Certifiable...

Certified. A term meant to legitimize the skills of the holder. People seem to take for granted that if you are "certified" you know what you are doing over someone who isn't.

The problem is, that ANYONE can issue a certificate. They sell them for a dollar and the Dollar Store. But if you are running a program, you can just add the $1.00 certificate to the end of a course and suddenly people end your course claiming to be professionals.

The biggest "certification" to hit the horse industry is the Certified Equine Massage Course. I know people who have taken some of these courses, and they do sound good, but I don't know if they all are. The main thing that worries me about these courses though, is that the people running the course, and teaching, are also the ones testing! Is it really in their best interest to fail their students? Massage is something that can do a lot of good, but it can also do damage...or just use up money without benefit. A certificate without standardized testing or independent testing is of questionable value.

There are also the coaching/teaching certificates. The Equine Canada program is good; to get our level 1 coaches certificate you are taught and tested by multiple people. You have to take numerous courses, work with a mentor, and show you can do the job. This does make it an expensive certificate though...thousands of dollars, but i do think it is a legitimate standardized program and is good for the industry. A level 1 EC coach can do basic dressage, jumping, and has good barn and management skills. A level 2 coach has shown to have the skills to coach to a high level. Level 3 means you are a national level coach! EC coaches have to keep up their skills and learning through clinics and mentoring.

But there are other coaching certificates...where level 1 means you can help a beginner rider walk and trot. Level 2...you can teach canter. Level 3 you can teach aids and start over fences.

So...you see someone saying they are a Certified Level 2 coach...and you may think EC which means, WOW, you have lots of skills and experience and are a high level coach...when really, you just know how to tell someone how to kick a horse into a canter.

And some of these coaching programs have the program instructors also grade and pass the students...not sure how legit that is.

It is not that I think these programs are BAD, just misleading....good money makers for the program holders though!

So....to that end, I am going to run a How to Sell your Horse Certification course!

We will cover such topics as:

1) how to take photos that make your horse's head look gigantic
2) How to take photos to hide your horse's club foot
3) How to borrow children to place between your unbroke horse's feet to show how quiet it is.
4) How to borrow children to put on your unbroke horse's back to show how quiet it is.
5) The many ways tarps can be used to show how well trained your horse is.
6) How to spell words like "lunge" and "exercise".
7) How to measure your horse to make it a full 1 inch to 1 hand taller than it really is!
8) How to successfully show your horse to potential buyers even though you don't have any sort of arena and the horse hasn't been ridden in weeks!
9) How to distract potential buyers while the horse acts up.
10) How to subtly discourage try outs and vet checks while still selling your horse.
11) and finally, how to avoid law suites when selling your horse! (who am i kidding...horse people are oddly reluctant to pursue evil sellers...if they weren't, then J.N. wouldn't still be in business...

All things i am learning while trying out horses...

I am charging a mere $1500.00 for this 2 day CERTIFICATE course! Then you can advertise your horse as being sold by a Certified seller!