In the article “Riding Forward” (HSI no. 4, 2013) we discussed The American System of Forward Riding and mentioned the importance of the recently launched USHJA Trainer Certification Program (TCP).
One serious shortfall in the evolution of our sport is that it could reach High Performance levels, with hundreds of competitions and millions of dollars exchanging hands, without a certification or licensing system for trainers. TCP is changing that by providing a ‘comprehensive educational program’ that not only preserves the American System but also offers guidelines that are essential for a career as a trainer. Currently participation in TCP is voluntary, although anyone who trains horses and riders should consider it mandatory.
An original TCP Committee Member with forty years of training to her credit, Karen Healey is certified and feels strongly that all generations of trainers should follow suit. “We still get a lot with resistance. Of course I know a lot of established trainers. When they ask me why they need to do it, I explain, ‘It isn’t necessarily for you but for the future of our sport. We need to give our future trainers a guide, the knowledge of the correct way to teach. With a solid level of experience it shouldn’t be hard to complete the process.”
Introduced less than five years ago, the number of TCP applicants trickled in initially but is increasing by leaps and bounds. Included among the growing numbers of USHJA Certified Trainers are Bernie Traurig, Candice King, Melanie Smith Taylor, Chrystine Tauber, Stacia Madden and Susie Schoelkopf.
The original TCP Committee Members Shelley Campf, George Morris, Geoff Teall, Karen Healey, Julie Winkel, Claudia Cojocar and Paul Cronin brought the concept into reality.
“We met, discussed, argued, agreed, disagreed and resigned several times per year for a few years. It is difficult coming to a consensus on something as important as this,” Healey explained.
Fearless leader Shelley Campf remembers when it seemed to come together. “We had a great retreat in Harrisburg over two and a half days. That is when we really hashed it out.”
After extensive deliberation and development of content, the USHJA TCP Manual & Study Guide came to fruition. With twelve chapters, five appendix sections and a long-list of additional readings by various authors, the manual contains over 500 pages of valuable information organized in one giant binder.
In future editions of Horse Sport International we will take one chapter at a time and go into depth on the myriad of information available to those who embrace the TCP. In the meantime, here’s a taster of what’s to come.
Safety is #1
References: TCP Manual Chap IV: Tack & Equipment, Chapter IX: Flatwork, Chapter XI: Designing Courses, Article: Advanced Course Design by Anthony D’Ambrosio
Whether training a young horse, young rider or even an advanced student, safety is paramount. Seemingly obvious, ‘keeping it safe’ involves several factors. Any one, or a combination of things, can go wrong if the trainer does not consider proper tack, warm-up, level of horse and rider, where they are physically and mentally on a particular day and the appropriate goals.
“You need to know how to push the envelope without making it unsafe,” Healey remarked. “That is a really hard thing to learn. We can all set extremes in our courses – but you have to know your horses and know your riders. Even in a clinic – some horses can’t do what you ask and you have to work with that.”
When setting courses, safety includes building inviting tracks with ground lines, jumps that fall easily, yet with sturdy standards or wings and never leaving empty jump cups on the standards. There is room for flexibility with advanced riders, for example no ground lines and technical questions with distance and turns, but creating those challenges should be situation specific.
A good jumper course tests a horse and rider thoroughly, but in a manner that is appropriate for their level. It is important for the design to present challenges that test as many aspects of athletic ability as possible, but in a way that teaches, rather than discourages, when a particular challenge isn’t met.1
After several decades of teaching and training, Healey admitted, “Believe me I’ve ruined my share of horses teaching them what they can’t do. In my early days I thought they could all do whatever was asked of them. But when I over faced them, they lost their confidence, their heart, their faith in their job. I freely admit that. Hopefully by reading this others can learn from my mistakes – don’t push too hard… Practice caution. The same holds true for developing young riders.”
Flatwork, flatwork, flatwork
References: Chapter IX: Flatwork for Horse and Rider
Flatwork for this discipline is designed to train both horse and rider to jump successfully. Whether a student is a novice or advanced, they should understand and practice moving the horse off their leg, rhythm, lengthening, shortening, and lateral work.
The rider’s position, sense of balance and control and the ability to use the aids independently, seat, hands and leg, is achieved through flatwork. Through this knowledge, the rider can feel if the horse is straight, forward, light and listening.
Advanced movements including leg yielding, turn on the forehand, shoulder-fore, shoulder-in, haunches-in, haunches-out, turn on the haunches and half-pass are all explained and diagramed in the TCP Manual.
However, as Healey indicated with asking too much of a horse, flat work can also become a negative if over drilled, incorrect, or not well-planned. A trainer works with the horse and rider to achieve goals without over doing it.
Gymnastics
References Chapter X: Jumping Essentials – Cavalletti And Gymnastic Exercises Appendix V: Additional Readings: Advanced Gymnastics for Jumpers, by Jeff Campf
Gymnastics are built to instill confidence in both horse and rider. If used correctly, they become an extension of good flatwork, encouraging improved balance, focus, timing, strength and power.
“Every course is a series of gymnastics,” explains Healey, when discussing the steps to achieving goals. This time of year, medal finals are on the schedule. “Within a two-week period or so, I try to ask all the questions with exercises at home that may be asked in the show ring. Long, short, go wide, tight turns, rollbacks, skinny jumps, spooky jumps… do it all but keep it low.”
With low square oxers, ramped oxers, a cross rail in front of an oxer with a canter rail behind, verticals to help a horse jump up, oxers up and out – gymnastics can ‘help focus our training efforts and pin-point areas that need improvement.’
Building gymnastics to achieve a desired result is an art. The heights and widths will vary greatly depending on the level of the horse and the rider. Keep it simple unless the rider is advanced enough to allow the horse to jump without interfering.2
Jeff Campf devotes several pages to addressing problems through gymnastics. For a horse that tends to rush, he advises patience. A horse that rushes is usually confused or scared. To minimize this, slow down, emphasize rhythm, balance and concentration.
The rider’s job is to help achieve rhythm so the horse can concentrate on technique while completing the exercise. Practice downward transitions between fences, keeping enough room in between jumps. Use elevated cavaletti, which may be challenging initially. Set the cavaletti 6ft apart and have the horse take two short steps to help with focus and rhythm. If the horse rushes en route to the exercise, ask for a transition to the walk and either circle or walk over the poles. Stay straight. When the horse listens and stays patient then proceed with more.3
The Lessons Never Stop
Setting gymnastics, courses, expectations and goals for horses and riders is continuously challenging, as each horse and student have to be treated individually. Of course, the show ring adds an extra dimension, which reflects the effectiveness of the training.
Even with the responsibilities a trainer takes on, they should also consider themselves lifelong students. Whether learning cerebrally from the TCP Manual, or one of the recommended books within; or learning by example and observation; asking fellow trainers; and most importantly adapting to the needs of the horse and the rider, the learning never ceases.
