Western Instructor of Beginners Program

DO YOU HIRE RIDING INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH BEGINNERS?

OR DO YOU PLAN TO LOOK FOR WORK AS AN INSTRUCTOR FOR BEGINNERS?

There’s a program for people 16 years of age (at date of application) and older who may want to teach beginners at summer camps, trail riding establishments/clubs, or assist at lesson stables. It will provide assurance to consumers and employers that the instructor can give a safe, fun and constructive start to horseback riding.

 This program is not intended for individuals who will teach competitors.  If they wish to teach competitors, they should become certified English, Western or Saddle Seat coaches.

 The goal of the Instructor Program is to develop an instructor who is capable of teaching at the beginner level, in a safe, educational and constructive fashion.   This level stresses safety, basic horsemanship and stable management.  This instructor will also encourage safety while riding outside the confines of the arena.

 Certified Instructors are not eligible to test the Learn To Ride program and are not permitted to be Mentors for future Instructor candidates, to do so they must become a Coach 1.

PREREQUISITES:

Candidates must have completed the following prerequisites prior to applying for the Instructor Assessment:

1.      EC Western Learn to Ride Program 1, 2 and 3

2.      New NCCP/Equine Canada Equestrian Specific Training Workshop (replaces Module A and Learn to Teach courses)

3.      Current Standard First Aid Certificate

4.      Current AEF membership and Current Equine Canada Sr or Jr Associate Sport License (new effective January 01, 2007)

4.      Mentor Program click here for mentor forms

5.      Signed Coaching Code of Ethics - click here

6.     Complete a Criminal Record Search

Once you have completed all of the above prerequisites, and you are ready to submit an application for an Assessment, contact the office at 403-253-4411, toll free at 877-463-6233 or email coaching@albertaequestrian.com.

CERTIFICATION:

Once candidates have completed all of the prerequisites, candidates apply to take the Instructor Assessment. The Assessment consists of a written test, stable management, oral, bandaging, lunging and teaching a mounted and unmounted lesson.   If the candidate is successful at the Assessment, the Alberta Equestrian Federation will award them an "Equine Canada Western Instructor of Beginners" certificate.  If the candidate is unsuccessful, they will have the opportunity to retake the unsuccessful portions of the assessment at a later date.

TO REMAIN CERTIFIED:

In order to remain “active” as a current Instructor, successful candidates are required to follow the same Updating Policy & Procedures as certified coaches.  Each Instructor is required to attend 1 (one) AEF Western Coaching Update Clinic every three years. Please note that your AEF and Equine Canada Memberships along with First Aid Certification/Criminal Record Search must also be kept current.

INSURANCE:

It is also strongly recommended that all riding instructors in the Horse industry carry commercial insurance.  

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS:

General Impression

The examiner is to consider the professional appearance of the candidate.  Their manner of presentation, maturity and attitude as well as their ability to establish rapport with their students and their demonstrated ability for decision making throughout the assessment is important.  

Written

The written test has been designed to assess the sound thought process of the candidate in different teaching situations and not their memorizing skills.  There will be practical teaching questions from Western Rider 1-3.  Recreational Riding Theory Assessment – questions will be asked using the information from the Recreational Theory section of this document.

Unmounted Lesson (15-20 minutes)

Candidates are to present their lesson topics as if instructing a group of students.  Please see below for a list of possible unmounted teaching topics.

Riding Demonstration (10 minutes)

This is an opportunity for the candidate to warm up the horse that will be used in the Mounted Lesson portion of the Assessment.  The candidate is encourage to work on walk, jog and lope in both directions during the warm-up as well as other exercises that the candidate feels are relevant to preparation of the horse for the teaching topic.  The horse is then given to handler, until needed for teaching demonstration (mounted lesson).

Mounted Lesson (15-20 minutes)

A lesson plan should be submitted for the mounted topic.  Lesson must contain all necessary parts of correct lesson plan.  The aim is to teach a group lesson, identify safety concerns, control of ride, etc.

Lunging (10-15 minutes)

The candidate must demonstrate the correct fitting of the tack and protective equipment, candidate must be able to properly lunge his/her horse for exercise and warm up before riding.  For Reference see the Western Learn To Ride Manual – Rider 4, Lunging.

Oral

Bandages -  stable and polo/exercise wrap.  Bandages should be clean and in good repair.  Application of a variety of protective boots may also be required.

Tack -  care of tack, fitting, safe maintenance of tack, etc.

First Aid -  candidates should bring a basic first aid kit to the assessment and know its contents and uses.  Questions on treating basic wounds will be asked.

Unsoundness -  emphasis should be on scenarios that would occur in a lesson - coughs, tying up, ABCs, etc.

Feeding -  basic rules of feeding and feeding in relation to the riding lesson - a very hot horse vs. lazy horse.

Stall and Stable - how to keep a horse safe and happy.  Sizes of stalls, door widths, heights for buckets and tie rings, flooring and bedding.

POSSIBLE TEACHING TOPICS

•  Unmounted Lesson Topics
• Fitting of helmets and safe riding attire
• Grooming Procedure
• Tack Cleaning
• Proper leading and turning of the horse
• Bridling - Proper fitting and technique
• Saddling - Proper technique and fitting, including cinch and breastcollar
• Hoof care
• Tying a horse

 Mounted Lesson Topics

• Introducing the Walk
• Introducing the Jog
• Introducing the Lope
• Mounting safety
• Speed Control
• Position
• Stop
• Back up
• Circling
• Rein effects
• Open Rein
• Direct Rein
• Neck Rein
• Rein of Opposition
• Change of direction
• Eye Control
• Posting Trot
• Correct Diagonals
• Identifying leads at the lope
• Turn on the Forehand
• Turn on the Haunches
• Figure 8
• Simple change of lead (through jog or walk)

Use of games or props should be encouraged, where appropriate.

ADMINISTRATION:

All Assessments are to be arranged by the Alberta Equestrian Federation. 

MENTORS:

Mentors must be a CURRENT, certified Equine Canada Coach 1 or higher who must be willing to share their expertise with potential instructors.  Potential instructors must contact the AEF office to inform the Coordinator who their Mentor will be and will indicate on their Mentor Form who their Mentor will be through the entire process of certification.  In exceptional cases (moving, changing coaches) candidates may change Mentors but may not use one Mentor for certain tasks and another Mentor for other tasks. 

Please keep in mind that the Instructor Program Mentoring hours is a minimum guideline.  Depending on experience, some candidates may require further mentoring in order to be able to teach up to the required standard.

Please Note:  Candidates are required to bring their own equipment, all clean and in good repair (please do not assume that the facility will have equipment for you):

• Bandages (polo/exercise and stable)
• Lunging – lunge line, lunge whip, boots, gloves, etc.
• First Aid kits for both horse and human
• Teaching tools (games/props) for your mounted and unmounted lessons
• Pens and paper for the written test

“Guinea pig” students will be used for the lessons, but candidates should be aware that students MAY be above the beginner level.  This will not affect how you are assessed.

CANCELLATIONS:

Full registration refunds will be provided for written cancellations received prior to 30-days before the Assessment; a 25% administration fee will be applied to refunds requested after that date, however, NO REFUNDS will be granted less than 14-days prior to the date of the Assessment or for no-shows.  The AEF reserves the right to cancel session(s) due to unforeseen circumstances or insufficient advance registration.  The AEF cannot accept responsibility for expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation of an Assessment.

Click here for a complete Western Instructor Program information package.

All manuals are available at the Alberta Equestrian Federation office.