they can take the exam without doing an apprenticeship first. Show jumper Glenn Hartigan, originally from Canada, spent eight years in Germany working near Warendorf, where the North Rhein-Westphalian State Stud is located, and speaks fluent German. During that time, in 2001 he decided to qualify for his Bereiter license. (He also has his Course Designer’s
German! If you spend two years only mucking stalls, you won’t learn much, and there are lots of different places there: good, bad or indifferent.”
NON-PROFESSIONAL LICENSES Glenn Hartigan’s wife Stephanie is a native of Germany and has her Amateur Coach’s License “C” from the Landes Reit- und-Fahrschule in Langenfeld. In the U.S. Stephanie works as a dressage trainer and together she and Glenn run their business, Eurimports Sport Horses. These licenses are specifically created for people who
Left: Silva and Boyd Martin. Right: Sea Lord, trained by Silva Martin, owned by Shannon Stimson.
license). He was able to prove that he had at least six years’ experience as a professional trainer, and after passing a “pre- test” he was accepted into the program. He also took part in a 12-day intensive preparatory session that included riding, horse care, farriery and other topics to prepare for the two-day exam. Though the Bereiter license is not necessary for his business,
Glenn says that it was a personal goal for him and he finds it helpful as a professional. “Generally people who deal with Warmbloods are familiar with the German system—not everybody, but specifically people who deal with European imports, so it’s useful that way,” he reasons. “It gives them a little more security that you’re able to deliver on what you promise. Talk is cheap but this is a little bit of documentation that backs that up.” He points out that speaking fluent German and having
credentials helps him find good horses in Europe as well. “It helps me do my job better: maybe I can train the horse and get it suitable for more riders, and the test certainly helped me train a horse, and helped me become a better rider.” Felicitas cautions that anyone interested in pursuing the
German program go into it with their eyes open. “If you get the chance it’s a wonderful opportunity, but you really have to speak the language, so it’s a long term commitment to be prepared,” she says. “I believe it’s three years depending on where you go, and then not every place is great just because it’s
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want to be certified to teach without dedicating their lives to the profession. While a Pferdewirt or Pferdewirt- schaftsmeister has many years of apprenticing and working in the profession, the trainer licenses provide a means for other people who are active riders with a desire to teach to become certified. Within this program are levels “A”, “B” and “C,” with the
distinctions “Basic,” “Professional” and “Driving”. These are very general at the “C” level and at the “A” level require a test in dressage at approximately 2nd–3rd level, jumping up to 1.30m, cross-country jumping, instruction and theory. Each level requires the instructor to demonstrate his/her riding
skills, teaching ability and knowledge of riding theory, safety, etc. To qualify for testing a trainer must take part in a certain amount of approved clinics and seminars.
HITTING THE BOOKS The German equestrian education includes an academic component, not just the physical skills for riding. This includes a thorough education of business management, riding and training theory, and horse management. Students also build up their riding skills very systematically and are required to think about why they do what they do as they plan the training for the horses in their care, and why they make changes to the program along the way according to each horse’s needs.
Photos this page by Amber Heintzberger Glenn and Stephanie Hartigan. Warmbloods Today 39
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