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Horse Sport Ireland Announces New Level 2 Coaches

News Desk — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 06:15:52 +0000

HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) Level 2 candidates completed their final assessments last week at Spruce Lodge Training Facility, Redcross, Co. Wicklow and Grange Farm, Kilcock. The HSI Level 2 Coach qualification is the first level where coaches are qualified to coach independently and currently the first stage where candidates must produce the required standard at assessment in each discipline.

At Level 2 candidates are required to demonstrate their competency to coach at the required level in dressage, show jumping and cross country. Dressage and show jumping assessments were held at Spruce Lodge Training Facility and candidates were required to demonstrate the required level of competency in both disciplines before being invited to present for cross country assessment at Grange Farm. Seven candidates were successful in all three phases.

The eight day course began in February 2014 when candidates attended three one - day workshops in dressage at Elementary level, show jumping up to 1.20m and cross country up to CCI*, CNC2* and CIC2* with HSI tutors Heike Holstein, Denis Flannelly, Tom Holden and Sally Corscadden. Coaches observed and participated in these three education days where all prescribed exercises included in the HSI Level 2 manual were explained and demonstrated. Coaches also attended a course walk at Tattersalls on the CCI2* course led by Team Manager for the Young Rider Eventers, Sally Corscadden. Candidates were then required to bring their own horse and rider capable of working at the required standard in each discipline for practical coaching sessions which took place over two days in June. This was a chance for candidates to practice coaching under HSI tutor guidance ahead of the final assessments. Candidates were given feedback on their coaching techniques with strengths identified and a clear pathway given to improve.

At the final assessments, candidates were once again required to bring their own horse and rider capable of working at the required standard to coach a specified topic in each discipline. Independent impartial assessors were present to carry out the assessments in dressage, show jumping and cross country. A moderator was present throughout all three days to ensure fairness to all parties.

Successful candidates in all three disciplines and newly qualified HSI Level 2 Coaches are as follows:
· Aisling Doherty, Co. Donegal
· Crea English, Co. Wexford
· Nicola Fitzgibbon, Co. Kildare
· Louise Halford, Co. Kildare
· Emma Kieran, Co. Kildare
· Robert Murdy, Co. Cavan
· Cormac Rafferty, Co. Galway

HSI Level 2 Coaches are qualified to coach independently and are also qualified to sign off riders at bar 2 and 3 in the SJI Mackey 5 bar System.

Speaking about the HSI Level 2 Coach course 2014, HSI Chairman of Coaching Comdt John Ledingham said: "Congratulations to all of the newly qualified HSI Level 2 coaches. This is a challenging course and credit must go to all coaches for their enthusiasm and commitment throughout the last few months. The standard of coaches we have seen come through the course this year has been exceptional. A special thank you must go to all the HSI tutors involved who worked with the candidates throughout the year. To quote the Coaching Ireland motto – 'Good Coaching Makes a Difference'. We can see the results with Irish riders continuing to produce outstanding results throughout the world."

The next HSI Level 2 Coach course is scheduled to commence early in 2015.

The Pony Club Encourages Continuing Professional Development For Top Coaches

News Desk — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 06:19:29 +0000

A gathering of elite coaches from both Eventing and Show Jumping attended a Pony Club Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Yogi Breisner FBHS & Mary Tuckettevent on Thursday 19 June 2014 at Rectory Farm, Gloucestershire.

Olympic riders, British Eventing Accredited Coaches, British Horse Society Fellows and the British Eventing team’s Performance Manager Yogi Breisner FBHS all gathered to take part in an interactive CPD evening, which saw lively discussion and debate. British Showjumping Accredited Coach and Coach Educator Corinne Bracken lead on proceedings, offering plenty of useful tips and thought provoking exercises to encourage coaches to adapt to new teaching methods and compare their existing techniques.

As well as leading some of the exercises, Yogi Breisner also received his first Pony Club Coaching Log Book presented by Mary Tuckett, Chairman of The Pony Club; Coaching Log Books, as well as being listed on The Pony Club instructor database, are a requirement for all Pony Club coaches to provide a record of their completed CPD.

The evening was created and hosted by Pony Club Area 9 Representative Pleasance Jewitt, who felt that an interactive coaching CPD session would be beneficial to complement the lecture-demo style more common with such events. As well as enlisting the elite coaches, Pleasance also brought in some young talent to receive training from the 28 coaches. These riders included some of Pony Club rising stars; including Tintin Belsham (VWH Branch) an individual winner of the 2013 Pony Club Open Eventing Championships and long-list rider for this year’s Junior European Eventing Championships. Thomas Tulloch (Sir W.W Wynn’s Branch) who has recently added the Charles Owen British Pony Championship title to his list of wins, Thea Godding (Cotswold Hunt Branch) and Sapphire Graham (VWH Pony Club Branch), both of whom are based at Rectory Farm.

“We wanted to improve how these types of courses had been run previously, and create something more interactive with no one sitting down” commented Pleasance. “We definitely achieved this with Corinne’s input of how to make the most of the evening, and Yogi especially went away full of ideas on how he could run the next course!”

For further information about requirements for Pony Club Coaches visit http://www.pcuk.org/training or contact Jenny Yates 02476 698305

HSI COACHING COURSE DATES – SPRING 2013

News Desk — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:05:14 +0000

HORSE Sport Ireland offer equestrian coaching courses accredited by Coaching Ireland. HSI Coaching courses are competition based coaching qualifications, using modern techniques to improve both horses’ and riders’ performance and are led by professional equestrian tutors. Places are limited on these exciting courses so book early to avoid disappointment!

HSI are delighed to announce the following dates and venues.

For further information, please refer to HSI website CLICK HERE

INTRODUCTION TO COACHING – €80
18th February 2013 – Annaharvey Farm, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
9th April 2013 – Kennedys Dohyle House Stud, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick
13th May 2013 – Tubberbride Riding Centre, Collooney, Co. Sligo

LEVEL 1 – APPRENTICE COACH – €400
11th & 12th March 2013 – Spruce Lodge Training Facility, Co. Wicklow
22nd & 23rd April 2013 – Kennedys Dohyle House Stud, Co. Limerick

* These are the first 2 dates of a 4 day course

LEVEL 2 – COACH – €850
Day 1: 25th March 2013 – Spruce Lodge Training Facility, Co. Wicklow
Day 2: 26th March 2013 – Spruce Lodge Training Facility, Co. Wicklow
Day 3: 27th March 2013 – Grange Farm, Drumlargan, Kilcock, Co. Meath
* Further dates to be confirmed

To register your interest or for further information on any courses, please contact Catherine Farrell in the HSI Coaching Department on: Tel: 00353 45 854512 00353 45 854512
Email: cfarrell@horsesportireland.ie