After years of hard work and dedication from committee members and professional staff, the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) is proud to announce that the USHJA Trainers Certification Program will begin in June 2009.
The members of the Trainers Certification Program Committee (TCPC) strongly believe that today’s students are the future of the equine industry. The mission of the USHJA Trainer Certification Program is to preserve the American hunter/jumper system of riding through the development of a comprehensive education and certification program for all levels of professional trainers.
TCPC Chairman Shelley Campf shared her view of the program. “The USHJA Trainer Certification Program is an exciting new program that has already been endorsed by many of the leading trainers in our sport. One of the goals of the Trainer Certification Program is to promote continuing education. All the members of our committee learned from each other in round table discussions when developing the manual. With the requirement of the trainer symposiums, the Trainer Certification Committee will provide an environment for working professionals in our industry to do the same. As chairman, I am so grateful to have been a part of this process.”
The USHJA Trainer Certification Program is a voluntary program. It is intended to help promote trainer credibility and offer ongoing professional support. Certification demonstrates a marketable merit of knowledge that will grow in importance with each passing year.
The USHJA Trainer Certification Program aims to help equine professionals find their niche. It exists to provide continuing education, recognition of merit, and a forum for long-term professional development. As professionals in the horse industry, we all have different strengths and weaknesses. We also have different goals and objectives. The Trainer Certification Program aims to promote certain standards and ideals while still allowing for individualism.
In order to receive and maintain certification, trainers must possess a proven bank of knowledge on a broad spectrum of relevant professional information, including (but not limited to) horsemanship basics, safety of horses and riders, training techniques and business ethics.
The USHJA Trainer Certification Program benefits our sport by providing the hunter/jumper industry with the following resources:
—A unified education program based upon the American Hunter/Jumper Forward Riding System.
—Recommended teaching and training goals and methods.
—A common knowledge of all aspects of the hunter/jumper sport, including stable management, horsemanship practices, safety, flatwork, jumping, professional conduct and client relationships.
—Allows trainers to be a part of a reputable, reliable, resource base for potential riding students.
There will be three levels of certification, each with set requirements. One of the requirements for all levels of certification is to attend a USHJA Trainers Symposium. Trainers interested in applying for certification in 2009 can get a jumpstart on their requirements by attending the 2008 Trainers Symposium on October 24-26, 2008, at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA. Visit www.ushja.org/programs/trainers_certification.shtml for certification requirements and additional information regarding the three categories of certification.
The USHJA Trainers Certification Program will begin in June 2009. Applications and enrollment procedures will be released in May 2009.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Melanie Fransen at [email protected].