What Does the ECP Symposium Offer for Attendees?

Dec 01, 2024

What Does the ECP Symposium Offer for Attendees?

By Jennifer Howlett Rousseau - ECP Faculty Member

The 2025 ECP Symposium, Hosted by Galway Downs is just over a month away, which means it is time to submit your registration for this must-attend educational event. On Jan. 14-16, interested attendees will converge on Temecula, California, for an important, impactful, and interactive experience focusing on honing the evaluation skills of coaches at all levels by identifying the correct, incremental steps of progression needed for each individual horse and rider combination.

While this may seem like an exclusive event for current and prospective USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) certified coaches, there is so much more to be found for a wide range of eventing enthusiasts at the Symposium. Whether you are a competitor, parent, official, sponsor, volunteer, or supporter of the sport of eventing, there is valuable knowledge to be gained at the ECP Symposium. Check out the benefits of attendance based on your involvement in the sport below.

Who	What to expect
Coaches	Opportunity to provide your meaningful input into solving the challenges and issues faced by coaches in the sport of eventing Involved, interactive teaching experience with peers and mentors targeting specific levels of riders and horses In depth examination of foundational principles for progressing riders and horses Detailed discussion around communication with students and understanding how learning occurs Become a member of a growing network of local, regional, and national coaches Live practice using the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels, not only for professional reference, but also for support of tough discussions with riders, parents, or horse owners
Riders, Competitors, & Students	Learn how and why coaches develop their curriculum Provide real time feedback to coaches from the student’s perspective Gain high level insight into the correct methods, principles and increments for progression as a rider See best practices of coaching and education at work as horses and riders are evaluated and training programs implemented Get familiar with the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels as a roadmap for progression up the levels
Parents	· Glean a wealth of information regarding the expectations for each level of competition, and what is required for your child to be safe and successful at each progressive level · Experience how great coaching can and should have a positive impact, not only on the progression of horse and rider, but also on the rider’s knowledge and understanding of the training principles, the management of both the horse and the human as athletes, and the emotional/psychological side of competing, dealing with failure, or facing fear. · Get experience using the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels as an invaluable resource to help guide you through your child’s journey in the sport
Officials	· Build an alliance with coaches by providing constructive feedback from the officials’ perspective, and by leaning into the challenges faced by coaches in today’s sport Participate in an examination of the level requirements as described in the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels Provide an important perspective to the overall theme of level requirements and progression, from the officials’ point of view
Supporters, Sponsors, & Volunteers	· Experience firsthand how education is the foundation for the sport of eventing · Learn how you can be involved in bringing the best educational practices, correct training principles and support for developing coaches to the mainstream in your area or on a national level.

Registration for the 2025 ECP Symposium, Hosted by Galway Downs is now open! Current ECP Certified Coaches and/or USEF Licensed Officials can attend the event for the discounted daily fee of $60 per day or the full event fee of $180. The ECP Symposium serves as a continuing education clinic for current and perspective ECP Certified Coaches.

The public is also welcome to attend, and their rates are $100 per day or $300 for the full event. Boxed lunches are also available for purchase in single day or full event increments on the registration form. Advanced registration is greatly appreciated, so click here to register today.

If you have any questions about the ECP Symposium, Hosted by Galways Downs or the Eventing Coaches Program, please contact Nancy Knight, Senior Director of Education, at [email protected]. The USEA looks forward to seeing you in January!

About the 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, Parker Equine Insurance, the United States Pony Clubs, and Strider for their support of the Eventing Coaches Program.

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