If your USPC region has not yet taken advantage of the USEA Outreach program, you can get more information at www.ponyclub.org under FORMS – USEA Outreach or see the web site for Sara and Eric Dierks’ farm at www.overlookfarm-eventing.com.
Hopefully, more USEA ICP instructors will offer discounted clinic fees to USPC regions in the future through the Outreach program. USPC clubs and regions organize the clinics and will sometimes open them up to USEA members outside of pony club when clinic openings are still available. The USEA has a goal to certify 500 ICP instructors and the Outreach program is a great beginning to connect these instructors up to USEA members.
Midsouth offered this eventing clinic to D3 and above members for less than the entry fee to an event. Each rider rode in 3-1.5 hour clinic sessions in dressage, stadium jumping (with an emphasis for preparing for the XC clinic) and a Cross Country clinic over logs, banks and water.
Comments from one parent who attended the clinic:
“Wow! The clinic was superb in every way. Both my kids learned very practical skills they can remember and bring back home to continue working on. I saw marked improvement in their riding and communication with their horses in just the 3 lessons. Sara and Eric Dierks are fantastic instructors: practical, fun, clear, and obviously experts in their field. I was impressed how SAFETY was always a priority, and each child/horse combination was given exact instruction to meet their particular needs. That is a difficult thing to do in a group lesson, but the Dierks were such excellent teachers that individual assessment was easy for them. The informal group “talk” meet on Tuesday evening was inspiring and informative. I think it is so helpful for young riders to get peeks into the life and training of professional horsemen, and bravo to the Dierks for being open and available with the kids.
It seems that the ICP Outreach Program is a huge step in the right direction for increasing the partnership between USEA and USPC. Both organizations offer much to benefit their members, and working together will only increase those benefits tenfold. I think the Outreach program can help increase awareness of safety and competent instruction, also. I applaud any efforts to increase safety and education for children and adults alike. The Certification program is a must!
The Flying Cross facility is an amazing place. We felt completely at ease and welcomed. Overall, the clinic was an extremely positive experience."
USPC Midsouth plans to continue to work with other ICP instructors to offer regional level clinics to its members to further expand the concept of the Outreach program to connect ICP instructors to eventers.
Information provided by Cheryl Parsons, DC Davis Creek Pony Club, West Virginia.
