RELATIONSHIP  RIDING©

2010-2011
Certification Program

“Becoming a Certified Relationship Riding© Instructor is more than learning how to train horses. It is a program that leads the participant to realizations about himself/herself through the way of the horse. Becoming a Certified Relationship Riding© Instructor means you have accomplished the very difficult task of mastering life skills and knowing yourself. Training horses and working in close collaboration with them will help you utilize these new skills until they become second nature to you.”       
Barbra-Ann King, EBW
Founder, Relationship Riding©

 PROGRAM OUTLINE AND PREREQUISITES:

The full certification program consists of seven stages in which the participant will acquire all skills necessary to become a successful Relationship Riding Certified Instructor/Trainer. The program is designed to expose the participant to all aspects of horse riding and training, including safe horse starting, behavior issues and working with horses in rehabilitation. 

A participant may chose between becoming a Riding Instructor or Trainer if they are not interested in the full certification program. Once enrolled in the program and successfully completing Stages One and Three, participants may start working as an Associate Instructor or Associate Trainer while completing their certification. The participants' names and contact information will be added to the Relationship Riding website.

Apart from Stage One and Seven, all other stages of the program can be done in random order. You may also do more than one stage at a time. We reserve the right to add additional training sessions to a participant's program in order to reinforce the lessons learned.

This Certification Program does not allow the participant to teach or use the EASI© program developed by Barbra-Ann King.

Each participant must own a horse that suits their height/weight proportions. The Relationship Riding method endorses the fact that no horse should carry more than 20% of their body weight (tack included). The teachings and philosophies taught by Relationship Riding© can only be ingrained if they are practised on a regular basis. It is also important that each participant be very comfortable riding a horse at a walk, trot and canter and that they are able to mount and dismount an average size horse (15 hh - 16 hh) from the ground without a mounting block.

Each participant agrees to own and use a treeless saddle approved by Relationship Riding© as well as the Relationship Riding© Bitless Bridle.

Relationship Riding© reserves the right to refuse anyone into the program as well as terminate the program for a participant once they have started, with no reimbursement.

Tuition fees for each stage of the Certification Program must be paid in full before the start date of each stage. No refunds.

The full certification program must be completed within two (2) years of registration.

One year after receiving their certification, the candidate will be re-evaluated by Barbra-Ann King in order to keep their certification as an instructor and/or trainer.

Each participant completing the program will have free advertising on the Relationship Riding© website for one year.

Certified Instructors/Trainers agree to use the Relationship Riding© logo in their corporate identification. It may also be combined with their own personal logo.

STAGE ONE

Learn how to ride using the Relationship Riding© method through a series of twelve (12) private lessons. This should take no longer than four (4) months to complete. Examination may be postponed if further training is necessary. The examination will be both practical and oral.

STAGE TWO

Take part in a natural horsemanship clinic as a participant with a horse and explain the differences between techniques.  The clinic must last a least three consecutive days. A certified Relationship Riding© instructor must audit the participant during the clinic. The participant will then submit a report on his/her experience at the clinic, explaining how things would have been done using the Relationship Riding© method. The participant must be able to give specific examples and explanations. The report must be submitted within two weeks of completing the clinic.

STAGE THREE

Riding Instructor: Observe and participate in six (6) riding lessons done by a certified Relationship Riding© instructor. Write a report on each session.

Trainer: Observe and participate in six (6) training sessions done by a certified Relationship Riding© trainer. Write a report on each session.

For the complete certification, participants must audit both riding lessons as well as training sessions.

STAGE FOUR

Do full-time training on four (4) different horses, including starting a colt. Each individual training session must be documented in writing accompanied by a video of the first and last training session for each horse, and be submitted for evaluation. A certified Relationship Riding© instructor must audit at least four (4) sessions per horse. Horses must be trained consecutively. Full-time training consists of fifteen (15) sessions per horse and must be completed within one month of the first session. Relationship Riding© reserves the right to have the student train additional horses.

If a participant choses to work with a rescued horse or one in need of rehabilitation, the horse may be considered as counting for 2 of the 4 required to train, depending on the work to be achieved, i.e. restarting and dealing with behavioral issues.

STAGE FIVE

Teach twelve (12) riding lessons to four different individuals. A certified Relationship Riding© instructor must audit all lessons.

STAGE SIX

Attend a barefoot trimming seminar recommended by Relationship Riding as an observant or participant.

STAGE SEVEN

Interview (exam) with Barbra-Ann King, EBW and Founder of the Relationship Riding© method.

FULL CERTIFICATION: must do all stages

RIDING INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION: must do stages One, Two, Three (riding lessons), Five, Six and Seven

TRAINER CERTIFICATION: must do stages One, Two, Three (training sessions), Four, Six and Seven.

Recommended Reading:

"Opening to Consciousness with Relationship Riding" by Barbra-Ann King

"Connecting With Horses" by Margrit Coates

"Horses: From Our Side of the Fence" by Sandy Lagno

COSTS

Stage One: $1500 + GST. If necessary, additional lessons will be paid by student at $75/lesson + GST.

Stage Two: The participant will pay the certified instructor's fees to audit the clinic as well as any transportation or lodging expenses, plus a fee of $150 a day (i.e. for a three-day clinic, $150 x 3 = $450 plus expenses) + GST.

Stage Three:

$1400 + GST. (Full Certification)

$700 + GST (Riding Instructor Certification)

$700 + GST (Trainer Certification)

Stage Four: $2300 + GST.

Stage Five: $1400 + GST.

Stage Six: (cost of seminar only)

Stage Seven: $700 + GST