
Trainer A Certification Program - Riding - competitive
Basic requirements of an applicant:
- Membership in your National Equestrian Association
(i.e., USEF, USDF, USCTA, etc.) - A minimum of 22 years old
- Successful completion of the Trainer B Program
- Proof of employment for 3 years as Trainer/Instructor after successful completion of the Trainer C Program and 1 year after the completion of the Trainer B exam
- Have the DRA II (silver) performance medal
- Certificate from a nationally recognized first aid course - within the last 2 years
Note: The director of the school has the final decision with respect to an applicant's participation within one of the Trainer Programs as well as within the examination.
In the Trainer A Program an applicant can select to specialize in a discipline. The applicant will then be tested at either forth-level dressage or jumping at 4 feet and the other discipline will be tested at a lower level.
Please ask for details.
Contents of the course:
- Practical riding
- Dressage (second or preliminary level)
- Jumping (3'9'' or 1,20 meter)
- Cross country (novice level)
- Teaching
- Dressage (second or preliminary level)
- Jumping (3'9'' or 1,20 meter)
- Riding theory:
- In accordance with the FN's Principles of Riding, Advanced Techniques, and Longing
- Sport education:
- More in-depth knowledge of developing athletic movement
- Planning and Strategy for students
- Cross training for the rider
- Greater understanding of
- Working with teens and young adults
- Personal and social communication skills
- Responsibilities of instructors
- Professional competence
- Teaching methods
- Greater knowledge of Equestrian sport:
- Stable management, feeing, and veterinary care
- Safety and care of horses, emergency first aid, infectuous diseases, according to the FN's Horse Management book (out of print - must buy used - Amazon usually has it)
- Confirmation
- Ethics and animal rights in equestrian sport
- Basic knowledge in:
- Planning
- Club structure
- Organization of clinics and workshops
- Business Management Issues
- Responsibilities and Insurance
- Animal Rights
- Laws of Riding Associations
Testing - participants will be examined in the following areas:
- Practical riding (3 grades)
- Dressage riding - in a snaffle and double bridle - demonstrating second or novice level dressage (1st grade)
- Jumping - riding the horse in a balanced jumping seat and the ability to jump 3'9'' / 1,20 meter course (2nd grade)
- Cross Country - riding in a balanced jumping seat and demonstrating the basic training for cross country and basic knowledge for riding the horses outside (3rd grade)
- Teaching (3 grades)
- Designing training plans, lesson plans, and lesson concepts (1 grade)
- Practical teaching of (2) lessons along with written lesson plan (1 grade)
- Theory in education, how one learns and how one instructs (1 grade - oral/practical exam)
- Riding theory * (1 grade) - oral:
- General training of the horse and rider
- The training scale of the horse and of the rider
- Veterinary Care and Stable Management
- Stable management and veterinary care** (1 grade - oral exam)
- Management; feeding, horse keeping, first-aid, infectious disease** (1 grade - oral/practical exam)
- Judging Conformation (1 grade, oral/practical)
* In the riding theory exam - The participant will be tested on his/her knowledge of the German system and understanding of the: Principles of Riding, Advanced Techniques and Longing books printed by the German National Federation.
** In the stable management - The participant will be tested on his/her knowledge of the Horse Management book printed by the German National Federation
A typical Daily Schedule for a course
6:30 am | Barn work |
7:15 am | Breakfast |
8:30 am | Dressage lessons in small groups |
12:00 | Lunch break |
2:00 pm | Jumping lessons in small groups |
4:00 pm | Theory or classroom work |
6:00 pm | End of day |
Each day is individual; this is a general plan of how the day usually runs during weekdays, weekends are planned according to other activities.
What to bring
- Barn clothes for working in the stable
- Hard sole shoes
- Riding boots
- Gloves
- Riding helmet
- Spurs
- Cross country vest (if you have one)
- Riding breeches
- Jeans and shirts
- Sweaters and coats for cool weather
- Jacket for rainy days (if wanted)
- Casual street clothes for the evenings
- Towel
- A notebook (with plenty of paper)
- Pens
- Computer (wireless is available in the breakfast room, but not in dorm rooms)
- European adapter for electronic products (if necessary)
- Hair dryer
- German SIM card for telephone (if wanted)
- Small knapsack for carrying belongings (computer, spurs, helmets, etc.) back and forth to barn
- Photocopy all documents (passport, credit cards, etc.) in case they are lost on the trip that you'll have all information to replace them faster
- Show clothes for testing day
** There is a washing machine and dryer available on the premises
How to prepare for a course
- Be as riding fit as possible before coming. However, remember you are coming for education and you don't need to be perfect in riding or in the knowledge of riding.
- Come with an open mind - remember things are done differently in a foreign country.
- Don't pack too heavy - traveling with a lot of luggage wears you out on the trip over.
- Before coming you may want to increase the daily limit your bank will let you withdraw. Many stores in Germany do not take credit cards, which means you must pay with cash (euro), and there is not always a bank close by.
- It may be possible that you need a pin number when using a credit card.
Suggested reading
- The Principles of Riding - German National Equestrian Federation
- Advanced Techniques of Dressage - German National Equestrian Federation
- Horse Management - German National Equestrian Federation (out of print)
- Longing - German National Equestrian Federation (out of print)
- Riding with Understanding and Feeling - Michael Putz
- Rider Fitness: Body and Brain - Eckart Meyners
- Balance in Movement - Susanne Von Dietze
- Tug of War - Dr. Gerd Heuschmann
Dates of the program
Trainer Program: September 8 - 25, 2014
Trainer Courses
The German trainer courses are one of the elements that make the German System of Riding so successful.
Another important component is also the fact that all the disciplines (dressage, jumping, cross country) of riding are practiced and supported along with riding theory.
Each course is based on a proven systematic program of training, which ensures that all instructors holding the title of Trainer/Instructor have been tested and have a certain level of understanding and experience in the sport of riding.
This level of expertise is consistent throughout Germany due to the fact that the curriculum is defined by one governing body and carried out by only a few certified schools.
Upon completion of each course, candidates in the programs are examined by certified examiners, which guarantees a consistent level of knowledge is being passed on from one generation of riders to the next.
The steps in completing this Instructor Certification program are as follows:
- Medal Performance - a minimum of a level 3 is required to start with the trainer program
- Trainer C - level 1
- Trainer B - level 2
- Trainer A - level 3
Once a rider has completed the requirement of the medal performance, he/she can begin the instructor certification program. First earning the trainer C, then the B, followed by the A.
Application process - Information needed to apply
- Filled out application
- Copy of applicant's membership card in National Equestrian Association Proof of show record
- Copy of certificate from a first aid course which was taken within the last 2 years
- Copy of silver Medal Performance Certificate
- Copy of the Trainer B certificate
Costs
The price of the trainer course is 1.250 € (testing fees, room and board not included)
For payment of deposit and courses we accept:
- Cheques (with and additional bank service fee)
- Credit cards (with additional 5% bank service fee)
- Wire transfer: please allow a minimum of 7 days for wire transfer payments to be processed
Details for International wire transfers to the WRFS
Name on the account:
Westfälische Reit- und Fahrschule e.V.
Bank name: Sparkasse Münsterland Ost
Bank address: Rothenburg 5, 48143 Münster
IBAN: DE29 4005 0150 0000 3467 00
Swift-Bic: WELADED1MST
Inside of Germany
Account number: 346 700
Sort Code: 400 501 50