The USEA Eventing By The Levels Handbook

55 Coach Requirement Overview Coaches should be able to confirm that both rider and horse have a solid foundation of position, skills and understanding which will support them at this level and as they progress. They should ascertain that the ECP Teaching Requirements and Rider Expectations from Starter Level through Modified Level have been met. Coaches should produce riders and horses who will be safe and successful in all requirements for Preliminary Level competitions. They must be able to iden- tify and correct all deficiencies in position, balance, skill set, understanding and experience of the riders and horses, in all three phases, before encouraging riders to continue up the levels. Most importantly, Coaches at this level should understand what problems and issues create roadblocks to progres- sion, i.e., weaknesses, issues or deficiencies which should be fixed before progression is permitted to continue. Coaches should be able to clearly communicate their con- cerns for the safety and welfare of both horse and rider as it pertains to riding at the Preliminary Level or further progressing to the upper levels of eventing. Additionally, the coach should assess if the horse has the required skills, ability, scope, stamina, soundness and at- titude to perform at this level of competition and beyond. Coaches should be able to ensure that both riders and hors- es have a solid understanding of all fundamentals and create the road map for correct progression in their training and/ or progression to Intermediate and CCI2* and CCI3* com- petition. They should always employ the use of correct in- crements for introduction and progression of every concept across a variety of horse/rider combinations, levels, and skill sets. Coaches should demonstrate a detailed depth of understand- ing of all necessary movements and skills; specifically, able to identify when the leg-yield, shoulder-in, rein-back, and change of lead through trot are executed correctly. Addition- ally, they should be able to correctly introduce the develop- ment of the medium gaits, and to build on the introduction of the counter-canter to produce accurate, balanced, loops and half-circles. This depth of understanding should also extend to their abili- ty to create individualized dressage and jumping exercises for their students and horses which address weaknesses and/or strengthen skills, based on what they are seeing in front of them. They should be able to teach riders how to gallop hors- es in a correct rhythm, balance and at the appropriate pace. They should work in close communication with their students to ensure that a strong program of horse management is im- plemented, including all aspects of equine fitness and con- ditioning, nutrition, and supportive health management, as well as monitoring for soundness, early detection of possi- ble problems and what appropriate measures to take when potential and current issues are identified. Coaches should be well-versed in the specifications for all three phases of Starter through Preliminary and CCI2* levels as they are described in the USEF Rules for Eventing, FEI Rules for Eventing, and the USEA Cross-Country Course Design Guidelines. It is the Coach's responsibility to ensure: • That the requirements for the previous levels have been met. • They are producing in their riders the elements of Position, Balance, and Application of the Aids as described for each phase at each level. • They are teaching and developing the Rider Skills for each phase at each level and ensuring that the rider incorporates those skills into their regular practice until they are mastered. • They are teaching and developing the Rider Skills required for each level as well as introducing those skills which lay the groundwork for further development. • They are teaching the recommended Exercises and Concepts for each phase at every level, and ensuring these Exercis- es and Concepts are implemented in regular practice with sufficient repetition to prepare the horse and rider for the three phases of competition. It is the Rider's responsibility to: • Ascertain that they understand the over-arching principles, concepts, language, and definitions contained in the "Universal Overview" chapter of this document, which are key to comprehending the principles and concepts presented at each level. • Review all previous level requirements and evaluate their ability to execute those requirements, to ensure a strong founda- tion, which is vitally important to being successful at the current level.

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