Abrs

[stablehand]

Hey Guys and Dolls :rolleyes:

I am going to be undertaking traing at my local yard for NVQ level 2 in horse care, and I decided that I don't want to take BHS teaching certificates, as I feel there are far too many people geared towards them, and forget the importance of the ABRS. After all, they were set up before the BHS.

Before writing a whole essay on why i feel the ABRS are better and also worse then the BHS, I have got a questiong to ask you guys (and dolls.)

Has anyone taken the ABRS ITA (ABRS Inital teaching award,) as I have seen on the syallbus the age and you only have to be 17.5 years old (accruacy for you,) and I am interested in taking it, as my NVQ could tranfer as the award to gain me the qualfication to take the ITA (if that made sence ;) ), and i was wondering if any of you fantastico, knowledgeable NR people have taken this ABRS ITA qualifcation or know of anybody that has.

Any suggestions would be greatly admired :rolleyes:

Ta!!! (Sorry about poor or lack of sppeling or do i mean spelling)

[eml]

I agree that the ABRS exams are good and very practical, however factually the ABRS is not older than the BHS but was set up by some very good people who had a disagreement with the then BHS officials. However today lots of the top BHS people are also ABRS and viceversa.

The only thing I would say is that although I personally rate the exam it does not have the creditability or the transferability internationally of the BHS ones and often people tend to see it as something done as 'a soft option'.

[Wally]

It may be seen as a soft option but until the BHS radically change their syllabus to include older, non jumping but incredibly tallented dressage/flatwork riders, it is the only option open to some who need a teaching certificate to satisfy insurance companies.

Getting insurance or work at a yard without some kind of certificate is difficult.

The BHS as an organisation is incredibly arrogant, ( as demonstrated lately by published letters written to veteran members!) I have found dealing with the ABRS was far easier and they, as an organisation are far more open to suggestion and critique.

When we ran the riding school we got considerable discounts if we did not take jumping lessons. Wonderful for a school specialising in gaited breeds who are not known for their jumping ability......but the BHS still insist that to be any kind of rider you have to throw you and your horse at ruddy great jumps! They dismiss the gaited breeds and actuallt the BHS wrote a letter to the IHSGB asking them not to promote their "ponies" for adult riders! How about that for ignorance and narrowmindedness???

[Bay Mare]

They dismiss the gaited breeds and actuallt the BHS wrote a letter to the IHSGB asking them not to promote their "ponies" for adult riders! How about that for ignorance and narrowmindedness???


:eek: :eek: :eek:

and that kind of attitude is why the BHS needs a kick up the backside and a complete overhaul.

I'm not against the BHS per se because there are a lot of people who do a lot of good work but there are a lot of changes that need to me made.

Their attitude to Dana Green and others who have 'dared' to question them stinks.

Their exam system precludes a lot of very good riders and potential teachers who either can't or won't jump to the heights that they require. I don't understand why they can't have jumping/xc/driving etc as specialist 'extras' that you can do in addition to the core exams. I do think that smaller jumps could be included in their exams to show that their teachers have an understanding of the correct position, approach and landing etc.

Anyway ... I'll shut up now as I could go on ... and on .... and on .....

[eml]

Yes I agree but things are changing. Some of the 'younger' Fellows particularly those really involved in running commercial schools are arguing for change and for teaching qualifications to recognise that some can teach without neccessarily being able to pass riding exams.

The ABRS have always led they way on this and in fact their RS Principals exam allows the use of a trainers pupils as an example of the standard they reach instead of expecting often older trianers to ride still to a high standard.

There are equally and recently not such good things being done in the name of the ABRS being in fact taken over by commercial interest. All organisations have problems!!

[Jane.A]

Can anyone point me in the right direction to take the ABRS teaching qualification? Would like to do it. Have a wealth of experience but tho I can build a basic jump course my disability precludes me from jumping one. Not a problem as I specialise in dressage but as you rightly point out it does cause insurance difficulties.

[eml]

You could go the ABRS route but intrinsically it is the same as the BHS except for the option to offer more advanced dressage movements rather than jump. I see you are interested in Parelli and other NH...have you thought of pursuing their exams

[Jane.A]

Have just checked out the ABRS website and found the answers to my questions. Think their system might well suit me as am about to do the ESFA and Child Protection course, or whatever they call it now. They are also prepared to give credit for APL, so the fact that I have competed successfully at Grade 4 para trials and able bodied elementry, have bred and produced to County level and am listed BD judge should all stand me in good stead. Am interested and have done a couple of parelli courses, as well as attended NH lectures but my judging and competition commitments, not to mention financial constraints have meant that since I've returned to riding properly after completion of all my surgeries I'm having to cut my cloth and focus on dressage. Thanks for your help. Its good to be able to throw ideas around and has enabled me to clarify what I want.