July 2008The Coaching Program in Ontario has had a productive spring with several workshops, clinics, NCCP courses, Instructor Evaluations, Coach Evaluations and Exams. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our host facilities to date who provided us the use of their facility this year: Kemptville Campus, York Equestrian Center, The Horse People, Halton School of Equitation, Horse Sense Training, Pickering Horse Centre, RCRA and Dreamcrest Farms. A big thank you to all of the demonstration riders, coaches and their horses who help make these activities possible.
We are hearing very positive feedback on the new Instructor of Beginner Program set-up for English, Western and Saddle Seat disciplines. Coaches who are mentoring candidates should print off the Mentor Manual available on the OEF website as well as make themselves familiar with the new tools also available on the OEF website for preparing candidates including the new rubrics, lesson plans, and Emergency Action Plan.
What is an Emergency Action Plan?
You likely already have a plan – but is it formally written down? Is important information that all of your riders, boarders, horse owners and staff should know easily accessible, and do they all know what to do, who to call and where everything is in the event of an emergency? Some suggestions: post emergency contacts in visible areas in the barn, especially near a phone – for example, 9-1-1 for fire, police and ambulance; list the exact physical address including the nearest intersection of the barn along with directions on how to get there (this will be extremely important in the event of an emergency as people tend to panic); a diagram layout of the barn, paddocks, riding rings, house, driveway, other buildings on the property, and their proximity to the road – include emergency exits and even go as far as to indicate what horses are in which paddock, you could even do a detailed layout of the barn itself with stalls, feed room, and exits indicated. Your facility rules are an extremely important part of your emergency action plan, as are contact information for all horse owners, riders, staff, vets and farriers. For further information on developing an Emergency Action Plan for your stable, click here.
Attention English Coach 2 Candidates
Are you a Coach 1 considering moving up to Coach 2? Following a successful Coach 2 Workshop at Dreamcrest Farm on Tuesday, June 03, we want to hear from potential Coach 2 candidates to determine the need for Coach 2 evaluations in Ontario this fall. Please contact Catherine Barker at education@horse.on.ca or call the office to advise of your intent to present for an evaluation. This will help determine where and when we will schedule evaluations.
Western Rider Program
Please be advised that effective immediately, certified active Western Instructors are eligible to examine candidates for Rider Levels I and II. To obtain copies of the tests, please contact Jennifer Irwin at edu2@horse.on.ca
2008 OEF Annual Conference ~ November 28 – 30, 2008 at new location the Delta Meadowvale Resort & Conference Centre in Mississauga
Here are just some of the educational sessions we have lined up for this year’s Conference which may be of interest to instructors and coaches ~Jim Craigen internationally known professional on Understanding Learning Styles, Dr Julia Holt will present her psychological expertise for the confident rider, Andy Higgins, Director of the National Coaching Institute-Ontario, returns for a session on inspiring and supporting the best in others, a session titled Make it Official: You’re a Professional highlighting insurance, legal and financial aspects of starting your business, and Anna Mees, Senior Coaching Consultant from the Coaching Association of Canada will be facilitating the complimentary Coaches’ Forum on Friday evening discussing the NCCP Transition – this will be an important session for all instructors and coaches to attend to find out what changes are coming forward from NCCP and the CAC and how it will affect them. Look for our preliminary program in this issue, and a more detailed program and registration on the OEF website later this summer.
The 2008 Instructor, Coach and Workshop schedule is posted on the OEF website. The OEF reserves the right to cancel any scheduled course, clinic, evaluation or examination if there are insufficient pre-registered applicants. Please remember that all evaluations and examinations are set-up through the OEF Office, please contact Catherine Barker for more information.
Congratulations to the following successful Instructors and Coaches who received their certification:
English Instructor:
Rebecca Brown, Cobourg
Kelly Harper, Burlington
Kim Logue, Guelph
Rebecca Rebus, Burlington
Suzanne White, Cherry Valley
English Coach 1:
Charlotte Harman, Perth
Caroline Lypko, Ottawa
Rachel Smit, Wooler
Emma Tilson, Rockwood
English Coach 2:
Michele Mueller, Eventing discipline, Port Perry
Please remember:
~ What Equine Canada Sport License do I need? Coaches’ need a minimum of Gold, and Instructors’ need a minimum of Silver.
~ If you are scheduling Rider testing, please contact Jennifer Irwin at edu2@horse.on.ca to have you rider testing date and contact information posted on the OEF website.
~ Instructors and Coaches looking for updating hours are encouraged to attend workshops being offered for other disciplines; they would be eligible for updating hours for your discipline.