By Sarah Evers Conrad and CHA Members Listed Below
CHA Certified Instructors are passionate about their work, their students, and about CHA. We asked several CHA Certified Instructors to share how their CHA Certification has changed their career, and we received some great responses. If you are a CHA Certified Instructor and would like to share “What Your CHA Certification Has Done for You,” please add your story in the comments below.
Dale Rudin, Un-Natural Horsemanship
When I attended my first CHA conference, I knew I had found my tribe. It was like coming home to a place where everyone already knew me, because they thought the same way I did about teaching and horses. That is especially precious to me because I often follow the beat of a vastly different drum than the majority of trainers and instructors I encounter. Coming across someone like-minded is rare enough, but finding an entire organization. CHA was like hitting the jackpot! I felt welcomed and supported by this group of people who ceaselessly strive to do their best for people who want to have a safe and fulfilling equestrian experience and the horses who make that happen. CHA inspires me to be a better instructor and horse person. It is an honor and a gift to be a member.
Amanda Love, West Texas A&M University
As a riding instructor at the college level, my CHA certification has given me one more tremendous outlet for education to share with my students. Our students come from many different riding backgrounds and have professional equine goals that span the spectrum of the horse industry, but CHA is a language that speaks to all horse people. The videos, publications, manuals, and continuing education encourages equine students to be lifelong learners in the horse industry while maintaining the core values of safe, effective and fun experiences with horses.
Cheryl Rohnke Kronsberg, CKR Training Stable
When I got my CHA certification, I thought that I would put in my 40 hours at the clinic and that would be the end of it. I’d have a piece of paper that said I was okie-dokie and I’d be on my way. Yet, as fantastic as the clinic itself was, I never realized that the best was yet to come.
Once I had my certification, I met lots of other certified instructors. They became my friends, mentors, and associates. I have become acquainted with wonderful instructors from all over the world. We have exchanged information and ideas. We have helped each other with training and teaching issues. We have passed along helpful hints and sad stories. Their input has been extremely valuable to me, my staff, clients, and horses.
I never expected to become part of something that is not only helpful to me as an instructor and equine business owner, but as a person. I have learned that I am respected by my peers and that my opinion matters to people. That has increased my self-esteem immeasurably. I have new confidence in myself and my abilities that extends far beyond the barn, arena, and show pen.
Being CHA certified has also opened doors I never even thought about. It has given me opportunities to be a speaker at local and international events. It has given me a chance to write about horses and their people and have those articles published. CHA has given me the chance to meet and learn from some amazingly talented people whom I never would have met without the CHA connection. Those connections have improved my skills as a barn manager, horse owner, trainer, and instructor. I am so much better now than I was before I became certified. I know that growth wouldn’t have happened without CHA. Thank you CHA for being the organization that you are and for letting me join the club.
Tara Gamble, Tara Gamble Horsemanship, CHA Past President
My CHA certification has allowed me to pursue my passion and turn it into a career. From this I am a professional with a successful program and facility. The resources and opportunities CHA has available for instructors is limitless.