How Do I Become Certified?

Coach and Instructor requirement chart

2023 Coaching Dates – Tentative contact [email protected] for confirmation of date and location

May 16 and/or 17th, English Coach and Instructor, Lower Mainland. 

May 2 and/or 5th, Vancouver Island English Coach and Instructor – Closed

June 20th Kelowna English Coach and Instructor

October 10, English Coach and Instructor, Lower Mainland. All applications due September 10, 2023

Video Evaluations for Comp Coach and Instructor English or Western will be accepted in 2022.  Download the  2023 Video Submission Guidelines for all contexts and Video Submission Tips and Guidelines

**At the Evaluation Candidates will be given 20-25 minutes to teach a condensed lesson for each topic**

Please note that there are revisions and changes to the coach and instructor being implemented during the year. Please contact [email protected] for up to date certification information.

2023 Coach Status Program Pathway

Rider Level Requirements for Certification:

Drive Instructor Learn to Drive 1-12
Western Instructor Western Rider Level 4
Western Competition Coach Western Rider Level 4, Intermediate Rider Basic Training
Western Competition Coach Specialist Portfolio Submission
English Instructor Flat English Rider 6
English Instructor Jump English Rider 6 must complete jumping or Pony Club C2
English Competition Coach English Rider 8 or Pony Club “B”
English Competition Coach Flat English Rider 8 may bypass jumping
English Competition Coach Specialist Portfolio Submission

Minimum Age Requirements:

Drive Instructor must be at least 16 Years of age
Western Instructor must be at least 16 Years of age
English Instructor (flat or jump) must be at least 16 years of age
Western Competition Coach must be at least 18 years of age
English Competition Coach (Flat or Jump) must be at least 18 years of age
Western Competition Coach Specialist must be at least 21 years of age
English Competition Coach Specialist must be at least 21 years of age

THE FOLLOWING IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

  • Mentoring for all levels
    The mentoring component of the training requires that you establish a mentoring relationship with one or more Certified Coaches who are certified at a level above the level you are working towards.
  • National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Training EC/NCCP Long-Term Equestrian Development EC/NCCP Analyzing Equestrian Performance EC/NCCP Plan an Equestrian Practice EC/NCCP Design an Equestrian Sport Program EC/NCCP Manage an Equestrian Sport Program
  • Resource Manuals (available from the HCBC Store)
    • Rider Level Manuals
      • English Rider 1-2, 3-5 and 6-8
      • Western Rider 1,2,3,4
      • Learn to Drive Manual
    • Stable Management in Canada
  • Equestrian Canada Lunging Fundamental ECourse at https://campus.equestrian.ca/student/catalog.php

REGISTER FOR AN EVALUATION

  1. Review the HCBC Events calendar for upcoming evaluation days and locations and choose the evaluation you wish to attend.
  2. All applications will be submitted to [email protected] or mailed to HCBC 27336 Fraser Hwy, Aldergrove, BC V4W 3N5
  3. Evaluation applications must be complete and submitted to HCBC  no later than 30 days before the Evaluation date.
  4. Candidates may choose their own topics from the official list, they will be the lessons you teach at the Evaluation.
  5. Lesson Plans and EAP’s should be submitted as .pdf documents, with each document in its own file. For example the Emergency Action plan must be a single document containing all of the pages and requirements for the EAP. Each lesson plan will be its own .pdf file with all pages contained in the .pdf file.
  6. Candidates who submit .jpegs or photo’s of pages, incomplete files,  or individual pages of multi page documents will not be accepted into an evaluation until their submission is uploaded correctly.
  7. It is important that the evaluators can read your EAP’s and lesson plans. They do not have to be typed, however they must be large enough to read and legible. These must be .pdf files.

Here is an application submission checklist for you to review and ensure that all of the required documents are included with your application:

2023-Instructor-Checklist.pdf

2023 English Comp Coach checklist

2023 Western Comp Coach Checklist

2024 English and Western Competition Coach Specialist checklist uploading soon.

*Note:  English Instructor of Beginner has the option to take the Jumping Module, which you can indicate on your completed registration form.  There is an additional fee for this component.

How to Purchase Registered Coach Status from EC

How to Purchase Licensed Coach Status from EC

All Coach and Instructor candidate must complete the Standard First Aid course (16 hour, in person). Any reference to Standard First Aid in the requirements is referring to the 16 hour course.

You can find the application forms for all coaching levels on our Resources for Coaches + Coach Candidates Page

EVALUATION DAY

On Evaluation Day you should come prepared to spend the full day at the barn, so bring lunch, drinks and snacks.  You must also bring a list of contents for your human and equine first aid kits and any props or tack (side reins, lunge line and whip, etc.) you require to teach your lessons.  You should also bring copies of your lesson plans and Emergency Action Plan, as well as a clipboard, pens and pencils for the written tests (for English Instructor). All candidates must bring their own horse for the lunging along with appropriate tack and protective equipment.

You will have a full day completing all of the individual modules including:

  • Teaching the lessons according to the lesson plans you have previously submitted.
  • Teach the  lunge lesson required for your context
  • Bandaging a horse to ride, to ship or with a stable wrap; (instructor)
  • Oral and written tests covering stable management issues, dealing with injuries and/or emergencies, discussion of your Emergency Action Plan. (written test for English Instructor only)

Additionally

  • Please note that spectators are not allowed at any Evaluation. The exception is Coach Developers in Training.
  • Friends, family, coaches or dogs should stay at home.
  • Candidates can have help at the beginning of the day unloading their horse, and at the end of the day to load the horse.
  • You will be prebriefed at the beginning of the day and debriefed at the end of the day
  • Bring your confidence, the Evaluators want you to be successful.
  • Come dressed to ride in neat and clean attire. Bring your hard hat and gloves for the lunging.
  • Demo riders and horses are provided for you, lunge horses are not provided