Now is the best time of year for aspiring riding instructors, equestrian program staff, camp staff, vaulting and driving instructors, and other professionals to get an official certification through the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). In addition, it is a great way for summer riding programs to enhance their programs by having their staff gain a professional certification before programs begin for the summer. CHA has been certifying riding instructors for more than 45 years and is the largest certifying organization in North America have certified over 20,000 riding instructors. Those seeking certification will go through a multi-day intensive certification clinic where they must pass written tests, be evaluated by two CHA Clinic Instructors (and other clinic attendees), and participate in in-depth workshops.
CHA offers the following certifications: Standard Instructor Certification in English and Western disciplines, Trail Guide Certification, Day Ride Trail Guide Certification, Combined Instructor/Trail Guide Certification, Instructors of Riders with Disabilities Certification, Seasonal Equestrian Staff Certification, Equine Facility Manager Certification, Vaulting Coach Certification, Driving Instructor Certification, and Driver Certification.
Certification clinics are currently scheduled in 20 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces (Manitoba and Ontario). New clinics are scheduled throughout the year. Those states set to host include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, with some offering clinics in multiple locations. All clinics offer an exceptional value and include all educational manuals, CHA membership, and certification fees within the clinic fee.
Certification offers a variety of benefits, not only for the certified individual, but also for the employer, program manager, and clients/students. Benefits include insurance discounts, marketing opportunities through CHA, employment options, networking at professional events, and continuing education events. Certification adds legitimacy to a professional and shows customers that the person is committed to high professional standards. CHA instructors are tested on five important aspects that they need to have to be successful with their clients. These include safety, horsemanship knowledge and ability, teaching techniques, group control and professionalism. It also shows customers that the certified professional has passed a rigorous set of standards created by a well-respected professional organization in the equine industry and validates their knowledge and ability. Certification shows that the professional knows how to teach in a safe, fun, and effective manner with lots of riding theory, whys, hows and corrections and there is no “CHA Way” to teach certain horsemanship skills. For more information on the benefits, read CHA’s blog post, “Why You Should Find a Certified Riding Instructor” at http://cha-ahse.org/store/blog/why_a_certified_instructor.html.
For more information on attending a CHA Certification Clinic, please visit http://cha-ahse.org/store/pages/32/Member_Benefits.html. To learn what to expect at a certification clinic, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuhOm8YjGyI. For questions, please call CHA in Lexington, Kentucky, at 859-259-3399 or email info@CHA-ahse.org.
CHA Changes Lives Through Safe Experiences with Horses.
The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies instructors and trail guides, accredits equestrian facilities, publishes educational manuals, produces educational horsemanship DVDs and YouTube Safety shorts, and hosts regional and international conferences. For more information on the Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA-ahse.org or call 859-259-3399. To find a certified horseback riding instructor or accredited equine facility near you, visit www.CHAinstructors.com.
