Walk N Style Academy
Walk N Style and its creators Denise Bader and Nicole Carswell Tolle are dedicated to creating an education based environment and success driven series of programs through the Academy from which all participants can benefit on both a personal and professional level.
Mission Statement
he mission of Walk N Style Academy is to provide an educational environment where instructors, trainers, and any individual desiring to be knowledgeable in the Tennessee Walking Horse can communicate and share knowledge, techniques and experiences.
The Academy is in place to build knowledge and provide support for those endorsing WNS and in agreement with its processes and techniques.
TRAINER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The Trainers Certification Program is designed to recognize individuals who are capable of training the Tennessee Walking Horse utilizing methods and techniques established within our program. While individual style will be encouraged, program goals are to:
Train the eye of the certifier to recognize desired movement within the individual horse
Identify points for improvement
Apply techniques which grow and develop the horse into an improved individual.
While staying true to the fact that the Tennessee Walking Horse was created and bred to cover the most amount of ground in a single stride while giving a smooth ride, and demonstrating headshake and brilliance of carriage. WALK N STYLE will adhere to those basic principles of performance when training individuals toward certification.
To join the WNS Program is to join a TEAM dedicated to the positive progression of the Tennessee Walking Horse as a breed and legitimate athlete. Our goal is to produce a consistent group of trainers known for skill and understanding in the training of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
LEVEL 1 FORMAT
WALK N STYLE LLC provides a training format involving round pen work, starting colts, developing young horses under saddle, and maintaining the aged horse 5 and over.
Live Testing
- round pen- actual riding of the 3 gaits
- working with a already started young horse
- working with an aged horse
Written Testing
There are areas of specialty within the certification process:
1) Basic Training
2) Western Training
3) English Training
4) Equitation Horse Training
Certifications are based on an individuals skill set. It is expected but not required that a trainer will certify in more than one category (categories 1 – 4) in Level 1 testing.
Basic Training LEVEL LEVEL 1 Certification involves trainers who stick to polishing up the finished horse, getting him fit and back to a solid gait. This is not a problem horse fixer, but rather a refreshing trainer who has a solid skill set of how to ride well and utilize basic concepts at all 3 gaits.
Western Training involves possessing the techniques to train horses the maneuvers, mannerisms, and skills which make a western horse and true western mount. Being able to train a Tennessee Walking Horse neck reining, leg yields, turns, rollbacks, etc will be necessary to gain this certification.
English Training is for the individual with some Saddleseat or Walking Horse background. The English horse is higher headed, collected upward and animation is encouraged. Riding in a suitable cut back saddle fitted for a Tennessee Walking Horse is required at all 3 gaits. It is imperative that an English horse trainer be able to execute in an English saddle, understand shoeing, and have knowledge of the types of English show divisions.
Equitation Horse Training is very fundamental. Choosing the individual horse that has the correct build, mind and gait to be an EQ horse first, then training this horse to perform smoothly and consistently on the rail is a skill. Then to take that horse and Flat Walk, Running Walk and Canter in a pattern situation requires a planned approach and patience in execution. It is also an art where the rider is as much of the program as the trainer. Individuals with a true interest in horsemanship will want this certification.
INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION
Instructor Certification will encompass 3 levels:
(One is available at the Virginia event)
Basic Level 1 Instructor
Level 1 Certification includes:
Safe ground handling
Knowledge of the types of equipment used in riding of different types of walking horses
Basic Health knowledge of the horse
Showmanship (in hand)
Teaching the 3 gaits
Identifying gait and mannerisms of horse
Understanding the true movement of the Tennessee Walking Horse and teaching students to identify gait and collection are the foundation of gaited riding. Not all school horses are the perfect gaited horse, so the instructor must learn to adapt and work with what is available while striving to improve the horse. The student is involved in the process.
Teaching correct basic seat position, balance, aids and technique are a must
Interacting with students, parents, adult clients on a personal and business level
Business management
Must attend 10 hours of educational training each year (expos, seminars, clinics, shadowing a professional)
ALL CERTIFIED TRAINERS AND INSTRUCTORS:
- WILL BE EDUCATED ON BASIC SADDLE FIT
- ALL WNS EQUIPMENT WILL BE UTILIZED AND AVAILABLE TO CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS
- CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO GAIN CREDITS TOWARD SADDLES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT THEY WANT THROUGH TRACKING SALES TO THEIR CLIENTS
- IN PREPARATION FOR ALL NATIONAL EVENTS, WNS WILL LOCATE CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THAT STATE AND PROMOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AT THE EVENT. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO ASKED TO HELP IN THE BOOTH AND MEET AND GREET THE CROWD.
LEVEL 1: $750
2018 CERTIFYING EVENTS
| JULY | CERTIFICATIONS LEVEL 1 CANADA |
|---|---|
| AUGUST | CERTIFICATIONS PRESENTED AT NICOLE TOLLE’S CLEAR SPRINGS RANCH IN FOUNTAIN, CO. LEVEL 1 ONLY |
LEVEL 2 TRAINER
Categories 5 & 6 are limited to Level 2 Instructors and above.
Colt Starting is for the trainer who has a strength and talent for starting a variety of young horses down the correct path to solid gait and maneuvers. Putting a strong foundation on a young colt is a true talent and certainly a specialty area.
We will specify the area of the trainer’s strength:
- 1
- Skill classes – trail, western riding, horsemanship, showmanship
- 2
- Speed Events
- 3
- Jumping
- 4
- Dressage
- 5
- Reining
- 6
- Driving
INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION LEVEL 2
Level 2 Certification includes:
Showmanship advanced (in hand)
Understanding of basic pieces of training equipment
Care and Handling of both lesson and show horses
Understanding basic saddle fit
Teaching the 3 Gaits with an introduction to pattern work
Understanding correct formulation of patterns and how to perform them correctly
Certification as a Level 1 Trainer
Ability to progress a rider to a higher skill set, teach greater collection and more defined use of the aids
Knowledge of safety on the trail when riding alone or in a group
Must attend 10 hours of continuing education (expos, seminars, clinics, shadowing a professional)
Master Instructor:
Must have tested and certified for Level 1 and 2 within the last two years
Certification in at least 2 Trainer categories
Ability to develop a horse and rider team to show ring level
Has the knowledge to lead a safe and organized trail ride
Had shadowed a professional trainer in your area of concentration for 4 months
Must display knowedge and ability to ride the 3 gaits to a high level of performance
Must understand the differences between western and English riding and how to teach both well
Must attend 10 hours of continuing education each year (expos, seminars, clinics, shadowing a professional trainer)