United States Eventing Association

The 2022 USEA ICP Symposium will be held on February 8-9, 2022 at Barnstaple South in Ocala, Florida and the schedule is now available. Take a look at what you can expect from the Symposium below!

2022 Symposium General Timetable

Key Elements –

• Introduction of the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels
• Clear understanding of the requirements for each level, and the “non-negotiable” required skills at each level
• Begin important discussion on how people learn and how to teach, not just what to teach
• Design/Set cross-country exercises
• Add “color commentary” from key professionals for each phase to attract interest, attendance and raise relevancy

Interactive Format –

• Getting people involved and excited about the process and the program
• Involving current coaches and instructors in creating and promoting a unified system for coaching the sport of eventing
• Creating a collegial learning and sharing environment which respects individual creativity while creating consensus where possible

Faculty –

• Involvement and spotlight – getting the attending instructors familiar with the Faculty and the resource they represent

Day One: USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels

8:00 a.m. to 8:45 am: Welcome and Introduction of key players – faculty, committee members, moderator, guest speakers.

• Explanation of format for the next two days
• Introduction of the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels – what, why, how and who benefits
• Review of introductory documents
  • How to Use this Document
  • Universal Concepts and Language

8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.: Power Point presentation of the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels – Starter through Advanced
(Includes Q and A, group discussion time)

9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Breakout into equal groups of instructors/attendees for round table discussion and preparation for the practical sessions.

Topics for discussion:

• What are the three main issues facing instructors and coaches in modern eventing?
• At the lower levels: Starter through Novice
• At the middle levels: Training/Modified
• At the upper levels: Preliminary through Advanced

• What, if any, issues could the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels help solve and how? Or if not, why not?
• One or two groups will be asked to present a summary of their discussion

10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Break

11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Dressage Session

• Evaluating strengths and weaknesses
• Prioritizing steps to progression
• Referring to the new USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels
• Each group of instructors/attendees will discuss the riders and develop consensus for each rider:
  • Assessment of each rider’s current level, weaknesses and strengths.
  • What are the three highest priorities for moving each horse and rider forward in their skill and ability?

Lesson Format: Group One: Three riders – Starter/Beginner Novice/Novice

Rider introduction: Riders are asked to tell the group about themselves, their experience, their horse’s level and experience, current goals, any issues, horse soundness/rider health notes, equipment check, helmet check.

Warm up at walk, trot, and canter – guided by moderator/faculty. Instructor groups will evaluate, discuss and record their “bullet” points on a whiteboard.

Interactive Process: All groups write their summary statement and top three priorities for each rider on their whiteboard. One or two groups will be selected to “present” their ideas. Presenting groups name a spokesperson to do the presentation followed by a color commentary with Peter Gray

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Dressage Session
Repeat morning Dressage Session with Group Two riders: Training/Modified/Preliminary

2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: Break

2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.: Jumping Sessions followed by color commentary with Will Coleman

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Wine and Cheese reception, round table discussion topic:
The role and responsibility of Coaches and the ICP Program in the future of eventing.

Day Two: Teaching Technique Across the Levels

8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.: Teaching Modalities, presented by Dr. Paul Haefner

8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: Sport Psychology, presented by Dr. Paul Haefner
Focus topic: Dealing with fear and anxiety

9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.: Refreshments break and moving to the cross-country field

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Cross-Country Exercise Design and Course Design Clinic with David O’Connor

11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Cross-Country Sessions followed by color commentary with David O'Connor

2:30 p.m.: Symposium wrap-up

While geared towards eventing professionals, the ICP Symposium is open to all who wish to attend and will feature relevant information that all riders and eventing enthusiasts can learn from. As an added perk, early registrants will receive an advanced copy of the new USEA Eventing Handbook! Register for the ICP Symposium here.

About the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program

Instructors are essential to the training of riders and horses for safe and educated participation in the sport of eventing. The USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) was initiated in 2002 to educate all levels of eventing instructors with crucial training principles upon which those instructors can continue to build throughout their teaching careers. ICP offers educational workshops and assessments by which both regular instructors, Level I through Level V, Young Event Horse (YEH) instructors, and Young Event Horse professional horse trainers can become ICP certified. Additional information about ICP’s goals, benefits, workshops, and assessments as well as names and contact information for current ICP-certified instructors, YEH instructors, and YEH professional horse trainers are available on the USEA website. Click here to learn more about the Instructors’ Certification Program.

The USEA would like to thank Stable Secretary and Parker Equine Insurance for sponsoring the Instructors’ Certification Program.