January 2008As we head into another year, the rider certification, instructor and coaching programs continue to flourish with lots of activity throughout the province.
Instructor and Coach status letters have been mailed out to everyone. Please take the time to read this letter, as there is a lot of important information included. If you have any questions about your status or about programs and courses that we offer, please contact Catherine Barker, Education Coordinator at the OEF Office.
Coaches’ Association of Canada’s Making Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation
Just a reminder to all Instructors and Coaches, of all levels and disciplines, you need to complete the online Making Ethical Decision evaluation. Visit the OEF website to find out more about the online evaluation, and how to access the pretest and evaluation at www.horse.on.ca and go to Programs – Coach and Rider.
Rider Level Testing
A reminder to all participants who are wrapping up with components from levels in the old English Learn to Ride Program – Candidates who had tested prior to March 31, 2007, and still have modules of the old tests to complete were to be done on or before December 31, 2007. All tests need to be submitted to the office no later than January 31, 2008, at which time no further old rider level tests will be processed.
Will you be organizing rider level testing in the New Year? Starting in 2008, the OEF will be posting upcoming dates of rider level testing on the website. Once you have organized a date, location, and levels that you plan to test, you may contact Jennifer Irwin at the OEF Office at edu2@horse.on.ca to have this information posted on the OEF website if you are willing to accommodate outside candidates. She will post this information, along with contact details. This will be for both English and Western rider level testing. Please note, this will be a service provided by the OEF to encourage rider testing throughout the province, all arrangements will be done between candidates and the testing contact, the OEF will not be responsible for the administration of these individual test dates.
2007 OEF Annual Conference Update
- NCCP/Equine Canada 2-day Training Workshop: Despite the uncooperative weather, we held two full workshops at Conference on Thursday and Friday. Participants are really enjoying this new theory workshop as it is specific to the sport of equestrian and it allows for more interaction and sharing of ideas. This course is for anyone and everyone, look for upcoming dates on the OEF website for courses being offered across Ontario in 2008.
- Coaches’ Forum: Thank you to all the instructors, coaches and interested parties who attended our first Coaches’ Forum, it was well attended and gave a good opportunity for information and ideas to be shared. We discussed the new NCCP coaching structure and the new Instruction of Beginner program available for English, Saddle Seat and Western, rider level testing, updating requirements for each discipline and Mike King from Intercity Insurance discussed the importance of insurance as it impacts coaches. Look for future Coaches’ Forums to be held at Can-Am and Conference!
- New English Instruction of Beginner Jumping Module Workshop: This was a popular workshop outlining the requirements of the new jumping module available for instructors who wish to be certified to introduce jumping to their students. Participants included mentors, instructors and future candidates. The OEF will be holding further jumping module workshops at the OEF Office in 2008. Visit the OEF website for upcoming dates.
Western Workshop
On October 14, Barbara Newlands facilitated a Western Workshop at Horse Sense Training in Georgetown with the assistance of fellow provincial Western Coaching Committee members Pat Carter, Maggie Meehan-Thompson and Cathy Williams. Barbara provided an overview of the new Instruction of Beginner program, and other updates from National in the morning, and in the afternoon there were teaching demonstrations of common problems coaches encounter when dealing with riders from levels I to IV. Thank you to Shelley Easton and her demo riders for their participation with the afternoon activities. Future Western “updates” will follow more of a workshop format to allow for participants to be more actively involved.
English Instructor Workshop
MH Lessard and Marie-Clare Savard were at Hillsview Stables in Lively, near Sudbury, on Sunday, October 14, to do an Instructor Workshop. A good mix of coaches, and instructor candidates learned about the new Instruction of Beginner program and candidates demonstrated both mounted, unmounted lessons as well as lunging demonstrations. The new Instruction of Beginner program is far more black and white for candidates and mentors. Every standard assessed to become an instructor is outlined in the new rubrics, and candidates will know what they need to work on in order to go from a below standard, to a meets standard, or up to the exceeds standard. All of the 2008 information packages, including information on the Emergency Action Plan, the new mentor forms, rubrics and Mentor Information packages are all posted on the OEF website under Programs – Coach and Rider. As of 2008, all Instructor Evaluations will be run under the new system. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Catherine Barker at education@horse.on.ca
New English Learn to Ride Clinics
We held two English Learn to Ride Clinics this fall, one in September at Kemptville Campus with Casey Gillis and Kerstin Blaeske, and the other at Dreamcrest Farms in Port Perry with MH Lessard and Jill Stedman. These clinics provide an overview of the new levels, and allow for coaches and candidates to ask questions and discuss the standards of each level. Thank you to the demonstration riders from both Kemptville and Dreamcrest for their assistance with these clinics.
Instructors and Coaches – Are you covered?
We receive many phone calls from instructors and coaches asking about insurance coverage. It is important to understand that the personal liability insurance that is automatic with your OEF membership does not cover coaching activities, and if you are actively teaching, instructing or coaching – it is strongly recommended that you have your own commercial liability insurance. Many of you who operate out of a stable may be covered by the stable’s commercial coverage – but do you know? It is advised that you have a conversation with your stable to determine what you would be covered for and where – would this include coaching at shows, rider level testing off property, clinics you do at other stables? As part of your own personal risk management strategy, you need to know this information for your own protection. When in doubt, it is best to have too much coverage than not enough.
The 2008 Coaching Schedule is posted on the OEF website. The OEF reserves the right to cancel any scheduled course, clinic, assessment, evaluation or examination if there are insufficient pre-registered applicants. Please remember that all assessments, evaluations and examinations are set-up through the OEF Office, please contact Catherine Barker for more information.
Coaches’ Association of Ontario (CAO) Coach of the Month Award
Do you know of a deserving coach who should be recognized for their efforts? The OEF would like to encourage all riders, parents, officials and coaches to nominate certified, active coaches in equestrian sport. Visit the OEF website www.horse.on.ca for a link to the Coaches’ Association of Ontario’s Coach of the Month Nomination Form. Each month, one outstanding coach will be identified and featured on the CAO website and within their local community. Nominations will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will be kept on file for up to six months. All fields of the nomination form must be complete and consent from the nominated coach is required.
Congratulations to the following successful Instructors and Coaches who received their certification:
English Instructor:
Kendra Atkins, Ottawa
Cindy Thrower, Waterloo
English Coach 1:
Charlotte Harman, Perth
Jill Malanka, Carp
Stefanie Roffey, Navan
Tammy Seed, Stittsville
English Coach 2:
Camilla Giffen, Dressage Discipline, Dundas
Marianne Loughlin, Dressage Discipline, Enniskillen
Alison Lyver, Dressage & Eventing Discipline, Port Perry
Western Instructor:
Anita Coppaway, Peterborough