Becoming a riding instructor, which qualifications?!

[much-jittering]

Originally Posted by Beth321

Thanks for your advice, so A levels would be good to carry on with just incase things dont work out and I need a non-horsey job for some reason? It's just so hard to fit everything in - doing BHS stages and A levels together doesnt really work, but it'll have to!

I think so, personally. What do your parents think you should do? I turned down a place at equine college to do a levels instead as with my practical head on, I knew in the real world they'd be more use. Did my exams alongside sixth form (that said, I wasn't working very hard on my levels!)

Have now got a very hard working academically pupil, who's looking at oxbridge, who has done her stage 1 whilst doing her AS levels and has an R&RS course booked for after the May exams - so it is possible to balance both. She'll be a good instructor, she reminds me of me at her age! However when her and her mum asked me for my advice, I said do uni now as she wants to. Have a gap year getting horsey qualifcations if she likes, then do uni and keep her hand in teaching at PC or similar, and then decide what she wants. Horsey quals are easier to do whenever, academic qualiications are much easier to get if you stay in the system now rather than coming out for 10 years, then having a midlife crisis. Degrees not so much, but certainly A levels etc you may aswell stick with now, rather than have to take the plunge and go to college to try and get some 5 years down the line. You must have a year to do, and that's nothing - 40 weeks!

[Beth321]

Originally Posted by much-jittering

I think so, personally. What do your parents think you should do? I turned down a place at equine college to do a levels instead as with my practical head on, I knew in the real world they'd be more use. Did my exams alongside sixth form (that said, I wasn't working very hard on my levels!)

Have now got a very hard working academically pupil, who's looking at oxbridge, who has done her stage 1 whilst doing her AS levels and has an R&RS course booked for after the May exams - so it is possible to balance both. She'll be a good instructor, she reminds me of me at her age! However when her and her mum asked me for my advice, I said do uni now as she wants to. Have a gap year getting horsey qualifcations if she likes, then do uni and keep her hand in teaching at PC or similar, and then decide what she wants. Horsey quals are easier to do whenever, academic qualiications are much easier to get if you stay in the system now rather than coming out for 10 years, then having a midlife crisis. Degrees not so much, but certainly A levels etc you may aswell stick with now, rather than have to take the plunge and go to college to try and get some 5 years down the line. You must have a year to do, and that's nothing - 40 weeks!

Parents both non-horsey and think that I am wasting my life if I do horsey qualifications! So they want me to carry on with A levels. I am hoping to do my BHS Stage 1 this summer, and I also do a BHS Horse Owner's Course which is great for knowledge on the care side. Think it looks like I'll have to stick with A levels whether I like it or not. Yeah I do have a year to do, I'm just about to do my AS exams, suppose whether I do next year also depends on the results!

[galaxy]

Do your BHS exams, or if not, make sure you get something to at least the BHSAI equivalent that is recognised by the BHS/council. The reason why I say this is it makes you a lot more employable to a RS. I am about to start helping out at a RS temporarily (I only freelance, but know the owner for a long time) because BHSAI owner is now at the age where she doesn't want to teach so much and the girl that has been the for a few years just can't pass her BHS exams. The council/BHS say there has to be someone of at least BHSAI on site at all times, so therefore the other girl can't teach.... So I'm coming in to help out a bit (when I can find the time around my private clients! I'm such a soft touch) while the owner sorts out what she is going to do.

Do your A Levels 1st though! Or at least alongside

[EventingMum]

My advice would be to do your A levels regardless of your future career plans so you have them to fall back on. Regardless of your current thoughts you may find that in the future you have a change of heart and having your A levels is likely to help with a change of career.

If you can do start your BHS stages along side your A levels then you have a head start and can possibily look at completing your BHSAI in a gap year prior to uni. There's every chance you can pick up some weekend teaching to give you an income whilst at uni.

Many moons ago I was in a similar position although being young for my year at school meant I had to complete 6th year before leaving. I then did my AI and was sure I wanted to work with horses however a recurring injury made me realise that this was possibly going to be problematic for me. As I had the necessary academic results (the ones I had been so sure I would never need!) it was relatively easy to secure a place on my (non equine degree course). During my time as a student I also completed my BHSII. Due to getting married and subsequently having my son, in the end I didn't use my degree fully however I have used my teaching qualifications extensively (and also added to them) but had things been different my degree would have offered me a more financially secure future.

I think what I'm trying to say is that at your age it's hard to know how you will feel in a few years time or what the future may hold so keep your options open at this stage!

[Princess Jess]

I know how you feel!
I'm currently doing my A Level's too (final year) and made the decision to cut back on my riding to prioritise my exams. I do feel I've missed out a lot as not having my own horse has meant I haven't been able to compete which is where my heart is really...but on the otherside I've been able to focus on my exams and I know I wouldn't be able to achieve the A*AA my university is asking if I had a horse I was trying to compete at the same time. I'm off to university in October to study law and I know I've made the right decision as after university I can choose to do whatever I like knowing that I have good qualifications to back me up.
The way I see it is A level's and uni will take 5 years out of the next 60 I'm likely to live! And hopefully after my degree I will do a working pupil placement with an eventer and see where that takes me.

So I would definately urge you to continue with your A levels or I think you may regret it. If you decide university isn't for you then fine, but at least you have A level's to back you up. You're obviously very passionate about teaching and horses so I would definately say go for it once your A level's are out of the way...the sacrifice now will be worth it later

[Fiona clark]

Most people getting a lesson would expect you to be able to get on their horse and get them going better than they do! BHS exams most recognised and German Briater exam even better but both involve riding to a certain standard. It's all about confidence, you can do it! x

[ruth83]

Nobody on here has said you can't do it without riding. HOWEVER the majority of qualification routes require some level of riding.

I would suggest that you have a good read of the BHS exam syllabus. Being happy (and capable) to jump 3'3'' would allow you to reach stage 3 and thus allow you to get your BHSAI.

I agree that teaching is a completely different skill set to riding that good instructors do not necessarily have to be good riders, nor are all good riders good instructors.

[charleybrown]

Originally Posted by Miss L Toe

I would not be wanting anyone to instruct me if they could not ride and win at competition level, I might as well read a book, how can anyone teach above basic level [ie how to hold the reins] if they are not exceptional riders themselves.
I am sure it would be fine for RDA or something like that, but useless in a good riding school.
I have yet to meet anyone who is a good instructor on the ground [not sure what you mean], who is not also well qualified and very experienced in the saddle.

As a long term reader of these forums, the comment above has finally pushed me to jump in and get involved with offering an opinion. It worries me that people who clearly DONT know what they are talking about are offering opinions that may well negatively influence someone asking for advice in what is supposed to be a "careers and education" forum. Miss L Toe, I have no idea what your background is, and im sure you are educated enough in the area of equestrianism that you operate, but statements such as the one about RDA coaching show that you really have no idea in these kind of fields and may be better offering advice in areas you DO know about. I have been lucky enough to work with a wide variety of coaches - some that are top level riders all the way down to coaches who although immensely talented, have never had the breaks or finances to compete and "show" how good they are. The jumping/cross contry aspect of the BHS has meant that some coaches will never progress through these stages as it is a personal choice. It certainly doesnt mean you are not a good enough instructor because you dont fancy having to ride strange horses, with questionable credentials around a cross country track!

Beth, the sticking point of UKCC for you will be that fact that a large chunk of it is portfolio based and you do need some of your own riders to use to show development/lesson plans for. For someone that is not a fan of jumping I would recommend that you look into the lower stages of BHS and if you do decide that being a coach is the road you want to go down you could then get a job as an instructor incorporating the UKCC framework. Also, you never know - you may find working on a yard with a variety of horses to ride will improve your confidence enough to pursue the higher BHS levels. At the moment, the BHS is still the preferred qualification for most people, but it really does depend on what area of the horse world you want to go into.

Hope this helps

[lynspop]

There is also the ABRS exam route- not as popular or perhaps as recognised as the BHS, but I *think* it is a little more flexible in terms of entry level (e.g. if you have proof of sufficient experience you are able to go straight into their most basic teaching exam- equilvalent of the BHS PTT I would think).
More info-
http://www.abrs-info.org/Exam_materials-244.htm (under the exam section you fill find lots of info for Initial Teaching Award)

[Beth321]

Originally Posted by charleybrown

As a long term reader of these forums, the comment above has finally pushed me to jump in and get involved with offering an opinion. It worries me that people who clearly DONT know what they are talking about are offering opinions that may well negatively influence someone asking for advice in what is supposed to be a "careers and education" forum. Miss L Toe, I have no idea what your background is, and im sure you are educated enough in the area of equestrianism that you operate, but statements such as the one about RDA coaching show that you really have no idea in these kind of fields and may be better offering advice in areas you DO know about. I have been lucky enough to work with a wide variety of coaches - some that are top level riders all the way down to coaches who although immensely talented, have never had the breaks or finances to compete and "show" how good they are. The jumping/cross contry aspect of the BHS has meant that some coaches will never progress through these stages as it is a personal choice. It certainly doesnt mean you are not a good enough instructor because you dont fancy having to ride strange horses, with questionable credentials around a cross country track!

Beth, the sticking point of UKCC for you will be that fact that a large chunk of it is portfolio based and you do need some of your own riders to use to show development/lesson plans for. For someone that is not a fan of jumping I would recommend that you look into the lower stages of BHS and if you do decide that being a coach is the road you want to go down you could then get a job as an instructor incorporating the UKCC framework. Also, you never know - you may find working on a yard with a variety of horses to ride will improve your confidence enough to pursue the higher BHS levels. At the moment, the BHS is still the preferred qualification for most people, but it really does depend on what area of the horse world you want to go into.

Hope this helps

Thankyou! Helps a lot.