Setting up a Rider Testing
Find Out Who Can Host, Evaluate and Participate in a Rider Level Testing
Learn to Ride/Drive
Overview The Learn to Ride/Drive Program provides the opportunity for individuals of all ages to learn best practices for safe and enjoyable experiences handling, riding and/or driving horses. Participants of all ages and experience are encouraged to get involved, and have the opportunity to choose the appropriate stream and level. The program is administered by the the Equestrian NS and features English, Western and Driving streams.
HorsePlay.app (Ride & Drive Rewards)
HorsePlay App - Our Rewards Program for Riders & Drivers -- Click / Tap enabled QR codes at bottom of page --
Over the past year, we have been working with other provinces and developers to create an amazing new APP to track your horse activity - HORSEPLAY is finally here! Horseplay will replace our original Ride and Drive Rewards program, allowing you to record your horse activity and be entered for a chance to win prizes.
The Horseplay app conveniently allows you to track your activity and connect with friends. We encourage anyone 13 years and older to sign up and use the app. If you wish to be entered into the draws for prizes, you must be a current Equestrian Nova Scotia member and be a Nova Scotia resident.
Don't worry - we are recognizing your logged-activity from the original program and you can achieve your rewards there too! Simply submit your paper copy logged-activity hours to us by December 31, 2024 and we will honour your achievements. Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!
For every 10 ...
Rookie Rider
Rookie Riders is curriculum-based, filled with engaging activities that are fundamental to success in horseback riding. It includes basic gymnastics on mats, fundamental skills learned on Radish, our “barrel horse” and concludes with an introduction to riding. It is a core skill-building program that benefits all disciplines.
More about Rookie Riders
Safe and fun Introduction to riding skills, horses and horsemanship – Riding and Gymnastic activities focus on developing the skills used in equestrian sport Group and individual activities Introduce OR reinforce movement skills within the FUNdamental stage of long term equestrian and athlete development. Flexible curriculum delivery Provides physical, mental, and emotional engagement Designed to be delivered to a large group of children Easily customizable to meet the needs of your group
Participants Learn
Fundamental Movement Skills
Develop Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) necessary for riding by engaging students physically, ...
Learn To Ride/Drive
Learn to Ride/Drive
The Learn to Ride/Drive Program provides the opportunity for individuals of all ages to learn best practices for safe and enjoyable experiences handling, riding and/or driving horses. The purpose of this program is to produce safe and knowledgeable horse people. Whether you are interested in tracking your progress or becoming a certified coach, this program will provide guidance with progressive skill development through the levels.
Through this non-competitive certification program, both participatory and competitive riders are rewarded with Certificates of Achievement for advancing their learning. For more information on athlete development, The Long Term Equestrian Development provides a valuable resource for athletes, coaches and parents. Click here for more information .
The English Rider Level 1 to 10 program has been tailored to assist athletes who seek to further their riding skills on the flat but do not wish to continue over fences. Candidates will have the ...
Learn to Ride Western
Overview The Learn to Ride/Drive Program provides the opportunity for individuals of all ages to learn best practices for safe and enjoyable experiences handling, riding and/or driving horses. Participants of all ages and experience are encouraged to get involved, and have the opportunity to choose the appropriate stream and level. The program is administered by the Equestrian NS and features English, Western and Driving streams.
Setting up an Evaluation
Who Can Host, Evaluate and Participate in a Rider Level Evaluation
Western Levels
The Western Learn to Ride Program is Composed of Two Components, Rider Levels 1-4 and the Intermediate Rider Program.
Level Breakdown
Break down of the Western Rider Levels and Intermediate Programs
Learn to Drive
The Learn to Ride/Drive Program provides the opportunity for individuals of all ages to learn best practices for safe and enjoyable experiences handling, riding and/or driving horses. Participants of all ages and experience are encouraged to get involved, and have the opportunity to choose the appropriate stream and level. The program is administered by the Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) and features English, Western and Driving streams.
Bio-security
Government of Canada National Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard A national Equine Biosecurity Advisory Committee has been established to develop this voluntary standard which will provide a common approach to preventing and controlling disease in facilities where horses are housed and kept.
The equine biosecurity standard will: Provide guidelines for effective biosecurity practices; Promote a consistent approach to reducing the risks of established, emerging and foreign animal diseases; Enhance equine health, welfare and productivity; Minimize the frequency, scope and impact of disease outbreaks; Increase industry’s knowledge of the risks associated with diseases; and Identify potential gaps in current control measures.
For more information, please click here. Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada Resources Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada Resources are updated on a regular basis. Please follow this link to view the updated biosecurity page on their website. Click here to view their Animal Health ...
Dressage
Dressage
Each horse and athlete performs a combination of movements and gaits, designed to demonstrate the level of achievement of the horse to show a perfect understanding with his or her rider. Membership Requirements Equestrian NS Membership Equestrian Canada Sport License Dressage Canada EC Passport Scotia Series Bronze Silver Gold Platinum Nova Scotia Discipline Specific Associations R.I.D.E.R.S Competition Rules Scotia Series Rulebook Equestrian Canada Rules – Section A General Equestrian Canada Rules – Section E Dressage Please consult the individual competition prize lists for required discipline memberships and rules Sanction your Dressage Show! | Find a Club
Find-A-Trail
Equestrian Friendly Trails
We are pleased to have a list of Equestrian Friendly Trails in NS compiled by our former Director of Recreation and current President, Krista Foley. Information from the Trails NS website was used for the list. Click here to access a list of Equestrian Friendly Trails in NS. "The trails are beckoning and I hope that everyone can get out and enjoy them" - Ride & Drive Participant
Insurance
An Important Message from our Insurance Provider Regarding Wildfire and Coverage We are pleased to provide excellent insurance coverage provided to you by our partner, ACERA Insurance. Insurance-related Inquiries about your current Equestrian NS membership coverage should be sent directly to ACERA Insurance (formerly CapriCMW) at 1-888-394-3330 (ask for the equine department) or [email protected] Briefly outlined are the coverages available to you: Automatic Insurance Coverage for Current Equestrian NS Members
$5,000,000 Personal Liability Insurance ($1000 Property Damage Deductible)
Protects you, the member, if you are sued by a third party because a horse that you own or lease, ride or handle non-commercially, causes property damage or bodily injury to a third party. **Liability coverage is for non-commercial equine related activities. Some limitations and exclusions apply. Coverage is in force 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and covers the member (Canadian resident) anywhere in the ...
High-School-Credit-Program
High School Personal Development Program
[Image Description: High School Credit Program Poster - click here to download] Equestrian NS Instructor Certification
In partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Education, our members have been provided the opportunity to utilize the NCCP Western and English Instructor Coaching Certification program as a High School Personal Development Grade 10 Credit that is applied to the official high school transcript.
Students may begin the program as early as grade 9 and can continue the program throughout high school. Getting Started
Students wishing to take part in this program must complete the program registration form. The registration form and other documents for the program are available from the links below.
After successfully completing the prerequisites, training and evaluation, students will be issued the necessary accreditation documents for submission to their school guidance counselor. The deadline for submission is June 1st ...
Books, DVD's and CDs
Below are some general interest books, DVD's and CD's. The Rider Development and Coaching Manuals are in their own sections. Please see above for links to those sections.
Resources for Coaches and Candidates
Coaches and Candidates Resources and Professional Development
Helmet and Concussion Resources
Long Term Equestrian Development (LTED2)
Equestrian NS Western Rider Level Progress Report - This is a tool for coaches to help students (and parents) to monitor progress as they work towards the next level.
Multi-Sport Coaching Education in Nova Scotia
Coach Resource Guide - Coach resource guide supporting young athletes who are deaf and hard of hearing in a mainstream setting
Insurance Information for Coaches and Students - This Insurance page outlines the automatic personal insurance coverage that is a Equestrian NS Membership benefit, our Member Optional Insurance products, Club Insurance Information, and Coach Insurance Application & Frequently Asked Questions. Coaches should ensure appropriate coverage with their insurance provider as it is not covered by the automatic insurance that comes with our membership. The automatic coverage information can be provided to clients to ...
Anyone involved with horses can benefit from an Equestrian NS membership. Whether you are a coach, official, competitor or a recreational rider, there is value in it for you! Individual Membership is available to juniors (under 18 years) and seniors (18+ years as of January 1). Family Membership is available to spouses and/or the junior aged children of either/both spouses. Juniors are defined as children 18 years of age & under in 2017 (born in 1999 or later). If the child/sibling turns 19 in 2017 (born in 1998 or before) an individual membership is required. Spouses may include those who are cohabiting, but not married by law; those who are married, but do not use the same surname; legal guardian(s) of a junior aged member. JOIN OUR AFFILIATES WITH YOUR Equestrian NS MEMBERSHIP
When you join Equestrian NS, you can also join the following affiliates at the same time: Horse Trials NS (HTNS), Nova Scotia Hunter Jumper Association (NSHJA) Cape Breton Western Riders Association (CBWRA)
Your Equestrian ...
Coach Certification
What Does It Mean To Be A Certified Equestrian Coach
Canada's equestrians, both new and experienced, are looking for direction and guidance that can be found through a mentor or coach. These individuals play a role that brings together the love of a sport with skill and learning. As with many sports, the coaches who impart information and help develop the skills that set athletes up for success also need to be cultivated and developed. We are your partner to help you develop your coaching skills.
We administer the programs recognized by, and in partnership with, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and Equestrian Canada (EC). The Coaching Program includes the disciplines of Driving, English and Western, including training opportunities and competency based evaluation for certification.
What Is The Coaching Program
In general, The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) is a federal government-initiated program designed to give the public knowledgeable and ...
Participation-Recreation
Participation/Recreation
We offer several participatory programs to our members such as the Ride & Drive Rewards Program or the Learn to Ride Programs.
Equestrian Friendly Trails
To view a list of equestrian friendly/accessible trails, visit the Nova Scotia Trail Guide. "The trails are beckoning and I hope that everyone can get out and enjoy them" - Ride & Drive Participant
Individual/Family Membership
Equestrian Nova Scotia Memberships Join NOW! Anyone involved with horses can benefit from an Equestrian Nova Scotia membership. Whether you are a coach, official, competitor or a recreational rider, there is value in it for you! Individual Membership
Available to juniors (under 18 years) and seniors (18+ years as of January 1). Family Membership
Available to spouses and/or the junior aged children of either/both spouses. Juniors are defined as children 18 years of age & under in the calendar year. If the child/sibling turns 19 in the calendar year, an individual membership is required. Spouses may include those who are cohabiting, but not married by law; those who are married, but do not use the same surname; legal guardian(s) of a junior aged member. Refer a Friend and Save!
CURRENT MEMBERS - Refer NEW members for a credit of $5 towards your next year's membership. You can refer enough NEW members to get your next membership for FREE!* The new member must provide your Equestrian NS # in the ...
P'tit Trot
P'tit Trot
P'tit Trot is an exciting program for children who love horses and want to learn about horseback riding while caring for their horse at the same time.
Designed for children aged 5 to 12 years old new to the sport, the P'tit Trot manuals- one each for the English and Western disciplines - are fully illustrated throughout and introduces children to the basics of English or Western Riding and learning how to care for a horse or pony using the colourful drawings and amusing antics of P'tit Trot.
Parents and coaches are invited to use this entertaining and educational presentation that is ideal for horse lovers. It can also be used to prepare and support the activities offered at riding camps and as a precursor to the English or Western Learn to Ride Programs.
A special THANK YOU is extended to our colleagues at Cheval Quebec for developing and sharing this amazing program with us.
Contact us at [email protected] for more information or ...
Popular Links
Provincial Organizations
[Image Description: NBEA - AÉNB Logo]
[Image Description: Prince Edward Island Council Logo]
[Image Description: Newfoundland & Labrador Equestrian Association Logo]
[Image Description: Cheval Quebec Logo]
[Image Description: Ontario Equestrian Logo]
[Image Description: Manitoba Horse Council Logo]
[Image Description: Saskatchewan Horse Federation Logo]
[Image Description: Alberta Equestrian Logo]
[Image Description: Horse Council British Columbia Logo]
[Image Description: Equine Association of Yukon]
National Organizations
[Image Description: Canadian Pony Club Logo]
[Image Description: Equestrian Canada Logo]
[Image Description: CanTra ACET Logo]
For the Kids
[Image Description: P’tit Trot Logo]
[Image Description: EquiMania Equine Guelph Logo]
Sport & Coaching
Sport Nova Scotia
Support 4 Sport
Coaching NS
Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund ...
General Information
Candidate Considerations and What You Need to Know about Challenging Exams and Submitting Results
Helmets and the Importance of Sport Appropriate Equipment
Find Out What Type of Helmets are Appropriate for Horseback Riding.
General Information
Candidate Considerations and What You Need to Know About Challenging Levels and Equivalencies
Testing Resources
Where to Find Reading Material and Other Testing Resources
Resources
Where to Find Reading Material and Other Testing Resources
What is a Certified Coach
Finding a Coach and Where to Start.
