Did you know that US Eventing has a professional education program for coaches and trainers? It does — the US Eventing Coaches Program (ECP).
Did you know that there are 12 ECP certified eventing coaches in Maryland? There are. You can see who they are under the USEA heading here.
Did you know that the lack of credentials for many eventing coaches came up at the US Eventing Annual Meeting last week? It did.
In stark contrast to our peer nations, the U.S. has no formal certification or licensing requirement for people who make a living with horses — except veterinarians at veterinary technicians. In the U.S., anyone can say they are a “trainer” or an “instructor” or a “coach,” whether they have the knowledge or ability to those jobs, and whether they are any good at those jobs.
The result is too many instances of consumer confusion, unsafe riding, and the perpetuation of animal husbandry practices long since discredited by science.
Does it matter? Yes, apparently.
The Chronicle of the Horse reported recently that the topic of professional certification came up at US Eventing’s Annual meeting in Seattle last week. According to the Chronicle, a young rider coordinator at the meeting “shared that he was astounded by the differences between the Eventing Coaches Program trainers he utilizes for team course walks and those who aren’t certified.”
The difference was sufficiently “astounding” that some participants suggested getting the word out about the program to parents, “suggesting that if they knew about the program that perhaps they’d put pressure on their childrens’ instructors to participate.” Otherwise, “A lot of coaches, especially those who are established, don’t see the need to take the time and expense to get certified.”
In this regard, we are a fan of peer pressure!
According to US Eventing:
The mission of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program is to produce and improve the craft and art in the teaching of riding and horse management for the sport of eventing through the application of the highest principles of horsemanship, which ensures the ethical and humane treatment of horses and the safety of both horses and riders and extends to all those associated with the health and well-being of the horses.
…
The ECP is responsible for certifying coaches who demonstrate excellence in education at all levels of the sport. Certification is awarded to those coaches who promote and produce the highest standard of skill, horsemanship, horse management, safety, and horse welfare.
The program is rigorous. To qualify, candidates must submit “verifications of your instruction from three of the highest-competing students whom you are teaching and/or have taught.” Once certified, ECP coaches must “possess current professional liability insurance, possess a current CPR/First Aid Certification, be current with Safe Sport Training, complete the CDC Concussion Protocol Training, submit a Nationwide Criminal Background Check every two years, and be in the process of fulfilling ECP’s Continuing Education activities credits.”
To those 12 Maryland event trainers who have successfully completed the certification requirements, we commend you.
To parents of children interested in eventing, we encourage you to consider certified coaches for the best interest of your child and your child’s mount.
To all the other eventing coaches in our state, we encourage you to consider certification seriously. Why?
- You will give yourself an automatic marketing advantage over non-certified coaches.
- You will honor your committment to do your very bet by every horse in your program.
- You will set your program up to produce safe and successful athletes, both horse and human.