January 2009
Happy New Year! So, what were your 2009 resolutions?
Get your First Aid updated?
Take a coaching workshop?
Start the Rider levels program?
Finally complete that online MED evaluation?
With the holiday season’s hustle and bustle behind us, now is the time to outline your 2009 goals. So, no matter what your plans, taking some time to read through the different information packages for the Rider and Coaching programs posted on the OEF website, is a good first step. And, just a reminder: all of the programs have one thing in common: a 2009 OEF membership.
Do you have yours?!
Another New Year ritual: Instructor and Coach status letters. Expect these in the mail shortly. Please read through this letter carefully; there is a lot of important information included. Here too, your annual membership renewal is key to staying “active”.
The 2009 Coaching schedule is now posted on the OEF website. Don’t forget that all assessments, evaluations, and examinations are organized through the OEF office. Also, the OEF reserves the right to cancel any scheduled course, clinic, assessment, evaluation or examination if there are insufficient pre-registered applicants. So, don’t be disappointed: make sure you get your registration forms in on time.
Questions, queries, concerns? Please contact
Rider Level Testing
Will you be organizing rider level testing this year at your facility? If you are interested in accommodating outside candidates, the OEF will post upcoming dates for English and Western rider level testing on the website.
What you need to do: organize your date, location, and levels that you plan to test; then forward this information to
What the OEF will do: post this information, along with your contact details on our website.
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.
Learn to Ride Clinics
On Saturday November 22nd, 2008 OEF held an English Rider Level Clinic at Swallow Creek Farm in Carp,
For upcoming dates and locations for English Rider Level Clinics please check our website in the New Year.
Copies of the new English Rider Handbook are here!
Back in April 2008, we reported that all levels of the English Rider Handbook were in the process of being revised. In early November they arrived here in the office. There are a couple of important changes that everyone should be aware of with the new revisions of the manuals:
-The levels contained in each of the three manuals have been slightly adjusted. The manuals are now Levels 1-2, Levels 3-5 and Levels 6-8.
-The new price for the manuals is $25.00 plus shipping and handling, and GST
-All Flat tests and Jumping patterns are available on the Candidate CD only. They do not appear in the manuals or on our website. All candidates are encouraged to purchase a copy of this CD in order to obtain the detailed breakdown of the topics covered in each level. There is also a “package deal” that includes the CD and an English Rider Handbook; please contact the office for details.
Additionally, Stable Management in Canada is a recommended resource and can also be ordered on our website.
English Coaching Workshops
The OEF hopes to offer workshops this spring outlining the new program for Coach 1, which will soon be referred to as “Introduction to Competition Coach-Generalist”. New evaluation tools and rubrics are at a final draft stage pending approval from the Equine Canada National English Coaching Committee in February. Once approved, we will make these documents available to you on our website. We hope you will take that opportunity to review these documents as they will become the standard to which coaching candidates will be evaluated. Ideally, look for the Introduction to Competition Coach-Generalist evaluations to begin either this fall or early in 2010.
If you are currently finishing up your prerequisites for the Coach 1 program (as it stands now), it is recommended that you plan for evaluation and/or examinations this spring if possible. Of course, we will do our best to accommodate candidates who have started the process of being certified once we have transitioned to the new evaluation process. Please be sure to be in touch with the OEF office so we can determine scheduling.
2008 OEF Annual Conference Update
-Coaches’ Forum: This year’s Coaches’ Forum was again well-attended by instructors and coaches, as well as those who are interested in pursuing their certification. Anna Mees, Senior Coaching Consultant with the Coaching Association of Canada hosted the question and answer session which focused on the transition to the new NCCP coaching model. Understandably, there were many questions, which are obviously a result of a system still in flux. As the program unfolds and new levels are introduced, we will continue to offer Coaches’ Forums in order to keep current instructors and coaches, as well as future candidates, updated and “in the know”. We are planning for our next Coaches’ Forum at Can-Am: get your questions ready!
-NCCP/EC 2-day workshop: This year’s two day workshop ran on Saturday and Sunday; it too was a well-attended session. Facilitated by Mary Ruth Moore and Danielle Yaghdjian, this session introduced instructor and coach candidates to equestrian specific coaching theory. Check the OEF website for future workshops around the province.
Updating Hours
Many professions look favourably upon, or even expect, their members to continue to educate themselves through professional development. Ongoing learning is particularly important to stay connected to the changes in your industry; this is why your updating hours are important. It is also important that you forward your hours to the OEF office in order that we may keep your file current and “active”.
New this year!
We all know that the current updating hours model is based on achieving 20 hours of updating every three years. But what about those who have more than 20 hours to their name? Beginning this year, those who accumulate additional hours will be acknowledged, (for example, on our website), for their professional development. This new model is based on the following:
-minimum 20 update hours = 1 star
-35+ update hours = 2 star
-50+ update hours = 3 star
And speaking of updating hours—check out the Ontario Coaches’ Conference. The conference, hosted by the Coaches’ Association of Ontario, is being held
Coaches Association of
Do you know of 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. Here is an opportunity for coaches to be acknowledged:
Visit the Coaches’ Association of Ontario's website to dowload a 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 on-going 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. Again, please go to www.coachesontario.ca.
Congratulations…
…to the following successful Instructors and Coaches who received their certification:
English Instructor-Jumping
Rebecca Brown, Cobourg
English Coach 1
Megan Bird, Almonte
Garry Bumstead, Astorville
Joanna Chute, Port Carling
Erin Gagnon, Kemptville
Shannon McManus-Becvar,
Jessica Rhinelander,