Equine Certification Program for Youth
Pine Rock Stables is proud to offer their unique Horsemanship and Riding Certification Clinics designed to give young horse lovers a jump start to their equine sport, hobby or career. These clinics are designed for youth, twelve to sixteen years of age.
This certification program consists of 4-level totalling 70 hours of combined theory and practicum on barn manners, care and handling, groundwork and riding skills.
WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM?
Pine Rock Stables has been providing riding lessons to many youth and adults throughout the years. The riders come from many walks of life and from all corners of North America.
One common trait of all riding students is their lack of awareness and knowledge of the animal they are working with. Coupled with the lack of the very basic ground handling skills, safety knots, grooming, cleaning feet etc.
Many riding academy’s skip over the basics; and the basics are truly the foundation of skilled, safe and knowledgeable people working with horses.
Pine Rock Stables has developed a program to address these shortcomings. Graduate students of the Elemental Horsemanship Program will have developed their skills to enable them to walk into a field of horse or into a working barn or arena and be able to spot safety concerns and know how to solve them in an effective manner. They will also be able to spot well developed riders; as well, as horses which are happy and sound or resistant and sore, and once again have the solution in order to correct problems at hand.
The EH program will address ALL aspects of Equine horse handling, care, barn manners, groundwork, and riding. One of the key points being missed today in youth programs is a complete understanding of the horse, it’s true nature, how it was designed to move and communicate.
Graduates from the EH Program will possess the qualities which will make them appealing candidates while applying for positions with private and commercial equestrian facilities, vets, farriers, farms and ranches or race tracks looking for personnel.
The EH Certification Program is designed to help young people develop into professional, trustworthy, and safe riders, trainers, grooms, coaches and other equine professionals. As a devoted horseperson, you deserve a certification program that can stand up to scrutiny and of which you can be proud.
This 4 Level Certification process will validate your knowledge, and your ability to remain current with all the EH levels. Each advancing level will allow you to build upon your knowledge and practical skills of ground work and riding. The EH Certification is a program that inspires confidence in young horse lovers, and will give them an opportunity to access their life’s passion.
Elemental Horsemanship = SAFETY - AWARENESS INTEGRITY -- RESPECT - VALUES - TEAMWORK
A PROGRAM BUILT ON SAFETY
The most important aspect of any Equine activity whether it be for business, sport or pleasure is SAFETY!!! This cannot be achieved without a heightened sense of awareness and understanding of the partner that you spent the most time with, the horse.
Many incidents and accidents involving horses are preventable! It is only through proper training, a heightened sense of awareness and understanding of the complexity of the Equine species can these be avoided. Be proactive rather than reactive!
COURSE OUTLINE
• Level 1: Horse behavior and psychology, the language of Equus (Horse), effectively reading body language of the horse, barn manners, awareness = safety, learn to be a leader, total ground control. Understanding the science behind horse movement.
• Introduction
• Safety Rules
• Surroundings and how they effect your horse
• Haltering
• Tying
• Nature of the Horse
• How horses see
• Three Energies of movement used in Communication
• 5 Energy points
• Human/horse communication
• Becoming an effective communicatory while doing ground work
• Hoof anatomy and care
• Frames of the horse and how they affect it’s mental state
• Body language of the horse
• Grooming
• Anatomy of the horse
• Leading
• Hand feeding BEWARE!
• Awareness – problem solving skills – alone and in a group
• Level 2: Becoming an effective communicator on and off the ground, breeds and types, proper tack fit and use of equipment, therapeutic techniques to relieve stress and evaluate soundness of the horse. Learning how to work with and not against the horses natural abilities.
• Tack for horses
• Safety check
• Language of Equus Awareness
• Ground manners
• Balance and movement of the horse
• Aids, natural and artificial
• Being a proactive rider rather than a reactive one
• Ground work
• Reins and lines
• Mounting and dismounting
• Herd dynamics
• Breeds
• Constituations of the horse
• Relaxation remedies
• Awareness – problem solving skills – alone and in a group
• Level 3: Safe ground work and riding skills. Developing the ability of controlling and encouraging horse to move freely on the ground and under saddle. Key components to better balance and movement.
• Riding position
• Saddle fit for horse and rider
• Riding the gaits
• Riding drills for percise control and micro communication skills
• Emergency situations
• Awareness – problem solving skills – alone and in a group
• Level 4: Advanced problem solving techniques and working at all gaits. Use of Essential Oils and acupressure techniques for emotional and physical wellness for horse and rider in emergency and non emergency situations.
• Canter
• Leg-yielding
• Advanced diagonstic skills
• When to get help
• Alleviating stiffness issues
• Putting it all together
• Buying your first horse
• Nutrition
• Horse care
• De-worming
• To shoe or not to shoe
• Awareness – problem solving skills – alone and in a group
Upon registration a more detailed course outline will be provided.
Enrollment Details
The age requirement for enrollment in the Elemental Horsemanship program is 12 to 16 years of age. Completion of all 4-levels (70 hours) will lead to certification. Participants must have access to their own horse, this horse may be owned by participant, or borrowed or on lease. The horse must be well matched to level of participant.
There will be two divisions of certification programs; one for Novices (participants with no prior horse experience) and for Intermediate (participants have had some exposure to horses).
Participants must come with all their own approved safety gear and tack. Approved riding helmet, gloves, boots with heals, nylon halter, lead rope, drassage whip, lunge whip, lunge lines (2), bridle, bitted or bittless, english or western saddles and pads, etc.
Manuals and all reading and reference materials will be provided.
Auditors are welcome for a fee of $25.00 per person per day.
To enroll, please e-mail me the answers to the following questions or mail them to me by post. Upon review a receipt will be send out which confirms and saves your spot in the level on the application.
1. Name of Participant
2. Address and phone number
3. e-mail address
4. Name and breed and age of horse being worked with
5. Level being attended (1,2,3 or 4)
6. Previous horse experience; how many years riding, where, riding instructor’s name, level of rider (Novice or Intermediate)
7. Horse related clinics or workshops previously attended
8. Tell me your plans and goals for the future
9. Any other informaion that may be important.
Participant must come with a willingness to see and learn new ideas and experience life through the eyes of the horse.
Please check our Events Calender for fees, dates and location of Certification Clinics nearest you!
Note: Receipt issued for child tax benefit upon full payment. Prices subject to change without notification. GST not included in price
“Elemental Horsemanship provided the bricks for the foundation where our youth will stand while emerging as Horsemasters of the 21st Centrury.” CT
