USIHC Trainer Seminar

Responsibilities and Sanctioning

1.1 Hosting a FEIF trainer seminar
FEIF trainer seminars in the US and riding badge programs may be offered either by a private person or the USIHC itself (eligible hosts and locations see below).

Anyone interested in hosting a FEIF trainer seminar or a riding badge program must report their intention in a timely manner to the USIHC in writing to education committee. At least 4 months before the start of the seminar. The information must include crucial information such as date, location, clinician, examiner, etc.

This time line will allow for enough time to make any changes that may be needed and allows time to advertise the events accordingly, thus making them accessable to more members (deadline Quarterly for advertising 2-3 months before each publication).

1.2 Sanctioning
Any seminar including some form of badge or certification through the USIHC must be officially sanctioned by the USIHC (just like shows) as the USIHC is also the certifying association and participants passing receive an official badge or certificate for their achievements from the USIHC.

1.3 Financial risk
The financial risk is with the organizer and the organizer determines the price for participants.

1.4 Administrative support
The USIHC will offer administrative support to any host/organizer of a FEIF trainer seminar as well as a riding badge program as it is in the interest of the USIHC to further education and to develop educational programs in the US.

1.5 Advertising
The support will include free advertising of the event on the USIHC web site as well as advertising in the Quarterly magazine.

Prerequisites

2.1 Prerequisites for participants
FEIF trainer level 1:

• Current USIHC member
• Preparation course or entry exam (see below)**
• First aid course
• Participation in FEIF trainer level 1 course
• Age 18

FEIF trainer level 2:

• Current USIHC member
• FEIF trainer level 1 or other equivalent certification
• Has had level 1 certification for at least one 1 year
• Participation in FEIF trainer level 2 course
• Age 18

2.2 Prerequisite course or entry exam for FEIF level 1

Experiences over the past two years have shown that participants in the FEIF trainer course were overwhelmed, did not realize what to expect and felt that some form of previous evaluation would have been helpful for them. A pre-course would remedy this by allowing participants a chance to see how a course like this is run, to learn what level the expectations are and to discover one's weaknesses and strengths.

The education committee discussed several options and introduced a pre-course as a form of introduction before the trainer course. That course is not designed to teach all information needed for the trainer course (not possible) but to offer some teaching and insights of the status quo as well as being a learning opportunity for advanced riders in itself.

Clinicians:

• Same as FEIF level 1 / 2 clinicians

Entry exam:

Because there may be candidates for the trainer seminars who do not feel the need for such a preparation or opportunity to learn where they are at with their knowledge, we offer an entry exam. Passing the entry exam provides access to the trainer seminar. The easiest way to do this is the first day of the trainer course or the day before the trainer course depending on the number of participants and schedule.

Higher levels of trainer courses can be re-visited as we start offering them.

2.3 Prerequisite for location

• dressage arena
• oval track
• round pen or suitable location for lunging
• suitable accommodation for guest horses
• class room or suitable room for theory sessions
• suitable infrastructure (motels, options for meals etc..) for participants
• preferably schooling horses available for participants flying in
• preferably varying locations throughout the US if possible

2.4 Prerequisite for host

• current USIHC member

Clinicians and examiners

3.1 Eligible clinicians

Eligible to teach the FEIF trainer course is anyone who possesses any one of the following prerequisites:

• taught this course before
• taught a very similar course before that compares to the FEIF trainer course
• is suited to teach this course because of her/his knowledge and expertise in training horses, instructing riders and teaching horse trainers/instructors, specific to the Icelandic horse (to be reviewed and pre-approved by the USIHC board based on recommendations by this committee)

We further recommend that any clinician be pre-approved with the course "sanctioning". We also suggest that we encourage organizers to include further non-icelandic horse specific teachers (insurance, vet, farrier, dressage instructor, jumping instructor....) for parts of the course for specific topics and they, too, must be pre-approved.

3.2 Eligible examiners

Anyone qualifying as a clinician is eligible to conduct exams for the FEIF trainer course. Any FEIF trainer course in the US must be examined by two (2) examiners. To make the courses affordable in the US, one examiner can be the person teaching the course. The second examiner must be independent (not having taught in the course).

The terms and conditions for retesting (if participant fails one topic) shall be the same with the exception of the location where the existence of facilities can be adapted to the needs of the exam (e.g. no round pen needed if the participant will be retested in gait riding).

We further recommend that any examiner be pre-approved with the course "sanctioning".

Materials

The following materials must be provided:

• Book list, to be submitted to participants about 2 months ahead of time
• List of theory content (planned, not possible to determine all exact content without exceptions), to be submitted to participants at least 2 months ahead of time
• Manual (we are working on the IPZV's translation of the Trainer C materials)

USIHC Presence

The committee considered having a board member present but after some discussions we concluded that it is neither realistic nor necessary.

Length of Seminar

18-20 days depending on exact content, number of participants/group size and other circumstances

Content of course and exam

Pre-determined by the FEIF education matrix content however it makes sense to create our own outline based on that matrix, adding some topics that are specific (poisonous plants in the US, insurance and liability in the US etc.).

Retesting

• If a participants fails more than 50% of all exams, they must retake the seminar and exams.
• If a participant fails a partial exam (oral or riding), they will be allowed to retest the exam which they failed without retaking the seminar.
• At most 3 years may pass between the failed exam and the first retest.
• A participant may retest an unlimited number of times within 5 years of the date of the original failed exam.
• Two examiners (2). Eligible examiners. See 3.1 and 3.2 for detailed descriptions of qualifying examiners.
• Prerequisites for host and location can be adjusted/modified to make retesting more accessable.
• Before December 31, 2009 participants who are eligible for retesting, may be retested by one (1) FEIF International sports judge.
• After December 31, 2009, participants who are eligible for retesting will be retested under the proposed guidelines.
• All retesting to be requested and pre-approved by the USIHC Education Committee Chair.

Currencies

Trainers holding a certificate are required to submit proof of continuing education in order to stay current.

FEIF trainer course level 1 and 2

• Proof of participation in minimum one (1) educational pre-approved seminar every 2 years (USIHC education committee must pre-approve the seminars)
• Seminars can be local, national or international
• Does not have to be Icelandic horse related as long as the topic is related to the work of an Icelandic horse riding instructor and trainer

Effective

These guidelines were adopted starting Jan 1, 2010 with prerequisites being effective since Jun 1, 2010.