skill set while continuing to broaden the base of well-trained officials. During Phase 2, we will continue to contract with international experts to ensure that our officials’ preparation is well-aligned with international expectations for the sport. In addition, however, we will expand our focus to include structured in-depth learning experiences to provide additional educational opportunities for those interested in become licensed officials. These educational opportunities will include short-duration courses covering WE judging fundamentals as well as practical judging apprenticeships under approved Mentor Judges at licensed shows. In recognition of the enhanced understanding that comes from having ridden the tests and obstacles one is evaluating, the WE United judge program allows candidates for initial licensure or promotion to submit official WE Competition scores as an optional part of their evidence in support of their applications, beginning February 26, 2020.
All WE United Judges and TDs agree to adhere to the WE United Licensed Officials Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy, which was first approved by the Board of Directors on November 30, 2019. The Board is currently working on a Social Media Policy, which all Licensed Officials will also be required to follow in order to maintain their license with WE United. We anticipate adopting this policy in the first few months of 2020.
All WE United Judges and TDs must maintain current membership with WE United (this requirement enables our officials to be covered under our insurance policy while working in the role of Judge/TD). WE United licensure is a domestic licensure, and we welcome all well-qualified applicants interested in being licensed in the United States to apply, regardless of country of residence. As a matter of respect for the international governing body, WE United licensed officials–regardless of country of residence–should refer to themselves as holding a WE United license (the term “International WE Judge” should only be used by those who are officially licensed as such by WAWE, the international governing body for the sport).
CLICK HERE to download the Licensed Officials Program
The following links provide access to the forms needed to apply for initial licensure, document continuing education, and apply for promotion.
INITIAL APPLICATION
L-Judge Initial Application – Documentation Form (PDF)
L-Judge Initial Application – Documentation (MS Word)
L-Judge Initial Application – Practical Judging Form (PDF)
L-Judge Initial Application – Practical Judging Form (MS Word)
TD Initial Application -Documentation Form (PDF)
TD Initial Application -Documentation Form (MS Word)
CONTINUING EDUCATION FORMS
Judge Continuing Ed Documentation (PDF)
Judge Continuing Ed Documentation (MS Word)
TD Continuing Ed Documentation (PDF)
TD Continuing Ed Documentation (MS Word)
APPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTION
Judge Application to Promote L to r (PDF)
Judge Application to Promote L to r (MS Word)
Judge Application to Promote r to R (PDF)
Judge Application to Promote r to R (MS Word)
Judge Application to Promote R to S (PDF)
Judge Application to Promote R to S (MS Word)
OFFICIAL SHADOW JUDGING EVALUATION FORM
Shadow Judging Evaluation Form (PDF)
Shadow Judging Evaluation Form (MS Word)
2021 Licensed Officials Seminars
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the educational symposium we were planning had to be postponed. We anticipate hosting a week-long educational symposium with seminars for those seeking judge and TD licensure as well as for currently-licensed officials seeking continuing education and members in general interested in learning more about the sport in 2021. Please stay tuned for more information!
