Outcomes of the course:

• Greater confidence in coaching the light seat and developing participant balance.
• Developing a greater understanding of the change in the horse’s movement and effect on participants over raised poles in walk and trot.
• Discussing the 3 stages of leading and how to train the equine and volunteers over ground and raised poles.
• Understanding the level 2 showjumping assessment and course and being confident to aim their riders towards participating at level 2 competitions.
• Discussing how to progress to canter work.
• Developing confidence in coaches to experiment with new exercises in trot and canter to progress riders.
• Developing confidence to coach riders to jump fences up to 60 cm.
• Understanding the requirements of level 3 showjumping course and confident to aim participants to ‘have a go’.

Level 1

• How to coach balance for showjumping, including the light seat exercises to use.
• How to use poles effectively within a session.
• Discuss the training of the equine and effective leading over poles.
• Discussing how and when to progress to ground poles in trot.
• Discussing how and when to progress to raise poles (up to 15 cm) and the benefits of horses working over raised poles, in hand and under saddle.
• Explain the Level 1 showjumping course and how the participants are judged when competing.

Level 2

• Light seat and level 1 recap and development of understanding and knowledge, to include some light seat exercises.
• How and when to progress to raised poles up to 30cm (level 2).
• Discussion and set up of the Level 2 course and how it is judged.
• Potential to be assessed for Level 2 showjumping.
• How to interact with a wide range of participants to include confidence giving exercises.

Level 3

• How to maintain a balanced and rhymical canter on the ground and over pole and how to progress from trot. To including landing from the fence.
• How to progressing from poles / raised poles to small fences in canter (30-50cm).
• Discussion about distances between fences, to include small grids and courses to improve balance, co-ordinations and strength.
• Discuss the level 3 showjumping course and how the participants are judged.
• Potential to be assessed for Level 3 showjumping.
• Developing the participant from the level 3 RDA course up to 60cm.

Level 4/5 

Learning outcomes:

• Encouraging the consistency of balance, light seat and the follow through of the hands throughout the course, and how to troubleshoot.
• Evaluating the pace at each level, able to explain the need for diagonals, correct canter leads and balance (scales of training).
• Explain the impact of social license and public perceptions on equines and participants and when they should move through the grades.
• Explain the requirements at each level of show jumping.
• Being able to coach and mentor coaches as well as assessing at level 1,2,3 and 4.

Syllabus

• Discussion on light seat and coaching balance.
• Quality of paces for walking, trotting and cantering over poles, raised poles and small fences. Discussions on progression through the levels. Assessing rider ability to progress and when ready to progress.
• Grids and exercises at trot and canter, to include when and when not to progress.
• How to set out the courses for level 1,2, 3, 4 and 5.
• Be able to explain the criteria for Judging levels 2,3 and 4.
• Discuss the requirements of judging at level 5.
• Know the tack requirements and the use of the whip (equine welfare).
• Review and assessment of coaches attending. This will be through discussion, coaching and critique of coaching.

Location: Dundee

For further details please contact Lorna Clarke on lornakinghorn@yahoo.co.uk