RIFNA encourages its members to become more educated about horses, horse care, and the horse industry. To qualify for year-end competitions, each year riders must earn at least 30 educational points. These points are earned by participating in clinics, talking to vets, farriers, and other horse professionals, and seeking knowledge about horses outside of their regular weekly lessons. Here are some ideas on earning educational points and learning more about horses:

• Quizzes and Clinics- Pick a topic and create a clinic and test on that subject. Subjects can be about Tack, Bits and Bridles, Breeds of Horses, Trailering, Barn Management, or any of many other topics.

• Veterinarian/Farrier/Horse Chiropractor/Massage Therapist/ Acupuncturist – If you have one of these professionals come to your barn to provide treatment and they are willing to talk about what they are doing and why to a group of riders or just one rider that could be considered a clinic.  How many horses they treat and/or possible descriptions for treatment will determine the points earned.  Have the rider(s) write a paragraph indicating what was demonstrated/practiced/learn.  Another option would be if done as a group clinic and the presenter gives a test to take at the end, send in a sample of the test and the score for each rider for credit.

• Feed Dealers – Take a road trip to a feed dealer and learn about the different feeds available.  What is recommended for an older horse, a mare that is nursing, recommended amounts, what products do feed dealers supply, where do they get their products, how did they get started in the business and why.  Lots of opportunity for education.

• Saddle Fitting 

• Tack Stores/knowledge – you can go to one or have a clinic at your barn or do both.  This can be a great team bonding event.

• Riding Clinics/Camps in Any Discipline – If a rider attended a riding summer camp, they can be credited just education points.  Have the rider give us the number of days and what was covered in the camp and we will determine points.  As an example, In Your Dreams had a summer clinic that ran 4 days and the riders earned 8 education points.  Since most also bought 3 books that were used in assignments, they earned an additional 3 education points.  Because IYD is a RIFNA barn and they rode all 4 days, they also earned 4 lesson points.  Anyone who attended the July College Bound Invitational Clinics earned 3 points per day attended.  Anyone that attended the George Morris Clinic in Birmingham earned 3 points per day.

• Trailer Loading – Some of you trailer horses yourselves and/or hire a professional.  If you are attending a show and trailering yourself and demonstrate what to do and have riders assist you, they can earn points the first time that they do so and again if different requirements are in place.  If you hire a professional and he/she is willing to speak to your group, that is another great opportunity.  Things that could be covered are what do you need to know/be concerned about, differences/concerns when trailering local/short, medium or long distances.  Personally, when we lived in Idaho, the stable my daughter rode at moved to North Carolina.  My daughter was able to help and learn from the man that moved most of the horses which included an 18 hand, 2000 pound Shire stallion.  She wrapped legs, helped load, and learned why he had certain things done for about 2 weeks prior to the move such as adding Gatorade to their water.

• Equine Dentistry

• Books – 1 point per educational book owned.  Books used in the IYD camp were Hunter Seat Equitation by George Morris, Grooming to Win by Susan E. Harris, Pony Club ‘D’ Level by Susan E. Harris

• Magazine – 1 point per magazine subscription.  Does not have to be in the rider’s name.  If two of your riders are siblings and one gets one magazine, Equus, for example and the other Practical Horseman, both riders get 2 points.

• Homework – This could be a book report or a science project dealing with horses.  Basically if it has a horse in it, send us a copy.

• Equine therapy for humans and/or horses – If a rider volunteers with a group that provides equine therapy with horses for people as a side walker or horse leader, they earn points.  While undergoing training with the organization, they earn one set of points per day per training.  Thereafter, they earn an additional point each month they continue to volunteer for the organization.  If a rider volunteers at an event that raises funds for an organization that provides equine therapy for humans or horses such as a horse rescue group, they can earn points.  Write a paragraph and send it in.

• First Aid/CPR – We require all coaches to be CPR certified but any rider 16 and over for the American Heart Association can be certified.  They earn 1 point for First Aid and 1 Point for CPR.  Must show card.

• College Tours – Earn a point for each college you tour that you are thinking of applying to.  Show proof.

• Movie Night – This is a good team building experience as well.  If you have an educational video and get the team together to view and discuss it, that is a point.  If they take a test on what they saw, that would be 2 points.

• Equine Event – Attend a rodeo or a polo match and earn a point.  Show proof of attendance.  Write a paragraph about it and earn another point.  Attend an IHSA or NCAA horse show.

• Internet:- Watch a YouTube video on something related to horses.  The video must be educational in nature: how to groom, how to polo wrap, how to treat lameness, ect.  If you write a short paragraph and turn it into Keely, you can receive at least 1 point per video watched.  The longer the video and more detailed the paragraph, the more points you will earn.

• Read articles online about horse related subjects and write a paragraph on what you learned.  

• TV: Animal Planet has a series about Jockeys.  Write a paragraph on each episode and earn a point per episode. Find other TV shows that are educational and write a paragraph on them.  History channel has a Modern Marvels about the Horse.   

• Body Clipping and show clipping-Learn how to body clip and get a horse ready to go to a competition. This is a valuable skill to have when showing your own horse or when looking for internships and experience in the horse industry..  

For further information, please contact us.