Erasmus+ SPINE 2017-2020

11/10/2020

Progress of SPINE:
SPINE project completed!

The Extra Qualification has been developed as a product of the Erasmus+ SPINE Project (Schools’ Project to Increase employability in the European Equestrian Market). The partners of this Project are nine member schools of EEN (Equestrian Educational Network).

The partners of the SPINE project are proud to announce that the project has reached its initial aims and goals. During the last three years we have worked together to create an education which aims at enhancing the employability for equestrian professionals in educating horses and riders in the international equestrian labour market.

To learn more about the SPINE project and the Extra Qualification visit:

The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. 

04/05/2020

Progress of the Erasmus+ funded project SPINE spring 2020

The project is in the last phase and the work is now mainly focused on evaluating the piloted education modules, updating all learning material and finishing the curricula for SPINE. We are also discussing different possibilities to disseminate the project results if were not able to host a multiplier event as planned.
We are happy we could finish the testing of out three modules with our students before the Corona crisis entered but of course would have wanted to be able to proceed with our transnational projects meetings as planned in the project. The meeting in Bilzen, Belgium had to be replaced by a two-day meeting in digital form. The meeting focused on discussing each subject and all material linked to it. The subjects of the SPINE project are: Horse welfare, Analysing riding & training, Riders seat, Riders performance, Pedagogics, Language & Communication, Social & Cultural understanding, Business & Management, Social media & Self-marketing and Laws & Regulations.

The mandatory group picture with (very long distance) social distancing!

Stay safe and healthy!,

Partners of the SPINE project

27/11/2019

Summary Module 3 Starum, Norway
Article in Norwegian hestesport.no - official web site of NRYF - Norwegian Equestrian Federation
http://www.hestesport.no/web.aspx?page=105234&newsarticle=60659

18/11/2019

Summary Module 3 Starum, Norway

Module 3 took place in the beginning of November in a five days workshop in Norsk Hestesenter, Starum in Norway. The nine SPINE students attended the final Module of the project, the Exam of Extra Qualification of Riding Instructor.
The week started with two days preparation together with the teachers. On Monday and Tuesday the students met the riders and horses they were supposed to work with during the Exam days. The students also had preparative lessons with teachers to finalize their Homework according to the feedback they had received from the teachers already before the Exam week.
The Exam started on Wednesday morning with students presentations of their Business plans and Dressage lessons they gave to the students of the local school. A group of SPINE teachers assessed the Business plan presentations while another group consisting of riding instructors was assessing the Dressage lessons the students gave each to their chosen rider. In the afternoon the students presented their Homework of the Cultural and Social background and the Laws and Regulations of the specific country they have chosen to be the place they wish to work in the future. At the same time in another classroom the riding teachers assessed the students theory lesson where the students explained their rider how to make improvement in their riding and co operation with the horse.

On Thursday the Exam went on in the morning with the Students giving a jumping lesson, each to their chosen rider/horse pair. The students gave either a lesson with poles or with small jumps, according to the specialization of their rider. In the afternoon the teachers made a complete evaluation of the Students’ all lessons and presentations.

On Friday, the last day of the Exam week the Students were given the complete assessment of their presentations in the Extra Qualification Exam. The Exam week and its preparment was assessed by the students and teachers in a detailed feedback session. The whole SPINE Project was also evaluated by the students.

This was the last time we had our students with us to try out the different modules, we thank them for all their effort and for beeing good examples of future students to participate the programme. Next in the project is finalizing our learning materials and Curricula before a new meeting in Belgium in the end of March.

23/09/2019

At the moment we are finalizing the stucture and contant of the third and final module in Starum in november. The teachers are working on creating the third module with The Exam as the final part where the student are asked to perform a clinic as well as present different types of theoretical work regardin working abroad. The students are working on their Business plans and other assignments - getting ready for exams! We are looking forward to going to Starum and testing our final module of the SPINE project!

29/05/2019

Module 2 Saumur, France

Module 2 was carried out in the end of February 2019. The same 9 students attended this Module along with 16 teachers. The students continued their education with progress in all subjects from Module 1. They were able to practice teaching students from the organising school IFCE and also analyse horses whilst riding themselves. All in supervision of the teachers. The students were also asked to present their homework from module 2, with good results. At the end of Module 2 the students were asked to answer a questionnaire about their involvement in the SPINE project so far. The results showed that they enjoy the experience in being a part of creating the Extra Qualification and feel that they are learning and developing. It also shows that the schools can be even better with using the SPINE project at home for discussions and lessons, so that the project can have an impact on even more students at local and regional level.

From a warm and sunny Saumur we are now looking forward to the testing the final Module 3, in Starum Norway in November. The Exam of the Extra Qualification will include a theoretical part with presentations from each student and a practical part where each student is assigned a “client” in form of a student from she school of Starum. The student is asked to perform a two day clinic with their client.

21/05/2019

In Flyinge our student in the SPINE project has been training with our university and upper secondary school’s students in riders performance/rider as an athlete. Zarina showed some exercises that she has learned within the SPINE project to improve the riders seat and position and at the same time shared her experiences in the project so far. Very useful for all of our students! / Flyinge, Sweden

13/05/2019

The progress of SPINE in making the Extra Qualification has reached halftime. In 2018 we had two transnational project meetings where we discussed the aims of and content in the Extra qualification. The three learning modules were decided on as well as the subjects within these. Parts of the final module in Starum Norway will be an exam, evaluation the outcome of the learning activities that the Extra Qualification holds. In the exam our 9 students will be able to show their abilities to work abroad in the equestrian market, in a new country and in a different language.

Summary Module 1 Warendorf Germany

Module 1 was carried out in December, 13-17, 2018. 9 students along with 17 teachers from all 9 partnership schools attended the first module. This was the first Learning/teaching/training activity in the project. The module was successfully completed with just a few small changes. During the module the project group discovered that the timetable was somewhat too ambitious. We had a debriefing at day 3 summarizing the module so far and the discussions regarding time/subjects and decided to make some changes for the rest of the module. In this process the students contributed with their perspective and thoughts. The students got to practice giving lessons in English, with students from Warendorf riding as well as teaching each other. They also had lectures from the teachers in Horse Welfare, Principles of Riding & Principles of Training, Riders performance, Self marketing & Social media, Cultural & social understanding, Business & Management, Language & communication and Laws & Regulations.
The teachers summarized the Homework for Module 2. All presentations in the Workshop will be included in the Study/Teaching Material of Extra Qualification. Looking to the result reached so far, the project is following the timeline and is well prepared for the upcoming Learning/Teaching/Training Activities.
For the students piloting the first module in Warendorf there was, beside the learning regarding the equestrian European labour market, an exchange of social, cultural and human skills and knowledge. In workshops, discussions and lessons they contributed to the creation of the Extra Qualification. They were given homework to produce before the next module which also enables their classmates at home to know and see what the projects aims are.

In module 1 additional members of the EEN was invited to follow and give input to the SPINE project. They participated in discussions regarding the subjects and the final outcome of the Extra Qualification.

14/12/2018

Modul 1 Pilot in Warendorf, Germany. Day 2.
Paricipating 9 students from 8 countries and coaches/observers from 11 schools/countries.

12/11/2018

Friday, the 9th of November, Gabriella Thorell held a lecture for our students. She has written a doctoral thesis that identifies and highlights perceptions of the riding instructor’s role and the historical and contemporary conditions that govern and affect this role. In conclusion, the results she found, can help strengthen the riding instructor profession and develop the riding school as a centre of knowledge and resources. To encourage further development, the profession should consider current stable culture, how learning takes place in the riding school, and the needs for further education. It was an interesting lection, and gave the students some good advices for their future as a riding instructor.
Read more about the thesis:

GUPEA > Faculty of Education / Utbildningsvetenskapliga fakulteten > Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science / Institutionen för kost- och idrottsvetenskap(2010-) > Doctoral Theses / Doktorsavhandlingar Institutionen för kost- och idrottsvetenskap >

01/10/2018

Annual Norwegian Conference for the riding teachers and trainers – 29. - 30. September.
Hanne Dahl Lien presents international corporation for about 100 spectators.

24/09/2018

https://flyinge.se/utbildningar/erasmus/

Flyinge är projektledare för ett internationellt samarbete mellan olika utbildningscentrum i Europa i ett Erasmus +-projekt, där även Ridskolan Strömsholm finns med. Här kommer vi … Continued