“Long Term Equestrian Development”. Sounds fancy. But what does it have to do with you? You’re a typical rider, just thinking about dipping a toe into showing. Or maybe you’ve competed before, but your horse is green or young or not a $100,000 warmblood/sport horse/Olympian. Like every rider, you’re keen to improve your riding and learn new skills, but what does LTED have to do with you?

A lot! Please read on!

Every person who picks up a pair of reins has taken her first step along the equestrian Pathway. This Pathway details the progression of a rider from his or her very first experience all the way to the Olympic podium. Each rider decides how far along the pathway s/he’ll travel, but the journey has been mapped out to ensure safe and successful learning.

One of the components of the Pathway is the Long Term Equestrian Development program. Started nationwide in 2007, this program takes riders from their current lesson program and guides them through a set of specialized lessons, training sessions, and off-horse seminars, taking them further along the Pathway and into a Team competition experience.

This year, the LTED is focusing on instructor and coach development, as noted below. We haven't forgotten that the LTED also serves as a bridge to a rider's first sanctioned competitions, so read on for funding programs with that goal in mind. 

Equestran Canada's LTED Document

Click to see where you are on the

Equestrian Pathway.

Get ready for the 2022 competition season:

 ► Equestrian Fitness Plan

 ► Equestrian Fitness Video Series

The LTED for 2022 has a whole new look.

This year, the focus will be on coach development. When we have good, trained coaches who have proven
themselves through national certification, we have a better chance of providing safe effective programs for new and developing riders. We need a new crop of equestrians to nurture, and coaches are the starting point.

The LTED funding, therefore, will support educational opportunities and skills growth for coaching. The goal is to have more candidates for both English and western instructor certification this year, strong prepared candidates. We will also be working with current certified coaches who are aiming to move up to the next level of certification, from Instructor to Competition Coach, or Comp Coach to Specialist. These higher-level coaches will in turn mentor and develop the next round of candidates.

In order to become a certified Instructor, one of the prerequisites is to have either English Rider Level 6 or western Rider Level 4. Some of the LTED funding will also be aimed at supporting riders who intend to become certification acquire those levels.

Keep an eye on upcoming newsletters and the Coaching News 2022 web page for more.

If you have an interest in becoming certified, please contact the NBEA and let us know. We have a distribution list to share news and info with you as opportunities arise. Also be sure to check out all the resources available on our How To Become Certified webpage.                          

 First Show Funding - new for 2022

Another focus of the LTED program is to serve as a bridge between new competitors and sanctioned competitions, to help riders get started competing in Bronze or Gold Equestrian Canada-sanctioned shows. 

To this end, the NBEA is offering First Show Funding. Any rider, of any age, who will be competing in his/her first-ever sanctioned competition can have 100% of show fees, including class fees, admin and drug fees, even stabling, paid for by the NBEA. A free show or event!

Head to our So You Want to Compete web page for more details on the program and a registration form. 

 Travel Funding

 Helping riders to experience the larger competition world has always been an NBEA goal and LTED initiative. In the past, that has meant support for teams representing New Brunswick at Atlantic Coast Games and Canadian INterprovincial Equestrian Championships. With the demise of those competitions, the NBEA supports individual riders who are taking it upon themselves to venture beyond the Maritimes to compete in large competitions in Quebec, Ontarion, even New York. 

Funding is dependant upon the number of applicants in a given year and the amount of travel and expense incurred. Deadline to apply for funding is October 1st. 

 Travel Funding Application Form