He was also chef d'equipe to the Irish Young Rider Team which took Ireland's first-ever Silver Medal at the European Show Jumping Championships in 2000 at Gijon in Spain. The Coaching Ladder starts at Introductory Level, and then moves through a four-tier structure from Level 1 to Level 4. A coach can move from Level 1 to Level 3 in a minimum of four years. Level 3 standard will be comparable to qualifications across Europe. There is no formal assessment at Introductory Level.
Participants receive a certificate of attendance on completion of the course.
At this level the participant is not a qualified coach, and MUST at all times operate under the supervision of at least a Level 1 Assistant Coach. These one-day courses aim both to familiarise those working in the equestrian community with the techniques and goals of the new initiative, and also to draw as many 'new' people as possible into the scheme. The first Level One Coaches will receive their certificates at our International Conference on December 13. As planned, the EFI ran four further Level One courses this year. The Equestrian Federation of Ireland has 17 qualified Tutors, with a further four in training with the NCTC in Limerick.