Long-Term Equestrian Development (LTED) is designed to support positive, safe, and meaningful equestrian experiences at every stage of participation — from first-time riders to high-performance athletes, including riders with disabilities.
LTED outlines four NCCP coaching contexts that reflect the type of riders being supported and the coaching environment.
Instructor
The Instructor context forms the foundation of equestrian sport and is the entry point for most coaches.
Instructors:
- Introduce riders to the sport and develop fundamental riding and horsemanship skills
- Focus on skill development in a learning environment
- Do not take riders to competitions
Disciplines available:
Driving, English, Saddle Seat, Western
Competition Coach
The Competition Coach context supports riders as they transition from skill development into competitive environments.
Competition Coaches:
- Continue developing riders’ technical and tactical skills
- Introduce riders to competition experiences
- May take riders to provincial-level competitions
Disciplines available:
English, Western
Competition Coach Specialist
The Competition Coach Specialist context supports discipline-specific competitive coaching at an advanced level.
Competition Coach Specialists:
- Consolidate and refine riders’ skills
- Coach within discipline-specific competitive streams
- Take riders to national-level competitions
Disciplines available:
Western: Reining, Speed Events, General Performanceng) and Western (Reining, Speed Events, or General Performance).
English: Dressage, Jumping, Eventing
Competition Development (High Performance 1)
The Competition Development (High Performance 1) context focuses on advanced athlete development and performance pathways.
In this context, coaches:
- Support riders as they refine high-performance skills
- Focus on discipline-specific training and competition
- Take riders to high-level national competitions and/or FEI-level events
- Follow structured performance programs and training schedules
Equestrian Canada manages certification for the Competition Development (HP1) context. Coaches interested in this pathway should contact Equestrian Canada directly at coaching@equestrian.ca for more information.