Improving sport horse performance - Van Hall Larenstein, University

Every course day is split into a theoretical and practical
part. In the morning, participants will be taught through
lectures, seminars and discussion groups, while the
afternoon is reserved for developing riding and/or
instruction skills.
The course program is split into three blocks of 2 weeks,
spread out over one year. Each block, or ‘module’, has a
different theme. The first module focusses on the horse
and rider, the second module covers all aspects relating
to breeding, judging, identifying talent and trading
sport horses and the last module offers participants
the opportunity to gain in-depth understanding of
the principles relevant to running successful equine
stables. Online coaching is available between modules
for participants aiming for the international instructors
certificate.
Location
All modules are taught in English. Participants also have
the option to pick just one or two modules out of the
complete offer. In those cases participants will receive
a certificate for each module attended. Participants who
wish to achieve an official international instructors
certificate must possess appropriate entry levels in
equitation (riding). See our website for further details
on relevant entrance levels. The Dutch Equestrian Fede­
ration will issue the international instructors certificate.
The Holland National Horse Foundation is a foundation comprising the leading equine businesses and
institutes of the Netherlands. Experts from fields including breeding, horse insurances, housing, transportation and education have joined their forces to reach
out to developing equestrian nations and help them
develop skills and knowledge surrounding the horse.
www.hnhf.org
The largest green University of Applied Sciences
in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is known worldwide for
its cows, cheese, windmills, tulips and of
course horses. It is no co-incidence then
that we, as a University of Applied Sciences, have chosen to develop various study
programmes in subjects relating to Food,
Animal, Plant and Nature.
To enable participants to build their personal network
in The Netherlands, a series of visits to yards, businesses
and events will be organised throughout the duration of
the course, including attendance of the KWPN mare and
stallion shows and top level competitions.
‘Horse business is big business’
The equine industry is rapidly turning more professional
and is expanding throughout the world. Western Europe,
with countries like the Netherlands, Germany and the UK,
Practical part
Theoretical part
Instructing
Participants may indicate if they wish to be taught
how to instruct riders. This element of the course will
be offered in cooperation with the Dutch Equestrian
Sports Federation.
The theoretical part will be taught in a class room
setting every morning, covering topics related to the
general themes of each module. Each module includes
attendance of a first class equestrian event. The following
modules of two weeks each, will be spread across the year:
Riding
All participants wishing to improve their riding skills will
undergo an individual intake session with a licensed
instructor in order to assess current standard of riding.
Based on the results of the assessment and under
the guidance of the Dutch national coaches individual
training schemes will be set up and implemented.
Appropriate horses will be made available for training
in show jumping and/ or dressage following mutual
consultation. Participants may also bring their own
horse.
Module 1: Management of Sport Horses (August: KWPN Horse Days)
Module 2: Sport Horse Selection & Breeding (February: KWPN Stallion Selection)
Module 3: Management of Sport Horses Stables (June: Outdoor Gelderland)
are considered leaders in this international field. Such
a growing industry demands people who combine their
interest in horses with sound business knowledge.
At VHL, we educate this kind of students. Young ambitious people are trained to become professionals who
succeed in the equine world. Our four year Bachelor
programmes Equine Leisure and Sports and Equine Business and Economics offer students the opportunity to
gain the latest knowledge in subjects such as nutrition,
welfare, breeding, exercise physiology, rider physiology
and psychology and also marketing, accounting, business
planning and managerial economics. Both programmes
are taught in English.
a VHL-course supported by the HNHF
Improving sport horse performance
International Instructors Certificate
Participants, who successfully complete the entire course, have the possibility to gain an official international instructors
certificate issued by the Dutch Equestrian Federation. Please consult the website for the required entry levels in riding.
Online coaching is available in-between modules.
VHL Training and Development
Both the theoretical and the practical part will take
place at the premier facilities of the Dutch Equestrian
Sports Federation in Ermelo, The Netherlands. This
newly refurbished complex is considered the heart
of the Dutch equine industry, housing not only the
National Federations for recreational and competitive
riders but also several studbooks, including the world
famous KWPN.
Information and registration
For more information and registration forms,
please visit: www.vhluniversity.com/training-anddevelopment.aspx
VHL Training and Development
Hans van Tartwijk
e-mail: [email protected]
Tineke Eppink
e-mail: tineke.eppink2wur.nl
Time and time again the Dutch have shown that they are world leaders in both show
jumping and dressage. In the world of horse sports, Anky van Grunsven, Jeroen Dubbel­
dam, Edward Gal, Gerco Schröder and Adelinde Cornelissen are household names. To
achieve that level of success, riders need skill, talent, experience, and, of course, a fantastic
horse. Think of horses like Totilas, Valegro, De Sjiem and Simon. More than that however,
true and lasting success demands correct training methods and expert management of
horse and rider. Precisely this combination of Dutch-bred horses and Dutch management
practices has led to the kind of success stories every rider dreams of. The course ‘Improving
Sport Horse Performance’ will help turn this dream into reality. It is developed and offered
by the University of Applied Sciences VHL in Wageningen in close cooperation with the
partners of the Holland National Horse Foundation and the Dutch Equestrian Sport
Federation. Participants, who successfully complete the entire course, have the possibility
to gain an official international instructors certificate.
For whom
Wageningen
Forumbuilding, number 102, fifth floor
Droevendaalsesteeg 2, 6708 PB Wageningen
P.O. Box 411, 6700 AK Wageningen
Telephone (0031) 317 48 62 63
05-14
The course is designed for horse enthusiasts all around the world who wish
to learn how we breed, train, manage and judge our sport horses here in
The Netherlands. Participants should preferably be active in the equine
industry in their own country, are able to communicate in English (level
B1/B2 or higher) and can demonstrate a working knowledge of horses
(either through experience or education).
© Arnd Bronkhorst - www.arnd.nl
The main focus of this course is to improve participants’
‘know how’ about the most relevant aspects involving
sport horse performance.
© Arnd Bronkhorst - www.arnd.nl
Course structure
Module I: Management of Sport Horses
Module II: Selection and Breeding of Sport Horses
Module III: Management of Sport Horse Stables
In order to perform at the highest level, horse and rider need to be ‘fit to compete’. But how
to achieve appropriate levels of fitness, how to develop, measure and monitor fittness and
strength for the show jumper versus the dressage horse? Planning the right kind of training
sessions, keeping both horse and rider mentally fit and physically healthy are only some
of the topics that will be addressed in ‘Management of Sport Horses’.
The Dutch warmblood horse is known all over the world for its outstanding performance
potential and, indeed, many of today’s medal winners were bred in the Netherlands. So what are
the characteristics of a good sport horse and how do the Dutch go about judging young talent?
Organised systems such as the KWPN breeding program and estimated breeding values can help
breeders to match the right stallion to their mare. Learning how to analyse and understand the
information available can mean being one step ahead in the race to breed the next top horse.
The module ‘Selection and Breeding of Sport Horses’ will address all of these issues and more.
Participants will learn all about breeding, judging, identifying talent and trading sport horses.
Getting to the top not only requires talent and dedication, it also means being able to manage
performance horses appropriately while at the same time operating a sustainable business.
Making decisions about the right type of footing, understanding principles of monitoring and
ensuring equine health become as important as being able to choose the right kind of training
facilities or organise a competitive event. Modern stable managers need to be as competent
at marketing, accounting, and generating an income as they are at assessing feed quality and
devising vaccination and deworming programs. The module ‘Management of Sport Horse
Stables’ will provide participants with the knowledge to do all of the above and more.
More specifically, the theoretical part of this module
covers:
Reproduction
Managing female reproductive cycles and assessing
semen quality; appropriate reproductive management
techniques
Judging horses
Dutch system of linear scoring and the judging of
conformation, quality of movement and jumping
The practical part of the module includes visits to
the KWPN Horse Days, taking place during that time
at the same facilities. Formal and informal discussions
surrounding this prestigious event complement the
theoretical part outlined above.
Breeding & genetics
Overview of genetic principles; breeding values and their use;
analysis and implementation of various breeding programs
Buying & selling
Outline of current export regulations, including health
and legal issues
The Stallion Selection Show of the KWPN coincides with
this module and takes place at the ‘Brabanthallen’ in
s’Hertogenbosch. Participants will visit this high profile
event as part of the module, allowing for the integration
of theoretical and practical learning components.
More specifically, the theoretical part of this module
covers:
Health management
Equine health care, prevention of sport related injuries
and rehabilitation; vaccination and deworming
Feed management
Roughage production and assessing feed quality
Event management
Organisation of competitions; developing and
implementing marketing strategies
Business management
Investment decisions; footings, housing and other
facilities; generation of income streams; principles of
accounting and business finance
The international event “Outdoor Gelderland” coincides
with this module. This outdoor dressage and show
jumping competition will be visited during the module,
incorporating, once again, theoretical and practical
components.
© Arnd Bronkhorst - www.arnd.nl
E quine behaviour
Innate horse behaviour and implications for modern
management practices; equine learning theory and
application into practice
Health care
Indicators of optimal an sub-optimal health, risk- and
injury management
Nutrition
Development of appropriate feeding regimes for
different types of sport horses
Training physiology
Measuring and monitoring of performance indicators in
horses, development of training schemes for different
types of sport horses
Rider fitness
Measuring and monitoring of mental and physical
performance indicators in riders; development of mental
and physical training schemes for riders
Xander Noë
Rob Ehrens, National Coach for the Dutch senior jumping team since 2005, has been
very successful over the past years: in Aachen 2006 his team was crowned World
Champions, in 2007 they were European Champions and at the 2012 Olympics in London,
won team and individual silver. Ehrens is known as a professional, experienced and
likeable person. He strives to get the best out of every horse-rider combinations at any
level. “I think the unity and harmony of a team are essential aspects to be successful.
I really focus on that and I think that’s one of my strengths”.
VHL Training and Development
Head educational department KNHS
© Arnd Bronkhorst - www.arnd.nl
National Coach of the Dutch jumping team
With more than 200,000 members the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) is one of
the largest horse sports organisations in the world and responsible for the development and organisation of horse sport at both grassroots and international level. Every
year, the KNHS educates more than 100 instructors and 150 officials across the different
disciplines. Xander Noë, “Are you passionate about horse sports and enjoy sharing your
expertise and knowledge? Then you should take advantage of this unique opportunity to
follow the three modules and gain your instructor’s diploma. This intensive educational
program offers you the chance to follow lesson from the best the Netherlands has to offer.”
Wim Ernes
National coach of the Dutch dressage team
Wim Ernes has been the National Coach of the Dutch senior dressage team since
January 2013 – and this is not the first time he is doing this job either. From 1993
through to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 he also successfully fulfilled the role of
National Coach: A silver team medal and a silver and bronze individual medal were
the result. Ernes is a five star ‘Olympic level’ dressage judge and part of the KWPN
stallion selection committee. Wim is highly sought after for his experience and general
know-how in the world of international dressage. He is known for his expertise,
diplomacy and individualised approach. “Dressage is more or less a way of life”.
© Arnd Bronkhorst - www.arnd.nl
Rob Ehrens
© Arnd Bronkhorst - www.arnd.nl
More specifically, the theoretical part of this module
covers the following topics:
More information? Please visit www.vhluniversity.com/training-and-development.aspx