Become a trainer
Irish Horsemanship trainers use what is best described as ‘good horsemanship’. With good horsemanship, does not matter what tools or equipment is used. What matters that the trainer uses a thorough understanding of how a horse works – physically, emotionally and mentally, and can use this knowledge to work fairly and empathetically with the horse in the horse’s time.
Feedback on all trainers is welcomed and all of our trainers are committed to continious learning. With horses you never know it all.
The register of Irish Horsemanship trainers contains a list of some of the most talented horse trainers in Ireland today. There are four levels:
1. Irish Horsemanship assistant trainer
2. Irish Horsemanship trainer
3. Irish Horsemanship advanced trainer
4. Irish Horsemanship senior trainer
1. Irish Horsemanship Assistant Trainer
- You should be able to complete all of the Silversand foundation skills 1, 2 & 3 programme tasks. For more info on the Silversand foundation skills, please look at our student program. It is recommended that you have passed all of the foundation skills.
- Complete training with an Irish Horsemanship Senior Trainer who is on the exams board. Contact the office for the full list. Depending on your current level, this may take anything from a few days to much longer.
- Demonstrate in person (to be prearranged with the office) your current standard of groundwork and ridden work, with a number of horses, including horses with problems. You will also need to perform a selection of more advanced skills of your choice, which showcase your level of understanding, feel and timing.
- If all of the above is at the required standard, you will be invited to teach at a funday where your teaching skills will be assessed. You must be able to teach, explain, demonstrate a high standard of horsemanship, and be an effective teacher of both people and horses.
2. Irish Horsemanship Trainer
- You must have been a registered assistant trainer for 1 year minimum before you apply to become a trainer. During this year it is assumed that you continue to improve your horsemanship and teaching skills. After this year, you must complete the following:
- Spend a minimum of three days shadowing an Irish Horsemanship trainer (please arrange this with the office), and ride at at least one Irish Horsemanship 2 day international trainers clinic.
- Write a report of 5 lessons, to have taken places less than 2 months before your application to become a trainer is submitted (lesson feedback form to be filled out). Note we will contact some of these survey people for feedback.
- Create 3 videos of you dealing with 3 different problem horses. Please include a before video of each horse, and an after video of each horse. Please also supply a report with background on these horses, and explain how you worked with them.
- Upon successful completion of all the tasks above, you will be invited to teach at 2 fundays where your teaching skills will be assessed.
3. Irish Horsemanship Advanced Trainer
- You must have been a registered trainer for 1 year minimum.
- Make a video or demonstrate in person (to be prearranged with the office) an advanced standard of groundwork and ridden work with two or more horses.
- Write a report of 5 lessons, to have taken places less than 2 months before your application to become a trainer is submitted (lesson feedback form to be filled out). Note we will contact some of these survey people for feedback.
- Make a video or demonstrate in person (to be prearranged with the office) you ability to work successfully with horses who have problems and to also train their owner to continue the work you have done.
- Have successfully start 10 or more young horses to a high level, and provide video proof / other suitable formats for this.
- Teach at three fundays where you will be assessed.
4. Irish Horsemanship Senior Trainer
- Details to be released.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes
In exceptional circumstances highly talented & experienced horse trainers who fulfil all of the criteria above may be invited by Irish Horsemanship to join our list of approved Irish Horsemanship instructors. This is solely at the discretion of Irish Horsemanship. Canvassing is not permitted.
It is highly recommended that all instructors have coach insurance and a valid first aid certificate.
International trainers can become affiliated with Irish Horsemanship by invitation only. Any canvassing will disqualify.
For more information on becoming an Irish Horsemanship trainer, please contact the Irish Horsemanship office directly.
