BHS Accreditation

[Mistertron]

Could someone please explain in laymans terms what it means for a RS to have BHS accreditation?

If you at an RS who is NOT accredited but the instructors are (because they are freelance maybe), does that mean you are still going to be taught correctly to BHS standards?

Hope that makes sense??:confused:

Thanks.

[eml]

Basically Approved School Status it is somethings schools apply for. They are inspected and on the first inspection the standard of teaching watched, subsequently they are subject to random inspections but these will centre on the welfare of the horse not instruction.

BHS Training Centres have an additional annual inspection where a senior BHS examiner watches the highest level of teaching offered and sees most of the horses working. These are in addition to normal council licencing.

The ABRS scheme is similar without the follow up inspections.

What you are taught and how you are taught is up to the instructor and type of horses available. Very small schools often run by an owner instructor often don't join one of these approval schemes.

The best way to choose a school is firstly to ask around, then visit and ask to watch a similar lesson to your needs and then if you like what you see book a trial lesson., there is nothing to say you have to have a second but it is the easiest way to find out where you are comfortable and what sort of instructor you get on best with

[Mehitabel]

ABRS also do spot checks with no warning, we had one a couple of months ago.

as eml says though, not being BHS approved doesn't mean the standard is bad - the BHS accreditation is expensive to get and sadly isn't a guarantee of good teaching.

i'd definitely echo going to look round, watch a lesson or two and se what kind of vibe you get.

[Daffy Dilly]

as eml says though, not being BHS approved doesn't mean the standard is bad - the BHS accreditation is expensive to get and sadly isn't a guarantee of good teaching.

Nor is it representative of good horse care!

Definately go have a look around a few schools and see what suits you best.

[Skib]

The best way to choose a school is firstly to ask around, then visit and ask to watch a similar lesson to your needs and then if you like what you see book a trial lesson.,

I couldnt agree more and it is what the BHS recommend when one is choosing a teacher who will suit one. However two of our local schools recently refused to let a NR member (a beginner rider) have a look round the school and watch a lesson.
I was told by the YO that their insurance doesnt allow it. Apparently because of stuff stolen when people asked to visit.
This is just another case of the riding schools being a law unto themselves. One would never choose any other sort of school for one's child without having a look round. How can bullying be prevented and safety checked unless one is allowed to watch?

[eml]

No Skib sadly it is not RS being a law unto themselves but a sad fact of life that we now have to lock and alarm everything and ban yard visits to avoid members of the public complaining they got..bitten/stood on/pushed by horses or telling all the world where X yard has its security cameras. No they probably wouldn't but yards cannot take that risk these days.

I always invite interested potential riders to watch a lesson so much more instructive anyway than peering at horses/ponies over stable doors.

As for bullying etc I am sure I am not the first RI to comtemplate CCTV of all lessons for my own protection

[Mistertron]

However two of our local schools recently refused to let a NR member (a beginner rider) have a look round the school and watch a lesson.


Yes a particular RS near me wouldn't let me look around and suggested if i did book a lesson that i could arrive early to look. I'd rather look before i've booked a lesson however.

[Gruntfuttock]

No Skib sadly it is not RS being a law unto themselves but a sad fact of life that we now have to lock and alarm everything and ban yard visits to avoid members of the public complaining they got..bitten/stood on/pushed by horses or telling all the world where X yard has its security cameras. No they probably wouldn't but yards cannot take that risk these days.

I always invite interested potential riders to watch a lesson so much more instructive anyway than peering at horses/ponies over stable doors.

As for bullying etc I am sure I am not the first RI to comtemplate CCTV of all lessons for my own protection

My yard CCTVs all lessons, for the protection of all concerned. It makes good sense, and it also means if someone falls off in a particularly amusing manner, we can watch it again...

When I went to visit them before i booked lessons, I was shown around the yard by a member of staff (my instructor, as it happens), and shown all the facilities in some detail, as well as being shown all the horses and ponies. I also watched a lesson.

I agree with not allowing people to wander around willy-nilly, but i would never ride at a place that didn't at least show me the facilities before asking me to commit to something.