Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN just hosted a CHA Standard Instructor Certification Clinic that had in attendance four AQHA Professional Horsemen, one AQHA Professional Horsemen of the Year, one AQHA Youth Director of the Year, two AQHA Directors, four IHSA coaches, one judge, and two graduate students. It became quickly apparent that the group all shared a passion for riding and teaching.
Lessons ranged from stop, start and steer principles to get beginners in the horse industry started right - to counter canter exercises and flying lead changes and from western horsemanship patterns to advanced hunter courses. Each participant would assist and ride for each other, role playing as students in a particular scenario, such as, 50 year-old ladies who had wanted to learn to ride all their lives, or a group of 12 year old girls and one boy who were cantering, but didn’t know their leads yet. All had to be safe, effective and fun and show the individual’s own teaching style and methods.
The week ended with three Master Level Instructors (Andy Moorman of Florida, Anne Brzezicki of Tennessee and Amy Watkins of Ohio) who were each recommended to be Assistant Clinic Instructors for CHA. Every participant reached goals that they were trying to attain and did a lot of great networking along the way. The AQHA/CHA Educational Alliance Partnership is off and running and the future looks bright.
“The value of this CHA certification to me is a great broadening of awareness and skills for all involved and an excellent sharing of information and experiences,” says Andy Moorman AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year. “This is very needed in our industry!”
“I think it will be a great help to AQHA,” says Amy Watkins AQHA Professional Horsemen, judge and trainer. “I would love to talk to anyone about the process and how it can help their business.”
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies instructors, vaulting coaches, barn managers, college coaches, drivers and trail guides; accredits equestrian facilities; publishes educational manuals and DVDs and hosts regional and international conferences.
For more information on the Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit http//:www.CHA-ahse.org