Chris Irwin’s Train the Trainer program offers certification for horsemen and horsewomen in 3 areas – Ground Work; Riding (all riding disciplines – English & Western); and, Driving.

Each area has 3 levels of certification – Bronze, Silver and Gold.  Certification in Ground Work can be achieved on its own (no requirement to ride or drive), but is required for trainers pursuing certification in Riding and/or Driving.

Each clinic will be open to a maximum of 6 participants.   Participants will receive a thorough evaluation and report card at each clinic.  Clinic dates and locations are listed on the Events Schedule.

To be eligible for the Train the Trainer a student must have participated in a minimum of:

  • two private or semi-private lessons with Chris, or
  • two clinic days with Chris, or
  • have trained with an Irwin certified double silver or gold trainer who has written a letter recommending the student is eligible for evaluation.

For a Certified Trainer to recommend a student for evaluation in the Train the Trainer program, the Certified Trainer should feel that the student has a solid basic understanding of in-hand and loose lead draw for groundwork, and basic riding from the seat with open reins and blocking contact.

Certified Trainers must participate in at least one 2 day train the trainer clinic per year to maintain existing certification or to be eligible for upgrade.

Program Curriculum

Program Curriculum for each Certification Level is outlined below:

Bronze Groundwork:

  • Horse Body Language Awareness and Diagnostics
  • Ears – tail – topline – bend – forehand – face – eyes – tongue – mouth – 5 buttons – No Go Zone – Crossing the Lines – girth lines – center lines
  • Human Body Language Awareness and Diagnostics
  • Center – shoulders – leading leg – bend – inside/outside arms – bowing – drawing
  • 3 energies
  • Loose Lead Follow – In Hand: level 1 – Use of Whips: level 1 – Bridle Fit & basic distinction of bits – Bridle the horse – Basic saddle fit and position – Lunge – Picking Up Feet – Standing Straight – Standing for Mounting – Catching – stall work

Silver Groundwork:

  • Round Pen – level – 1
  • In Hand          level  -2
  • Use of Whip   level – 2
  • Bridle the problem horse
  • Lunge with Vienna rein – lunge over jumps
  • Long Lines  – level 1
  • Up Against the Wall – level 1
  • Stall Work – level 2
  • Trailer Loading  – level 1

Gold Groundwork:

  • Round Pen  –  level 2
  • In Hand         – level 3
  • Use of Whip – level 3
  • Long Lines    – level 2
  • Up Against the Wall – level 2
  • Trailer Loading – level 2
  • Prep for First Ride

Bronze Riding: (English and/or Western )

  • Understanding of and ability to explain and diagnose the distinction between Training Concepts and Schooling Concepts
  • Riding at Walk and Trot:  Following seat and core – Timing of seat for turns – Timing and placement of leg aids – Open reins – Following Hand – Consistency of contact – Alignment of Core during transitions – diagonals – riding the true bend – riding the counter bend – bending to Halt – rein back

Silver Riding: (English and/or Western)

  • Riding at walk, trot and Canter:
  • Timing and placement of aids during lateral work,
  • bending for Quality transitions,
  • flexing to aid relaxation, transitions, riding through fear

Gold Riding:

Gold trainers are either:

  • starting young horses for first rides,
  • evolving training horses into a schooling or competitive level,
  • showing competitive horses, and/or
  • are professional coaches.

Note: Training evolving into schooling requires riding at walk, trot and canter with straightness and true bend while introducing collection without compromising relaxation.

Specific for driving certification only – students are encouraged NOT to enrol in the Train the Trainer course but instead to register for Exclusive Sessions during the 2 day Horsemanship Clinics before the Train the Trainer Clinic.  This is a safety requirement because it is not practical to share arena time with carriage horses and riding horses.

Bronze Driving:

  • Correct fit and function of single harness
  • Correct fit and function of hitching single horse to vehicle
  • Driving with consistent contact
  • Half halting, halting  and backing up.

Silver Driving:

  • Driving Single Horse
  • Lateral work with true bend and counter-bend
  • Refining straightness
  • Introducing collection and gymnastics to the driving horse.

Gold Driving:

  • demonstrate the progressive steps for training the horse to drive, OR
  • be driving a pair/team of horses, OR
  • be competing successfully with a “schooled” horse or horses in harness.

General Information

Each Train The Trainer session begins with a theory and question/answer session.  The remainder of the daywill be practical work with the horses in the arena.

Participants are asked to come prepared with the following: lunge line, lunge whip, dressage whip or crop, D-ring or full-cheek snaffle bit (rather than loose-ring), full tack, protective boots if you use them, surcingle and driving reins if you would like to long-line, and your own riding helmet and gloves.  Please mark your equipment in such a way you can distinguish it from others.

All Trainers-in-Training are responsible for purchasing their own set of Chris’ DVD Training Library from his website, as reference and resource materials to refer to throughout their training development.  Trainees would also be wise to team up with a certified trainer, if one is available, between sessions so as to have eyes and diagnostic credentials to assist them through their learning process.

Registration

The first step in registering is to BOOK a scheduled event by selecting a clinic, workshop or session on our CALENDAR. Upon booking an event, click this link to REGISTER and select the appropriate form.  Upon completion of the registration form, you will be redirected to a PAYMENT selection page.

Clinic Coordinator is Connie Smith. Please contact Connie toll free (877) 394-6773 or email her at info@chrisirwin.com for more information or assistance with your registration.

To secure your place  in a clinic, a deposit is required along with a completed registration form.   Please be aware these clinics book in quickly, and spaces are confirmed on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Deposit can be paid through PayPal, Visa, Mastercard or cheque.  If paying by cheque, please make payable to Horsepower Productions and mail to: P.O. Box 1619, Whitecourt, Alberta T7S 1P4 Canada.

Simply emailing a request to attend a clinic does not automatically include you on the roster. Your space cannot be confirmed until your deposit & completed registration form have been received. At that time you will receive an email as receipt of your deposit & confirming your space. If the clinic has already filled by the time your registration is received, you will be advised and given the option of going on the waiting list.

Balances owing will be paid in full at the event.  You can pay your balance at the event by cash, credit card or cheque made payable to HORSEPOWER PRODUCTIONS INC.

Please make stabling arrangements directly with the host facility.  Stabling fees are not included in your clinic fee. There will be no additional fee for trainers-in-training electing to work with facility horses. Chris will select horses for these students to work with each day and the goals will be outlined in the morning theory sessions.

[/learn_more]

Cancellation Policy

Deposits for registrations canceled more than 30 days before the clinic date will be eligible for refund (less 10% administration fee) only if a replacement is found.   Alternatively, you may choose to transfer the deposit to another event (within 1 year) 0nly if a replacement is found for the space you are releasing.  Deposits for cancelations received within 30 days prior to the clinic date will not be refunded.

Spectators

Spectators are welcome at all Train the Trainer clinics. Fees are payable at the door:

Adults – $35 per person per day payable online or at the event.

Spectators are welcome to join the morning theory sessions as well as the practical sessions.