PrintOur columnist sees great advantages to becoming certified, including valuable continuing education and improved safety for riders and horses.
I had an eye-opening experience when I took the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Trainers Certification Level I test in early February. I realized that we trainers have indeed been skipping steps and using showing as a means to an end instead of stepping back and making sure the basics are followed.
And I realized once again that each rider and trainer needs to be at the top of his game with regards to all aspects of horse welfare—not just at shows but every day we have contact with horses.
While many of us are in the midst of the winter circuits in the Southern climates, there are major storms impacting the United States. Rain, mudslides, snowstorms and ice storms have brought much of our country to a halt and made horse care especially challenging.
Yet, all of the winter circuits are thriving in Florida, California, Arizona and Mississippi. The fragile economy has required us to plan each show year according to our own economic challenges, however, which is something that hasn’t necessarily been the case over the past decade. We’re now shopping for horse shows as the typical consumer—we must decide which show has the best to offer for our individual customers and their horses.
But I still worry about our world. I read the books and articles written by the top horsemen in our sports—both past and present—who lament that our lives revolve around the shows. We’re not allowing our riders the opportunity to stay home to take lessons and attend clinics, nor are we providing them with other learning opportunities that benefit them and their horses.
I spent this past year watching the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Emerg-ing Athletes Program develop and grow in its inaugural year, and I took part in the USHJA Trainer Certification Program. I see great strides being made in educating riders and trainers. But I still think we need more review—more back-to-basics education and more team building.
No Skipping School
The USHJA Trainer Certification Committee and USHJA staff spent long hours working on the certification program. The TCP is a great review and educational opportunity that all trainers should take the time and effort to complete.
The test itself is long and requires review and studying. I do like the fact that part of the TCP manual is filled with lists of additional books and reference materials that pertain to the subject matter at hand, which allows you to further explore topics that might interest you.
The TCP manual and test will certainly help our young and upcoming professionals begin to structure their businesses, their lesson plans and their barn management. We only get better by trading ideas, and this process is long overdue.
