Printll I can say is, "Better late than never!" The concept of certifying riding instructors is long overdue and should have been addressed 50 years ago.
Every official at a horse show has a license--the judges, stewards and course designers. Why not the teachers and trainers? I can think of very few, if any, other legitimate sports where an instructor can "hang out his shingle" whenever he wants. And many countries in the rest of the world insist on certifying their riding in-structors via their federations.
During the 1980s, mainly due to the patronage of Thomas and Markus Fuchs, I conducted a lot of clinics in Switzerland for the Swiss federation. But, mid-morning at the very first clinic in Berne, someone from the Swiss federation ran rather hysterically into the indoor arena. According to Swiss law, nobody can teach riding in that country without a license. Well, of course, I didn't have a license and needed a special guest license, which rather miraculously appeared, thank goodness.
By presidential appointment, the U.S. Equestrian Federation put together a com-mittee a year or so ago to get a handle on certifying instructors in the hunter/ jumper discipline. (They've been doing it for 15 years in dressage and for three years in eventing.) Shelley Campf from Oregon is the chairman of this important committee, and its members include Claudia Cojocar, Paul Cronin, Karen Healey, Candice King, Chrystine Tauber, Geoff Teall, Julie Winkel, and me. Each of us has a credible past-performance record and can bring something a little different to the table. We're also geographically diverse, which is so important in this vast country of ours.
So far the committee has met twice in person in Harrisburg, Pa., and once in person in Miami, Fla., and several times by conference call. I'm very much behind this committee, and I believe that we present a very legitimate front in presenting this idea.
The mission statement of the Instructors' Certification Committee is to preserve the American System of riding and jumping by developing an educational and certification program for all levels of trainers. As you all very well know, I'm a staunch supporter of our American method of stable management, veterinary science, riding and jumping. I have traveled, taught and shown horses all over the world, and I'm convinced of the excellence of our system, provided it's done right. Our goal is to have the program up and running for the 2009 competition year.
Rather than dreading the prospect, I find it exhilarating to be able to prepare for the tests. I would like to suggest, for those who are interested in the history, philosophy and practice of American riding and jumping, that you pick up American Military Horsemanship by James A. Ottevaere. This is the very, very first book you should read before embarking on other horse-related study projects.
Let me quote David O'Connor, our federation president: "In-structor certification will be a huge part of equestrian business. For our own continuing education and standards, this program is vital to the integrity of the equine industry." David is a horseman of the highest class, and his vision is telling us this is the right thing to do.
Every official at a horse show has a license--the judges, stewards and course designers. Why not the teachers and trainers? I can think of very few, if any, other legitimate sports where an instructor can "hang out his shingle" whenever he wants. And many countries in the rest of the world insist on certifying their riding in-structors via their federations.
During the 1980s, mainly due to the patronage of Thomas and Markus Fuchs, I conducted a lot of clinics in Switzerland for the Swiss federation. But, mid-morning at the very first clinic in Berne, someone from the Swiss federation ran rather hysterically into the indoor arena. According to Swiss law, nobody can teach riding in that country without a license. Well, of course, I didn't have a license and needed a special guest license, which rather miraculously appeared, thank goodness.
By presidential appointment, the U.S. Equestrian Federation put together a com-mittee a year or so ago to get a handle on certifying instructors in the hunter/ jumper discipline. (They've been doing it for 15 years in dressage and for three years in eventing.) Shelley Campf from Oregon is the chairman of this important committee, and its members include Claudia Cojocar, Paul Cronin, Karen Healey, Candice King, Chrystine Tauber, Geoff Teall, Julie Winkel, and me. Each of us has a credible past-performance record and can bring something a little different to the table. We're also geographically diverse, which is so important in this vast country of ours.
So far the committee has met twice in person in Harrisburg, Pa., and once in person in Miami, Fla., and several times by conference call. I'm very much behind this committee, and I believe that we present a very legitimate front in presenting this idea.
The mission statement of the Instructors' Certification Committee is to preserve the American System of riding and jumping by developing an educational and certification program for all levels of trainers. As you all very well know, I'm a staunch supporter of our American method of stable management, veterinary science, riding and jumping. I have traveled, taught and shown horses all over the world, and I'm convinced of the excellence of our system, provided it's done right. Our goal is to have the program up and running for the 2009 competition year.
Rather than dreading the prospect, I find it exhilarating to be able to prepare for the tests. I would like to suggest, for those who are interested in the history, philosophy and practice of American riding and jumping, that you pick up American Military Horsemanship by James A. Ottevaere. This is the very, very first book you should read before embarking on other horse-related study projects.
Let me quote David O'Connor, our federation president: "In-structor certification will be a huge part of equestrian business. For our own continuing education and standards, this program is vital to the integrity of the equine industry." David is a horseman of the highest class, and his vision is telling us this is the right thing to do.
