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Specialties: Areas of Certification

• Distance Riding: Endurance and Competitive
• Dressage
• Driving
• Eventing
• Hunt Seat
• Hunt Seat on the Flat
• Mounted Patrol Training Officer
• Recreational Riding
• Reining
• Riding to Hounds
• Saddle Seat
• Show Jumping
• Side-Saddle
• Stable Management
• Western: Pleasure and Equitation

• Key to Acronyms

Instructors may be certified in one or more of these specialties. (One or two specialties are included in the program fee; there is a charge of $200 per additional specialty and no more than four specialties may be taken at any one program.) The certification in each specialty is granted at one of the three levels; Level I, Level II or Level III. (See Levels of Certification for definitions of these levels).

Distance Riding: Endurance & Competitive

Level I - Knowledge of training, horsemanship, safety and good conditioning practices; also pleasure trail riding and organized group trail rides. Must have ridden a minimum of 100 competitive miles.

Level II - Same as above. Must have ridden a minimum of 500 competitive miles.

Level III - Same through open competitive trail division - 50 mile endurance rides. ECTRA and AERC rules. Must have ridden a minimum of 1,000 competitive miles.

Dressage

Level I & Level II - Concepts, exercises and movements through 1st level. Must know USEF rules.

Level III - Concepts, exercises and movements through 3rd level. Video (VHS or DVD) must show work at 2nd or 3rd level.

Driving

Level I & Level II - Knowledge of Pleasure Driving, correct and safe harnessing procedures, and training of horse and whip.

Level III - Ability to coach for Competitive Driving

Eventing

Level I & Level II - Knowledge of concepts & exercises of Dressage, Cross Country & Stadium Jumping through USEA novice level. Video for Level II must show ability to coach cross country work and relate flat work to jumping.

Level III - Same as above, through USEA training and preliminary level Horse Trials (one day events). Video must show cross country, and must address conditioning and preparation for this level.

Hunt Seat

Level I & Level II - Knowledge of equitation and exercises in flat work and jumping through 3' (Equivalent to USEF Limit Equitation), USEF rules for Equitation and Hunters. Counting strides, finding spots, simple changes, correct change over jumps, shortening & lengthening, etc.

Level III - Must show lesson relating flat work to jumping, suitable for riders who are capable of jumping 3'-3'6". (Note: It is not required that riders actually jump 3' to 3'6" in this lesson)

Hunt Seat on the Flat

All Levels: Knowledge of equitation and exercises in flat work, as used in Hunt Seat on the Flat classes.

Mounted Patrol Training Officer

Level I & Level II - Knowledge of equitation and exercises in flat work, related cavaletti exercises, basic concepts and exercises of horsemanship, safety and conditioning. Knowledge and skills in training officers in police work as well as re-schooling mounts. Department of Criminal Justice Standards (DCJS) certification as General Police Instructor recommended but not required.

Level III - Knowledge of equitation and exercises in flat work and related exercises, knowledge and skills in re-schooling and re-claiming of mounts; knowledge and skills in all related Mounted Police procedures, patrol procedures, and unit objectives. DCJS certification as General Police Instructor highly recommended. Video and lesson plan required, utilizing an ARICP-approved Mounted Police topic. (List of approved topics will be sent upon request)

Recreational Riding

Level I & Level II - Teaches basic horsemanship to those who ride for pleasure and recreation with an emphasis on safety, a balanced seat, and a caring and responsible attitude toward the horse. May be English, Western or both. Includes instruction of beginners, the first-time horse owner, recreational pleasure and trail riding, and/or public or resort riding programs. (While instructors may teach students of different capabilities, the Recreational Riding Rating is not to be construed as a rating in Therapeutic Riding.) Safe trail riding and basic first aid procedures are emphasized.

Level III - Instructors who teach Recreational Riding beyond Level II are encouraged to seek Level II or higher certification in Hunt, Stock, Saddle Seat or one of the other ARICP specialties. However, an instructor who teaches a program that exceeds Level II standards in Recreational Riding, but does not fall into any of the recognized specialty areas may apply for a Level III rating in Recreational Riding. The candidate must be prepared to show that the standard of his/her teaching and program are the equivalent of Level III requirements for other specialties.

Reining

ARIA Reining Instructors at Level I and II should be able to instruct beginning to intermediate reining competitors.

Level III instructors should be capable of instructing at all levels of reining and training horses as well as coaching for the USEF Reining Seat Medal, and should have some knowledge of other events which include reining.

Basic Reading List:

• Current rulebook of the NRHA (National Reining Horse Association)
• Current rulebook of USEF, Rules XXXIII (Reining), XXII Chapter 4 (Western/Reining Seat Equitation), XXXIX (Western).

Riding to Hounds

As a prerequisite to the taking of these tests, candidates for the ARICP Riding to Hounds Instructor exams must provide the ARICP office with proof that they are currently (and have been for a minimum of three years) a member of, or subscriber to, a hunt recognised by, or registered with, the MFHA, and must have been awarded their colors. A letter from the hunt's Honorary Secretary or MFH will be considered proof. In the case of a candidate who is no longer a riding member of a hunt, a letter from the same source indicating previous participation and awarding of colors may be considered.

Beginner/intermediate candidates Level II should demonstrate in their video the ability to prepare riders for riding as members of the flat or hill-toppers field, able to ride safely over natural terrain, to control their horses in a large group and around hounds, and to be aware of the courtesies and correct behavior expected of a member of the field.

Advanced candidates Level III should be able to prepare riders to take part as member of the field in a more active way, to be able to able to think for themselves in an emergency; to prepare them as safe members of the jumping field; and to impart a degree of understanding of actual hunting and woodcraft.

It is in no way expected, nor implied, that ARIA Riding to Hounds Instructors should be able to train hunt staff.

Basic Reading List:

• CODE OF HUNTING PRACTICES, Copyright © 2000, MFHA.
• A GUIDE TO ESTABLISHING A FOXHUNTING CAMP Organized and written by Mrs. William G. Fendley, III, MFH. Edited by Mrs. C. Martin Wood, III, MFH. (available through MFHA)
• FOXHUNTING IN NORTH AMERICA By Alexander Mackay-Smith (available through MFHA)

Saddle Seat

Level I & Level II - Teaching and training basics through USEF Limit Equitation and saddle seat pleasure classes. Know USEF Equitation rules. Knowledge of various breed rules helpful.

Level III - Same as above, also including Open Equitation and Park or 3 gaited (or breed) classes. Knowledge of various breed rules helpful.

Show Jumping

Level I & Level II - Knowledge of flat and fence work, and USEF Jumper rules through ALL LEVELS. Teach through schooling jumpers (3'6"). Video for Level II must show jumping lesson relevant to this level.

Level III - Same through USEF preliminary and intermediate. (4'6"). Video must show jumping lesson relevant to this level.

Side-Saddle

Level I & Level II - Introduction to side-saddle. Proper position at all gaits, training of horse to sidesaddle, correct fitting of tack and equipment, and correct turnout of horse and rider for both formal and informal showing.

Level III - Competitive side-saddle riding, USEF rules, basic work over fences (to 2'6"). Knowledge of various styles of riding side-saddle (i.e. hunt seat, western, dressage, saddle seat) and correct equitation and dress for each.

Stable Management

An ARICP certification in Stable Management indicates that the holder of the certificate is certified in Stable Management. Some of those who hold this certification do so in order to be certified Stable Managers, and do not teach.

Stable Management certification, just as all the specialties, may be earned at any one of the three levels.

Stable Management Video (for Level II and Level III - not required for Level I)

Applicant must provide a video (VHS or DVD) of approximately 20-30 minutes duration, giving the evaluators a walk-through of the barn for which the candidate is responsible and for which the candidate him/herself has done all the work which is seen in the video. The following should be included in the video:

• A listing of posted barn rules
• An explanation of how the stalls are prepared and how the barn is kept clean and organized.
• A demonstration displaying recognition and prevention of common ailments treated by a stable manager, such as thrush, saddle sores, and at least two others.
• A discussion of basic daily routines for grooming, feeding, watering and turn out of horses at the facility.
• A recognition of good and bad conformation in horses.
• An explanation of the use and purpose of common grooming implements.
• An explanation of stable dangers, such as barn fires, and what is done to prevent them.
• A description of how to recognize good and bad hay and feed.
• A discussion of various stable bedding methods and the benefits/drawbacks of each.
• A discussion of blanketing, summer sheets and other coverings used at your facility and when and why they are used.
• A discussion and demonstration of bandaging for travel and for at least two other purposes.
• One other subject, of the candidate's choosing, which he/she feels is an important aspect of stable management.

Western: Pleasure and Equitation

Level I & Level II - Knowledge of Western equitation and Western Pleasure, including USEF and/or AQHA rules for these events.

Level III - Must show lesson suitable for riders who are capable of competing in Western horsemanship, reining or other performance events. (Lesson need not relate to competition, but must be taught to riders at this level.)

Key to Acronyms