SHEDU FUNDAMENTAL TRAINING
Working Trials
Unlike regular SFTs, Western SFT disciplines come from a place where the philosophy is that a good working animal is comfortable to ride and can control livestock sensibly. Versatility and endurance are prized, as well as a smooth gait that is able to be maintained and is easy to ride over long distances.
You can see real life equestrian example of Working Trials here:
Pedro Torres - Working Equitation
Working Trials puts to the test the partnership between a handler and cat through their abilities to navigate an obstacle course of varying difficulties. It is like a collection of several disciplines together in one arena.
IMPORTANT!: This specialization can be unlocked only AFTER finishing the following specializations:
Benefit: Cancel the initial rolls for falls, fatal and serious injuries, in Work Trials. “Know your cat” section will give additional points in some of the Working Trials competitions.
Conditions: A lot of the basics of Working Trials are done from the ground. For a shedu to be successful in this work they must have a good understanding of how to move their body under saddle and be able to read commands from their handler well. This can be done from the owner’s own stable arena or in Elsevier’s facilities–but it should be done in a fenced arena of some sort.
OFFICIAL WORKING TRIAL TASKS:
(5 images total)
Standing: (1 images total)
Get shedu comfortable standing in one spot without needing to be held in place.
This can be done from the ground, handler holding onto the lead line with cat in halter from a short distance.
Leading: (1 images total)
Using a lead/lungeline paired with a lunge whip, encourage the cat to walk in line with the handler's elbow.
Flexing: (2 images total)
Get shedu to allow handler to ask the cat to bend their neck to pressure, to the point of getting cat to touch its nose to its shoulder.
Teach cat to soften under pressure placed at the back of their neck behind the ears.
This can be done by placing handler’s hand behind the ears while pulling downward from the lead rope using the other hand.
Moving the Rear: (1 images total)
Through the use of groundwork on a lead plus a lunge whip, handler moves toward cat’s hind end while encouraging cat to move away from pressure. The goal is for one hind leg to cross in front of the other.
Working Trials - Know Your Cat :
Completing the WT KYC obstacle type preference will help to determine at which kind of obstacles your cat naturally succeeds better.
Each type of preference - Favorite/Best, Average or Worst has its own bonus that cat can get during the WT competition.
Bonus or penalty points value might vary from show to show or even from obstacle to obstacle in some shows! But the principle stays the same:
The bonus depends on which type of obstacle you depict for your cat:
Best/Favorite obstacle type - gives solid 5 points
Average obstacle type - gives RNG roll 2-6
Worst obstacle type - gives 1 to 10 RNG
Notice: Cat can be assigned with one best and one worst type of obstacle. Other obstacle types will always come out as average.
Which bonus will be implemented depends on what type of obstacle you will depict your cat taking on (during a particular show).
*Each official WT event will have all the obstacles marked by type for your ease.
**Notice that KYC section is not taken into account in such events as TSYN, where there are no set obstacles. In such cases WT SFT will give you a pre-determined solid bonus instead.
WORKING TRIALS - KNOW YOUR CAT TASKS:
(7 images total)
The “Garrocha”: (3 images total)
Show handler on cat’s back pulling a long pole that is long enough to drag on the ground.
Depict cat with rider in saddle, they must be able to maneuver in circles with handler holding onto a pole long enough to touch the ground without cat shying from the object or tripping.
Using a lighter and shorter pole, the handler in saddle must skewer a metal ring from a stand and carry it to a barrel to drop off both the pole and ring without dropping either object.
The Gate: (1 images total)
In saddle, ride shedu to a “gate” that comprises of a rope looped between two poles. Shedu must be comfortable getting close enough to the strange contraption for handler to unlatch “gate” and ride through the small space, and then be able to relatch the rope.
The Bridge: (2 images total)
A makeshift bridge structure is placed into the arena, cat must be willing to walk up and stand at the middle of the bridge without spooking.
Handler must be able to ride cat up onto bridge and over it at a trot/canter without cat shying away or tripping.
The Bell: (1 images total)
Cat is ridden up to a hanging bell, handler rings bell without cat shying.
BENEFITS & REQUIREMENTS
These sets of prompts are not mandatory to participate in Shedu events. However, if completed, they will give your cat noticeable benefits:
Each completed set linked to a specific discipline will cancel out the roll for the following hazards of shows in that specific discipline:
Initial roll for buck offs **
Initial roll for falls **
Initial roll for fatal and serious injuries **
Initial roll for refusals **
** Initial roll is the mandatory roll that will take place at an official event. A completed SFT makes sure your team will pass those. However in some competitions or disciplines there are additional rolls for mishaps. SFTs will not protect from those. You will need to acquire special gear and/or make proper choices to avoid those.
MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS
Literature: 450 words per task (In English or Russian language)
Art: Clean coloured sketch/ 50% + body/ Handler (50%+ visible)*/ BG + other elements if required by the particular task.
The shedu anatomy should meet the standard level according to the AP chart to qualify for these prompts.
“Standing tied” prompt - handler is optional
Cats must not be younger than 4 years!
You can place up to 5 teams of handler and cat in one training picture.
TACK on Shedus is required. (Mandatory: western/working/spanish saddle, halter or shedu bridle)
HOW TO SUBMIT COMPLETED TRAININGS
Gather your entries and comment to this LOG :
Don`t forget to link the references of the handler and the Shedu being trained!