United States Eventing Association

The U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Board of Governors (BOG) recently approved a change to the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) levels.

In 2021, the ECP, then known as the Instructors Certification Program, changed levels to align with FEI competition levels. Since then, the ECP Committee has learned that having certification levels that included more than one competition level was making it difficult for coaches to achieve eligibility to obtain certification at Level I and II due to the requirement that a coach have at least three students competing at the top level of certification.

In addition, in anticipation of the Starter level becoming a recognized level, the ECP has added a Starter certification to accommodate coaches who are just starting out or only teach Starter level students.

Level III certifications and above remain the same, as do Young Event Horse Coach and Young Event Horse Professional Horse Trainer levels.

The new certification levels are:

• Starter – Up through Starter level riding/training/competing and horse care.
• Level I - Beginner Novice – Up through Beginner Novice riding/training/competing and horse care.
• Level I - Novice – Up through Novice riding/training/competing and horse care.
• Level II - Training – Up through Training riding/training/competing and horse care.
• Level II - Modified – Up through Modified/1* riding/training/competing and horse care.

To learn more about the ECP, click here.