The Foundation for the Equestrian Arts offers varying levels of Certification.

Education for those who are not training to be a professional has two levels:

Introduction to French Classical Riding: Level one.

“Introduction to French Classical Riding” is the initial level. This is for people who are first starting this work, and is intended to be relatively simple to accomplish in a year with regular lessons and practice. This level is achievable for someone who doesn’t own a horse but would like some supportive structure to learn the basis of the French Classical work.

Advanced Practice: Level Two. 

“Advanced Practice” and though still intended for the amateur rider it is deeper. And we’ll want to decide what types of things an amateur rider would understand, be adept at, show skills doing… etcetera… that distinguish a level of practice that is no longer a beginner, but what I might call an advanced intermediate rider. Meaning we still have things to teach them, but their fundamentals are strongly in place and they’re comfortable with all the gaits… what else? This person, again, might not own their own horse but if not they’ll be leasing one, or riding three or four times a week on other people’s horses.   

Then there are the professional levels.

These are much more rigorous, and they’re for people who will be training and teaching many horses and people over their lives. These professional credentials represent a serious commitment to years of intense study and practice that results in a recognizable quality of mastery in this work. Expect the trainer’s level to take from 4 to 6 years, the Instructor’s level from 8 to 12 years. And… plan to repeat the work throughout your life as a professional, it’s endlessly rewarding and endlessly perfecting itself. This keeps your attention! So prepare for a deep, joyful life-long adventure in the conversation between horse and a human.

Professional Certification as a Trainer

“The trainer” has to understand how to apply this work with the horse, how to improve it, why we do the movements we do. This is taking understanding into feel. The trainer will have to work successfully with several different horses of different breeds and types, learning how to listen to more than just one horse. This level does have a section for the trainer to explain their thinking process around heath care. The trainer’s skills should also include basic ideas about the business of training in their country, we want to not only teach them how to ride well but give them a basic nuts and bolts about doing it as a professional.

Professional Certification as an Instructor

“The instructor” is the hardest level of certification. The instructor has to have accomplished all of the trainer’s level, PLUS… the instructor’s credential shows that they’re adept at working with people. That they can teach a beginner and bring them along to advanced practice. The instructor also has to host a clinic with a certified instructor from the FEA so that we can evaluate their ability to teach as we’re working with their riders.

All of the levels have specific clinics that the applicant will need to have attended successfully to succeed in credentialling..

The professional credentials will take between 6 to 12 years of focused study and practice with proven results. One of the fascinating aspects of this work is that the study is never completed. The professional credential must be renewed through regular scheduled submissions of your records of ongoing growth in the work.

The Trainers and Instructor’s credential commitment is not to be undertaken lightly… but if you do undertake it, you will find yourself with rich resources and support available every step of your path. When one has begun their commitment towards a professional certificate other doors open in the Foundation. The equestrian becomes eligible to apply for scholarships to clinics and other learning events hosted by the Foundation, and becomes a member of a larger community of credentialed teachers and applicants sharing knowledge and supporting one another across time.

If the student at any level is working with a credentialed instructor who has a work-study program the costs associated with earning credentials can in many cases be paid for through work study, mentoring programs, or in some cases through scholarships from the Foundation.

So don’t let finances be a deterrent.

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