USEA ICP Release
ICP Jumping Schedule
Otter Creek to Host Dressage and Jumping USEA Instructor Certification Workshops
Otter Creek Farm is pleased to announce that Otter Creek Farm will be hosting two USEA Instructor Certification Programs’ (ICP) for individuals interested in achieving licensing through USEA or who wish to learn from a top quality instructor in an intimate setting. Our 1st session will be held June 17th-19th taught by Brain Sabo and will focus on Dressage, our 2nd session will be held July 28th-30th taught by Phyllis Dawson and will focus on Jumping.
Each workshop is limited to 8 participating instructors, however auditors are very welcome. Participating instructors will watch the Teaching instructor teach, teach and receive feedback on their teaching, discuss theory, see their peers teach, and finally receive a one-on-one evaluation from the instructor. Auditors are welcome to attend all portions of the workshop except for the one-on-one evaluations on the 2nd half of the last day. If you want more information email Jenny Warner at amalia_00@yahoo.com
What is the USEA ICP?
The Instructors' Certification Program is a professional education and certification program for instructors of event riding, competing and horse care. There are 6 levels of Certification:
Level I - Novice - Instructors of riders through Novice
Level I - Training - Instructors of riders through Training
Level II - Instructors of riders through Preliminary, CIC*, Training Level Three-Day Event Test, CCI*
Level III - Instructors of riders through Intermediate, CIC**, CCI**
Level IV - Instructors of riders through Advanced, CIC***, CCI***
Level V - Instructors of riders through CCI****
The six levels of ICP certification correspond to the levels of national and international competition from Novice through Advanced and from CIC* through CIC*** and Training Level 3-Day Event through CCI****. At its various Workshops for Levels I through IV, ICP engages with event instructors at all levels of experience, knowledge and teaching skill. For the instructors, the riders, the auditors, the organizers and the faculty, the learning on these occasions comes from focused observation, analysis of riding and model- and practice-teaching, and lively discussion.
Capable instructors are essential to the training of riders and their horses for humane, safe and skilled participation in the sport of Eventing. The USEA Instructors' Certification Program (ICP) seeks to help event instructors at all levels acquire a knowledge base, both theoretical and practical, upon which they can continue to build throughout their teaching lifetime. For USEA certified instructors, this knowledge base will support not only the teaching of event riding and training, but also care of the horse and development of effective and safe teaching methods.
Participants will receive education in essential training principles for riders and horses, drawn from time-tested sources and from experience with today's competition challenges. This education will come in the form of instructor materials for workshops, workshops, and mentorship opportunities. Offer to instructors materials, workshops, and mentorship opportunities that present these training principles in a logical sequence; Certify instructors at a specific level of teaching proficiency, with the invitation to continue to learn and to achieve a higher level of certification if they so desire; Provide an atmosphere of professional openness and support to all instructors so that on-going learning is facilitated.
What Does it take to become a USEA Certified Instructor?
Becoming an ICP certified instructor is not an easy task. You can’t just wake up one day and become licensed by USEA. It takes a fair amount of experience, knowledge, money and time commitment to become certified, even at the Novice level. To receive their certification an instructor must have:
• Current CPR training,
• passed a state background check,
• attended 6 days of seminars with ICP instructors,
• 3 horse professionals support their application to become a Certified Instructor
• 3 students who have competed at the highest level the instructor is attempting to become certified at
• volunteer at least 10 hours a year at horse shows
• experience dealing with horse health/lamness issues
• passed an USEA ICP Assessment
• experience with feeding, care and conditioning of horses
• provided information on their riding experiences to USEA
• provided information on their formal riding education
• and may receive mentoring from an Eventing Professional
Why should Instructors become certified?
There are many reasons why someone should become certified. To me the most important reason is the learning opportunities, but if that’s not enough, USEA also offers the following to people who obtain their certification:
• Listing on USEA’s website as an ICP certified instructor.
• ICP certified instructors receive a lifetime 10% discount on all horse/rider/barn products offered by Bit of Britain.
• They also receive special premium credits for various kinds of equine-related insurance offered by Broadstone Equine Insurance and by Hallmark Insurance.
• Direct Link to United States Pony Club Association.