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 is a USDF L graduate with distinction, a bronze and silver medalist, and has trained and competed numerous horses up through the FEI levels. She became hooked on WE in 2019, competing from Intro through Masters, where she regularly ranks at the top of the National leaderboard. Kimberlee has earned her USAWE Pewter, Bronze, Silver, and Platinum Lifetime Rider Medals. Since working equitation (WE) uses dressage principles to create a relaxed, athletic, and obedient horse in both traditional dressage work and in dressage through obstacles, Kimberlee believes that this sport creates the ultimate harmonious relationship between horse and rider. She enjoys working with all breeds of horses and teaches students from Introductory to Masters in Working Equitation, and Training Level to FEI in Dressage. She trains with top International instructors and recently logged her 44th successful ride at Masters. Kimberlee is thrilled with her opportunity to represent the USA on the world stage at the WAWE World Championships in Jerez de la Frontera this September!
Paquirri do Monte Negro
Buckskin 2019 Portuguese Lusitano Gelding bred by Coudelaria Brito Paes; By Verso Monte Negro, Out of Alpaca Monte Negro
Owned by Kimberlee Barker
Paquirri and Kimberlee photo credit: Carolina Duarte
Robin Bond
Rider – from Santa Ynez, California
Robin Bond has been training professionally since 1993. Working Equitation, Western Dressage, Ranch Horse, Obstacles, Californio Bridle Horse
Kiger Zapata KCA
Chestnut 2013 American Kiger Mustang Stallion
Owned by Robin Bond
Matt French
Rider – 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
Kenton Wright
Rider – 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 level 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
Photo Credits: Kenton Wright and Sarah Bradley
Pati Pierucci
Stephanie Hayes
Second Alternate – Johnson, Vermont
Stephanie Hayes, from Johnson Vermont is an accomplished competitor and advocate for USA Working Equitation. 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.
Be a Part of the Team
