Two outstanding British Columbia horsewomen have achieved their NCCP Level 4 coaching status. The National Coaching Certification Program's new Level 4 is a 20-course, minimum two-year discipline of study designed to challenge the very best of our equestrians and the very best within them. Barbie Whitworth of Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast acquired her Level 4 in Jumping in 1998, while Lynne Larsen of Merritt attained hers early this year in the discipline of Eventing. What challenges did these women of distinction face and what have their achievements meant to them?

Barbie Whitworth began riding when she was eleven years old on a Welsh/Arab pony called Velvet Lassie. At Southlands Riding Club she competed in jumping and progressed through the levels, finding a comfortable niche in the equitation hunter/jumper community. She moved to Seattle, riding under the eye of Bob Woodington, then returning to Vancouver, she worked for Trevor Graham. As a professional rider and coach, she formed her own company, Cypress Stables, and for a time enjoyed a business partnership with Lindy Townley who greatly influenced Mrs. Whitworth's equestrian career. Today Mrs. Whitworth provides her expertise in judging at shows and coaching clinics.

"I don't think of things as difficult," Mrs. Whitworth commented of the Level 4 course curriculum. "It's basically a number of courses like university study. Some courses were more difficult than others but you don't know that until you're in it. I was part of a test group of people doing the Level 4 course for the first time."

For Mrs. Whitworth, education and learning is a very positive thing. "It makes you stronger, more capable and more able to teach. Education enhances anybody's life and takes you further. It helps you go down new paths that you might not have followed. You spend time with very accomplished people and the (experience of learning) changes the way you approach judging and coaching."

"It allows me to do the best I can for the people I help," she explained simply. "I can provide the best knowledge for my students. Attaining Level 4 added 'tools' to my toolbox of coaching."

But more than that, Mrs. Larsen brings wisdom to the use of her tools. She emphasizes rider responsibility and, through her experience of riding at the upper levels of Eventing, her responsibility as a role model weighs heavily on her shoulders.

"I walk the course with my students," she said. "I make sure they understand how each of the fences will ride the best for their horse. I don't hold their hand but I want them to develop life skills in facing a cross country course. Each fence is like a fence in life. They must face it and ride it safely. The choices are theirs and I'm there if they need me. I know my students will be better people for the experience."

Rider responsibility is a big issue today in all equestrian disciplines. Enormous financial commitments are made by families to acquire and train the horse that can do the job, invest in a truck and trailer and all the attendant costs to get to competitions and select the coaches and clinics that will best develop the riding skills. Both Mrs. Whitworth and Mrs. Larsen have invested in themselves to offer the ultimate in coaching and judging techniques to help students achieve their goals both in riding and in life.