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.
Pierre Le Goupil, a former elite-level eventing athlete, turned decorated course designer in charge of designing the eventing course at this year’s Paris Olympics, has been appointed the new cross-country course designer for the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory, beginning in 2025.
The USEA is saddened to share that the Kent Horse Trials in Kent, Connecticut, will be ending its run after 44 years. This USEA Area I event has been a historical staple in the eventing community since its first event ran in 1980. This decision was not made lightly by the organizing committee, but the team behind the Kent Horse Trials cited various challenges which led to this decision.
It's officially USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship week, and this year's is shaping up to be one for the history books! The USEA is excited to meet up with a record-breaking 150 intercollegiate entries representing 18 schools who will join forces to create 39 teams competing in Aiken, South Carolina, this weekend. For the first time, the Intercollegiate Championship will also be joining forces with the inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championship at Stable View on May 4-5. Festivities are set to kick off this Friday, May 3, with the opening ceremonies.
One of the important concepts that event riders of all levels should understand, and practice is how the dressage flatwork carries over into the show jumping and cross-country phases. Don’t forget, the word dressage, translated from French, literally means training.