USA Working Equitation
USAWE Team
The USAWE International Team was unanimously selected from twelve high Performance riders in May 2026 by the USAWE Board of Directors.
Kimberlee Barker
Rider – from Corvallis Oregon.
Kimberlee Barker’s connection to horses began on the tiny island of Yap, riding the local Guam ponies that were likely descended from the Barbs left behind by Ferdinand Magellan on his travels across the Pacific.
Kimberlee’s journey led her from bareback island adventures to FEI rides and multiple Masters-level working equitation partners. While her foundation lay in dressage, she became hooked on Working Equitation in 2019, competing from Intro through Masters on a diverse collection of breeds.
Kimberlee has absolutely fallen in love with the Lusitano’s fire, intelligence, and spirit. She and her Lusitanos—Paquirri, Nairobi, and Ouro XVIII—train and compete as much as possible…in fact, Kimberlee recently logged her 44th successful ride at the Masters level.
Kimberlee and Paquirri do Monte Negro are thrilled with their opportunity to represent the USA on the world stage at this year’s WAWE World Championships in Jerez de la Frontera!
Kimberlee Barker Road to Spain
Paquirri do Monte Negro
Buckskin 2019 Portuguese Lusitano Gelding bred by Coudelaria Brito Paes; By Verso Monte Negro, Out of Alpaca Monte Negro
Paquirri and Kimberlee photo credit: Carolina Duarte
Click for more information about Paquirri
Robin Bond
Rider – from Santa Ynez, California
By nine years old, Robin had exhausted every horse book in her local library, and at thirteen she received her first horse—a $50 Mustang colt that would ignite a lifelong passion for horsemanship.
Now, Robin Bond is a professional horsewoman who specializes in Working Equitation and Ranch Horse events. Her style is an unconventional blend of disciplines, leaning heavily into the styles of the California bridle horse and classical dressage. She has enjoyed competitive success in reining, reined
cow horse, extreme cowboy race, ranch horse and working equitation. She has attained bronze, silver, gold, and platinum medals with USAWE. Operating from Santa Ynez, CA, Robin continues to instruct and compete at the highest level.
Kiger Zapata KCA
2013 Red Dun American Kiger Mustang Stallion
Owned by Robin Bond
Click for more information about Zapata
Matt French
Rider – from San Diego, California
Matt French and his mustang Navarro, affectionately known as Navi, represent the kind of partnership that makes Working Equitation so special. Navi came from humble beginnings after being rescued as a young horse, and together they have risen to compete at the Masters level. Based in San Diego, Matt and Navi now proudly represent the USAWE International Team on the world stage in Spain.
Navarro (Navi)
Grey 2010 American Reservation Mustang Gelding
Owned by Matt French
Photo Credit: Brooke Louise Creative
Click for more information about Navarro
Kenton Wright
Rider – from Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Kenton Wright has been riding horses since he was five days old as his mom rode cattle pens in a feedlot. A sixth-generation rancher in the Pacific Northwest, Kenton grew up training ranch horses. Even during his collegiate and professional baseball career, Kenton continued to train horses in various disciplines. Kenton earned national top honors his first year in working equitation (2017) winning the Novice Horse/Rider pair division; since then he has had numerous horse of the years at various levels including the Master’s Level while competing both domestically and internationally. Kenton holds both USDF and USAWE medals; including his Platinum medal.
Lidador Carvalhos
Grey 2015 Portuguese Lusitano Stallion
Owned by Andrea Bazika
Click for more information about Lidador
Pati Pierucci
First Alternate – from Willow Park, Texas
Pati Pierucci is a high-performance dressage competitor who was long-listed for the 2000 Olympic trials. She reached the Working Equitation Masters level riding “Tirabuxio La Devesa,” owned by Gwen Kleinschmidt. The pair achieved an impressive 5th place on the national leaderboards in Tiago’s first year of competition.
Additionally, Pati has succeeded on the international stage, securing a strong placement in a World Association of Working Equitation (WAWE) Qualifier in Segovia, Spain, riding a leased and unfamiliar horse. Her dedication to advancing this sport is demonstrated through the clinics and lessons she has offered.
Stephanie Hayes
Second Alternate – from Johnson, Vermont
Stephanie Hayes, from Johnson Vermont is an accomplished competitor and advocate for USAWE. She is an “L” Judge, Master’s Level Professional Instructor and serves on the Professional Development Committee. Stephanie earned the Platinum Lifetime Rider Medal and has been awarded numerous National Leaderboard and Regional championships. In 2018 she co-founded New England Working Equitation, Inc. and has played a key role in expanding the sport throughout the Northeast. She has represented the sport internationally in Canada, Portugal, and most recently, Segovia, Spain. In 2025 Stephanie was ranked in the top 3 of US riders in WAWE standings.
Miguel Undaberrena
USAWE International Team Coach, Peoria, Arizona
Miguel was the first individual to compete for USAWE, at the WAWE Championships in 2022. He is now the Coach for the USAWE International Team for 2026 . Miguel is a Recorded (r) judge for USAWE in addition to being an international rider and trainer. He has been actively competing since the beginning of WE in the USA. He has won multiple championships and numerous medals, national and international. Miguel is a USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist. His clinics are open to all riding styles and he is able to transmit the essence of success in all working equitation levels. Miguel is honored and grateful to be part of this great sport and community.
To learn more about Miguel’s programs, visit www.classicalhorsetraining.com
Julie Alonzo
USAWE International Team Chef d’Équipe, Eugene, Oregon
As Chef d’Équipe, Julie is responsible for logistics and is the main link between the riders, judges, and event staff. Julie Alonzo has been involved in working equitation since its start in the USA. She is also the founder of Working Equitation Oregon, one of the largest and most active working equitation regional organizations in the USA. She has been a driving force in the advancement of the sport and the development of many important working equitation associations in the USA. Julie has helped to organize numerous educational seminars for licensed officials and riders both in the USA and abroad. She is the current USAWE Secretary, actively manages a number of shows, competes, and is a well known breeder of working equitatation horses.
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