United States Eventing Association

The Core Principles of a Strong Assessment

In equestrian coaching, effective instruction goes beyond simply running through exercises—it requires thoughtful assessment, strategic prioritization, and clear communication. At an ECP assessment, we expect instructors to demonstrate an ability to observe, analyze, and tailor their teaching to the horse and rider in front of them.

What We Want to See

A strong instructor begins by watching the horse and rider warm up, identifying key areas that need improvement, and establishing a clear plan to achieve those goals. Instead of a rigid, pre-set lesson structure, they must assess what’s happening in real time and prioritize the most critical adjustments.

Throughout the lesson, the instructor should:

• Select exercises that enhance gait quality and overall performance.
• Explain adjustments in detail—not just what to change, but why it matters.
• Focus on getting real results by adapting exercises or methods as needed to ensure visible improvement.
• Correct or confirm essential basics such as forward movement, straightness, connection, and rider position before progressing to more advanced techniques.

A key principle is forward riding—before introducing lateral movements, the instructor must ensure the horse is properly in front of the rider’s leg. From there, the lesson should emphasize adjusting stride length and balance, particularly when preparing for jumping or cross-country obstacles.

For jumping instruction, the best instructors:

• Establish an effective jumping canter early in the lesson—fix the canter, fix the jump.
• Understand the nuances of jumping distances and use them strategically for specific goals.
• Ensure horses approach fences in a rhythmic tempo, uphill balance, and straight alignment.
• Choose safe and appropriate show jumping and cross-country exercises that specifically improve performance for each horse and rider.

Cross-country instruction requires clarity and adaptability. Instructors should:

• Teach the connection between stride length adjustability in dressage and jumping performance.
• Integrate the three cross-country positions into overall balance control, giving the rider practical tools to manage the horse effectively.
• Choose cross-country progressions that are safe and educational, adjusting plans quickly based on horse and rider response.
• Provide clear directions on how to approach cross-country obstacles safely and with the correct pace and quality of canter.

Above all, great instruction is strategic and adaptable—instructors must come into a lesson with a plan but be ready to revise it based on how the horse and rider respond. They should quickly analyze weaknesses, address them directly, and find solutions, ensuring every lesson leads to meaningful progress.

What We Often See Instead

Unfortunately, many instructors fail to tailor lessons effectively, resulting in generic exercises with little relevance to the horse and rider’s actual needs. Common missteps include:

• Preconceived lesson plans that ignore real-time observations.
• Teaching movements without improving performance, resulting in practice without purpose.
• Lack of clarity in prioritization, leading to vague instructions and limited progress.
• Jumping lessons that neglect the canter, failing to analyze and refine the fundamental stride mechanics needed for effective jumping.
• Rigid use of textbook distances, without adjusting for individual horse and rider differences.
• Failure to correct key issues—such as an improper canter approach to fences—resulting in poor jumping mechanics and unnecessary risks.

Cross-country instruction also suffers when instructors:

• Teach cross-country positions mechanically without integrating them into natural aids and balance control.
• Provide unclear or unsafe progression of fences, failing to adjust plans to match horse/rider capabilities.
• Offer no plan for when things go wrong, putting riders in vulnerable situations without solutions.

A particularly damaging habit is instructors avoiding key weaknesses—either because they lack confidence in fixing them or fear looking bad if the lesson doesn’t go smoothly. This hesitation leads to unaddressed issues, unsafe situations, and a lack of meaningful improvement.

Raising the Standard

Great coaching isn't just about teaching exercises—it's about coaching to a high standard and holding riders accountable for their best possible performance. This doesn’t mean pushing them beyond their skill level but ensuring that instruction challenges them in a way that leads to real progress.

When a horse and rider are performing well, instructors should acknowledge their proficiency and introduce thoughtful challenges that highlight their capabilities. The best instruction is engaging, structured, and responsive—ensuring the horse and rider leave each lesson better than they started.

ECP assessments exist to identify effective, adaptive, and high-level coaching—and to raise the standard for equestrian instruction. By prioritizing clear, results-driven teaching and avoiding common pitfalls, instructors can create lessons that truly impact the riders they work with.

USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP)

Coaches are essential to the training of riders and horses for safe and educated participation in the sport of eventing. The USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP), formerly known as the Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP), was initiated in 2002 to educate all levels of eventing coaches with crucial training principles upon which they can continue to build throughout their teaching careers. ECP offers educational workshops and assessments by which both regular coaches, Level I through Level V, Young Event Horse (YEH) coaches, and Young Event Horse professional horse trainers can become ECP certified. Additional information about ECP’s goals, benefits, workshops, and assessments as well as names and contact information for current ECP certified coaches, YEH coaches, and YEH professional horse trainers are available on the USEA website. Click here to learn more about the USEA Eventing Coaches Program.

The USEA would like to thank Galway Downs, the United States Pony Clubs, Stable Secretary, and Strider for their support of the Eventing Coaches Program.