Every Coach to be Licensed and Certified by 2025

Source Equestrian Canada

Toronto, ON, November 2, 2019 - Following unanimous program approval from the Equestrian Canada (EC) Board, we were very proud to unveil the EC Coach Licensing Program during the 2019 EC Convention on November 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario.

The Coach Licensing Program is part of the 2018-2020 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) and EC, and addressed during the 2019 EC-PTSO Summit. It will be officially launched in January 2020, with the vision of ensuring every coach is licensed and certified by 2025.

“Society is changing; mindsets and expectations have shifted considerably over the past decade,” says EC President Meg Krueger. “Current and future horse enthusiasts come to equestrian with the expectation that the sport will provide a unique, respectful, safe, and inclusive experience. If we fail to meet this expectation, we will fail to attract and retain equestrians.

“It is our duty as equestrian stewards to share our passion so that future generations can continue to benefit from the unique experience our sport offers. In order to do so, we must stand united in offering safe, respectful and inclusive equestrian environments. This means implementing standards for coaching.”

Heather Myrer, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation, and a member of the joint EC-PTSO Canadian Equestrian Development (CED) Committee, adds, “As a member of the CED and someone who has been working in the industry for nearly two decades, I believe that we need to work together to modernize the coaching profession. We know the important role that coaches play in shaping the mindset of young equestrians, and I am very proud that we are making this a priority through the Coach Licensing Program.”

The Coach Licensing Program

While more details on the Coach Licensing Program will be shared in the coming months, here are the highlights presented during the unveiling at the EC Convention:

Vision — We are committed as an equestrian community to be industry leaders in the licensing and certification of coaches. We know that the community has been waiting for years for EC to coordinate and lead this process. Through our collaborative work with the PTSOs, we are confident that the approach we are taking will lead to better quality coaching, safer and positive sport experiences, better management of risks, and an increase in the recruitment and retention of athletes.

Benefits — The benefits of the Coach Licensing Program include:

• Industry-leading insurance program provided exclusively by CapriCMW Insurance Services Ltd. For more information, email Mike King.
• Access to independent third-party complaint management.
• Preferred rates for certified coaches and coaches enrolled in the certification process.
• Ability to purchase Horse Recordings and register as an official without an EC Sport Licence.
• Access to educational material through the EC E-learning platform, to be launched shortly.
• Discount on EC Sport Licence purchases for those who both coach and compete.

The automatically included insurance will prove especially valuable to licensed coaches, as they will benefit from lower insurance costs and consistent coverage to address the specific exposures related to coaching – anywhere in the world. In addition to commercial liability insurance with limits at $5,000,000, the CapriCMW insurance product being provided to licensed coaches includes coverage for professional liability and protections should an allegation of abuse arise.

“At CapriCMW we have always advocated for and rewarded coaching credentials, and we are looking forward to this long-term service partnership with EC and PTSOs from coast-to-coast for the coach licensing program,” says King. “We have worked with thousands of coaches across the country for decades, and we look forward to utilizing this national initiative as a platform to give all coaches in Canada access to affordable and comprehensive group coverage and experience-based risk management resources.

“Coach licensing is a long overdue and critical step in securing the modernization and longevity of equestrian sport and recreation in today’s environment, and CapriCMW is committed to this initiative to help protect, recognize and support the equestrian community for years to come.”

Timeline — A phased-in approach is being used to ensure we are providing coaches with enough time to become licensed and certified by 2025. By 2020, EC will be requiring coaches to be licensed at select EC sanctioned competitions, with a goal of requiring all coaches to be licensed for all EC sanctioned competitions by 2021.

“It’s time. We are committed to professionalizing our sport, and grateful to those who have been working tirelessly to ensure that our industry reflects the highest ethical standards related to safe sport interactions,” says Executive Director of Ontario Equestrian and member of the CED Committee, Tracey McCague-McElrea. “Coaches are at the centre of the equestrian experience and we are committed to providing them with the support and education they need to support the current and next generation of equestrians.” 

Additional Information & Resources

To support our equestrian community in learning more about the Coach Licensing Program, we have provided information and resources, including a thorough list of FAQs that will be reviewed and updated regularly, at the Coach Licensing section of the Equestrian Canada website. 

Continued Communication

EC remains committed to keeping the Canadian equestrian community informed and engaged with the Coach Licensing Program. Further details will be published closer to the official launch in January 2020.

Questions and comments can be directed to coaching@equestrian.ca. Our goal is to get back to you within three business days.

Photo: Canstock/Photography33

See EC Coach Licensing Program