Consistency is key in working with horses, that is why the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) Committee spent two years creating a training handbook with a clear and consistent format from Starter level all the way through Advanced.
Attendees of the 2022 USEA ICP Symposium at Barnstaple South Farm in Ocala, Florida on February 8-9 will be the first outside of the organization to set eyes on this all-encompassing guide. Those wishing to attend may register onsite prior to the start of the clinic each day.
Each level and phase has a Rider Skills section that provides an invaluable resource to riders and instructors as they navigate their way through the competition levels. Looking back through the previous levels is a key first step in evaluating preparedness for the next level; ensuring that all previous skill requirements are in place so new skills have a strong foundation to build on. Preview excerpts of the Rider Skills outline for the show jumping phase at the Novice and Preliminary level below:
Rider Skills Required at the Novice Level:
The instructor should confirm the rider’s understanding of and ability to perform all skills identified under Starter Level through Beginner Novice Level Show Jumping Skills.
Novice riders should demonstrate a connection between their flat work and their jumping. The understanding of this connection must include increased focus on the canter, such that the rider can:
The Novice rider should:
Novice riders should know:
Rider Skills Required at the Preliminary Level:
The instructor should confirm the rider’s understanding of and ability to perform all skills identified under Starter through Modified Level Show Jumping Skills. The Preliminary level rider should be able to:
Preliminary riders should be developing their training skills to include:
Competition readiness at this level should include the rider’s ability to:
The ICP Symposium has undergone a reboot and will feature an interactive and inclusive format that encourages participation and input from active professionals at all levels through a hands-on live teaching session. While geared towards eventing professionals, the ICP Symposium is open to all who wish to attend and will feature relevant information that all riders and eventing enthusiasts can learn from. As an added perk, early registrants will receive an advanced copy of the new USEA Eventing Handbook! Register for the ICP Symposium here.
About the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program
Instructors are essential to the training of riders and horses for safe and educated participation in the sport of eventing. The USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) was initiated in 2002 to educate all levels of eventing instructors with crucial training principles upon which those instructors can continue to build throughout their teaching careers. ICP offers educational workshops and assessments by which both regular instructors, Level I through Level V, Young Event Horse (YEH) instructors, and Young Event Horse professional horse trainers can become ICP certified. Additional information about ICP’s goals, benefits, workshops, and assessments as well as names and contact information for current ICP-certified instructors, YEH instructors, and YEH professional horse trainers are available on the USEA website. Click here to learn more about the Instructors’ Certification Program.
The USEA would like to thank Stable Secretary and Parker Equine Insurance for sponsoring the Instructors’ Certification Program.
Preparing for your first horse trial and not sure what is expected of you at each level? Over the course of the next few Rule Refreshers, we will be diving into each level and the performance expectations of each phase. Want to better prepare yourself or your students for their first competition or a move-up? The USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels is a free resource to all USEA members that outlines clear and consistent guidelines for riders and trainers to refer to when navigating their way through the competition levels. You can access this guide by logging into your online services account.
I’m not one for the spotlight. As the voice of the Association, you don’t need to know my personal views, political, eventing, or otherwise. So despite my byline appearing on thousands of articles on the USEA website and magazine, this is probably only the second time I’m writing about myself (the first was about my love for lessons, and reading it now makes me laugh as I am still 100% addicted). But as I am now just a USEA member I thought I would share a bit of my journey to add to our member spotlight series, Now on Course.
You’ve likely spent some time scouring the USEA Calendar to line up your 2022 competition schedule. Now that spring has sprung, it’s time to plan some cross-country schooling outings to make sure you and your horse are as ready as possible. If you own or manage a facility that welcomes guests for haul-in schooling, you’ve likely noticed horses and their humans showing up in droves to get their practice in. A successful off-site schooling day has many, many moving parts. From paperwork and payment to safety, these best practices for hosts and guests will help everything go as smoothly as possible.
US Equestrian is pleased to announce the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, from July 1-2, 2022. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello.