ANATOMY IN MOTION • PEGGY BROWN

About The Centered Riding Instructor Certification Course

 

A CR Instructor Certification Course is a 2 part, 7 day course and intensive workshop for riding instructors. It includes riding, Centered Riding body awareness work (groundwork), bodywork, and practice teaching, and teaches instructors to use and apply Centered Riding principles and techniques in their teaching. It is open to instructors of any discipline.

Instructors who successfully complete the Centered Riding Instructor Course and meet the required standard will be certified as Centered Riding Level I Instructors, and placed on the international list of CR Instructors.

Certification is not guaranteed by completing the course. In order to be certified an instructor must complete the course and meet the Centered Riding Certification Standards for Level I Instructors. (These may be found on the CR website.) They must also pay CR Level I Instructor Dues and a one-time administrative fee ($25).

For more information on CR Instructor Standards and certification, please see the CR website.

 

Scheduling Requirements

 

A Centered Riding Instructor Certification Course is a two part, seven day course. Part 1 is 3 days and Part 2 is 4 days. The interval between Part 1 and Part 2 should be 6 to 8 weeks. This allows instructors to use, teach and practice what they have learned in Part 1 before returning for Part 2.

All participating instructors must participate fully in all of Part 1 and Part 2 of the course.  They may not miss more than 2 day of the entire course. New instructor course participants may not be added in Part 2.  However, Updating CR Instructors may be accepted to fill available spaces in Part 2 (with approval of the Clinician.)

A typical daily schedule runs from approximately 9 AM to 5 PM, with a short lunch break. It is preferable to have lunch on-site, rather than go out for lunch. Evenings are usually free.

 

Facility, Equipment & Horse Requirements

 

• Covered ring, or outdoor ring with covered ring available in case of rain or cold weather.

 

• Speaker system with a wireless microphone. Sometimes the clinician can provide one.

 

• Indoor room for groundwork, with space for all to lie down & move around. In warm weather a lawn area is acceptable.           

 

• Bathroom facilities; lunch area; table for books / teaching resources.

 

• Stabling for horses brought by participants.

 

• School horses for participants who cannot bring their own horses.

 

• Inexpensive lodging and restaurants in the area.

 

 

Clinicians

 

Only certified Level IV CR Clinicians may teach CR Instructor Courses.

 

Assistant Instructors may be CR Level IV Apprentices or CR Instructors of other levels whom the Level IV Instructor considers qualified to assist.

 

It is the responsibility of the Level IV Clinician to arrange for an Assistant Instructor. All such arrangements must be approved by the Organizer.

 

Who May Participate

 

Participating Instructors: (maximum 12 instructors). They ride with instruction all 7 days, participate in groundwork, lectures and bodywork, and teach in 2 practice teaching sessions (teaching Student Riders) during Part 2.

 

Qualifications: Instructors must be qualified before they may participate in a CR Instructor Course. They must  be at least 18 years old and safe, experienced riding instructors who have taught riding lessons for at least 1 year (any discipline.) They must be capable of riding, teaching, and demonstrating competently at a level expected of a riding instructor. They must have ridden in an Open Centered Riding Clinic OR taken Centered Riding lessons from a Level III or IV CR Instructor (with a recommendation to take the CR Instructor Course from that instructor.) If there is any question regarding an applicant’s qualifications to take the CR Instructor Course, please discuss this with the Clinician BEFORE accepting their registration.

 

Student Riders: up to 6 accepted, to ride in 4 daily private lessons during Practice Teaching sessions in Part 2. Student Riders need not be instructors and may or may not have had prior experience in Centered Riding. They are taught by Participating Instructors (supervised by the Level IV Clinician); emphasis will be on  the basics of Centered Riding. They are encouraged to audit both parts of the clinic, join in groundwork exercises & share questions and observations, but they only ride during Part 2. They. They receive no certification or instructor qualifications.

 

A variety of Student Riders of various levels, disciplines, and riding interests is desirable. This is an excellent opportunity for an instructor to bring a student to the Instructor Course for an in-depth exposure to Centered Riding or for instructors-in-training to experience the CR Instructor Course as a student. Student Riders must fill out a Student Rider Application/Questionnaire.

 

Auditors: May attend and watch un-mounted sessions and riding sessions as space permits.

 

The Organizer Will

 

Make an agreement with Clinician regarding course dates, fees, Assistant Instructors & other arrangements. We recommend a written agreement with a copy for both the Clinic Organizer & Clinician. (The CR Office does not assign course dates or schedule Instructors. You must contact a Level IV Clinician directly and make arrangements with the Clinician.)

Determine fees for the course. (Please see section on fees and finances.)

 

Create clinic flyers & publicize the course (see Publicity & Advertising).  

 

Send out clinic information & registration materials, including Instructor & Student Rider Questionnaires.

 

Receive and process applications. Send out confirmation of acceptance plus clinic information to Participating Instructors & Student Riders. (Pre-registration is required.)

 

Accept only Participating Instructors who qualify (please see Who May Participate).

 

Provide clinician with a complete list of participating instructors & student riders' names and addresses.

 

Provide clinician with information on Participating Instructors’ and Student Riders’ abilities and experience (from Instructor and Student Rider Applications & Questionnaires).

 

See that necessities are ready for the clinic, e.g, ring, stabling, chairs, refreshments, name tags, etc.

 

Copy and distribute course handouts for participants.

 

Provide Course Instructor and Assistant Instructor with meals and lodging.

 

If an Organizer wishes to participate in the course, they will need to arrange for someone to fulfill the organizer's duties during the 7 days of the course - e.g. barn management, facilitator, other duties, etc. The organizer-participant must be able to participate fully (without distractions) in all sessions of the course.

 

 

The Clinician Will

 

• Organize the riding / practice teaching  schedule.

 

• Make arrangements for obtaining an assistant instructor, if needed.

 

• Provide a time schedule for both portions of the clinic and a master copy of all course handouts.

 

• Collect CR Instructor dues and administrative fee from participating Instructors.

 

• Send participating Instructors’ names to Centered Riding Office & request Certificates and CR Instructor Record books.

 

• Send Instructor Applications, dues checks & clinic report to the office, so new CR Instructors may be properly recorded.

 

• Work with you to make adjustments as necessary, while meeting CR Instructor Course requirements.

 

• Make every effort to make your clinic a success.

 

 

Fee Structure

 

Fees for Participating Instructors, Student Riders and Auditors are determined by the organizer. Course fees vary, depending on the cost of running the course, what is included, and typical clinic fees in that area.

 

Each instructor who passes the course must pay Centered Riding Level I Instructor dues, plus a one-time administrative fee of $25 directly to Centered Riding Inc, in order to be certified as a Centered Riding Instructor. (For courses ending after September 1, instructor dues are pro-rated for that year.) These fees are collected by the clinician and are not included in course fees.

 

In setting course fees, consider all expenses of running the course, including: clinician's fees, travel expenses, clinician’s and assistant's meals & lodging, cost of publicity, mailings, duplicating clinic materials, cost of facilities, meals or snacks (lunch) provided, portable toilet rental, and any help you employ.

 

Organizers should be realize that most CR Instructor Courses do not make a large profit. It is prudent to set the fee structure so that expenses can be met with less than a full clinic; if the course fills, it should then show a profit.

 

You should require a substantial deposit, and payment in full at the beginning of Part 1. Stabling, charges for lesson horses and auditor fees are generally paid at each the part of the clinic. Should a participating instructor fail to return for Part Two, you cannot fill their place with another instructor. However, you may accept Updating Instructors to fill available spaces in Part 2 (Maximum 12 instructors total.)

 

The clinician should be paid for their professional services at Part 1 and Part 2, as per their contract.

 

Publicity & Advertising

 

Centered Riding Instructor Courses should be publicized well in advance--six months to a year prior to the clinic is recommended. You should also publicize the course to potential student riders (who need not be instructors).

 

Your Clinician will have your CR Instructor Course listed (at no charge) on the Centered Riding Clinic Schedule, which is posted on the CR Website (www.centeredriding.org), as well as on the clinician's clinic schedule.

 

Other suggestions for publicity: websites, posting online on equine forums and bulletin boards, handing out course flyers at shows, expos and events, free listings in Coming Events Calendars in horse publications (local, regional and national; usually 3 month lead time), listing & write-ups in local riding club newsletters; direct mail; advertising in Centered Riding News and/or the CR E-Bulletin; press releases to equine publications. Please contact your Clinician and the CR Office for help in publicizing your CR Instructor Course.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact your Level IV Clinician with any questions.