EE teaching qualifications

[Rakeli]

I really want to be a riding instructor when I'm old enough, and was wondering what age do you have to be to become an EETT (is that it?)? I don't really want to take BHS qualifications, but would the EE qualification be enough for people to recognise me as a teacher (especially if I went abroad)? Or would it be better to do ABRS ones as well?

Sorry about this post, I know I'm a long way away from being an instructor...but any info greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

[issy]

The BHS exams are internationally recognised. So why not do these AS well as the others?

[Maria]

Hi Rakeli

I know Heather's currently working on further plans for her EETT training scheme. She's already got a batch of trainees who started on the scheme in 2001. I'm sure she'll let you know whether there are any age restrictions when she reads your post. I would imagine that she'd be more interested in the type of person and their attitude to riding and teaching than their chronological age.

While I know some excellent riding instructors that are BHS qualified, I've come across a lot who are awful. You only have to go through some of the posts about BHS approved riding schools and instructors on the New Rider Boards to find out some of the problems that people have encountered.

I personally think that the BHS training scheme for riding instructors needs a fundamental review because it only seems to turn out good instructors by luck - not design.

I wouldn't choose the BHS qualification route to train as a riding instructor. The ABRS route is more flexible and you can do stable management exams too. And of course there's the EETT route too!

Maria

[cvb]

Originally posted by Maria
The ABRS route is more flexible and you can do stable management exams too.

but BHS has stable management as well ...:confused:

(You can follow up the stable management route if you don't want to, or can't, do the riding bit).

For information on BHS, look on www.bhs.org.uk

Personally I think you get out of BHS what you put in. SO if you are already "enlightened", its not a problem. Though you might choose to study at one of the more enlightened BHS centres....

[Heather]

How old are you again, Rachel? you are only local and I do take working students you know!!

Heather

[Rakeli]

Thank you all for replying!

Heather - I'm 14.

Plus an extra question - does it really matter which GCSE's I do? (It's choices time!) I didn't think it did... I'm going to work with horses whatever!

[cvb]

Rakeli

Its worth getting the basic English and Maths ones (which normally you have to do) - if only because passing them means you can do the BHS exams a fraction sooner (no pun intended !).

I would have thought that Biology might be useful because if you do follow an exam route, you are likely to need to learn the horses skeleton, muscles etc, lungs, digestion, circulation..... and if you've done it before in biology it makes doing again for the horse a bit easier.

If you do get an option to do anything business related, like economics, business studies or whatever - that might also stand you in good stead in the future.

[Heather]

HI Rachel,

Cathy is right, try to get those basic ones. I must admit that I took Mike Aylmore on as a working student, even though I wasn't loking for one at the time. He had 10 GCSE's so I thought immediately - Ah, this boy has a brain'! So, it may affect an employers decision to take you on. I admit to being guilty to this!

Heather

[Rakeli]

Thanks for the suggestions...I have to do the 'basics' anyway. I would do biology...if I was any good at science! With my way of thinking I'm not sure if comparing GCSE biology with horses bodies would work, as if I had to learn horse biology I would do it! I really hate science!

Heather - do you have a minimum age?

[intouch]

What about PE? Keep you fit and learn a bit about biology and physiology. You can take horseriding as a module if you really push your PE teacher for info.

[mikka]

Heather,

Have you looked at getting involved with the NVQ?

Mikka

[Rakeli]

Thanks for that other suggestion intouch.

Heather - I would love to be a working pupil, only I don't think that there's any chance that I'll be allowed to leave school at 16, so it'd be 4 years before I could become one. Would you still be doing the same stuff then and taking on working students?

[Heather]

Hi Rakeli,

It is hard to know what we will all be doing in four years time, to be honest, especially with the currently unstable world that we live in. But if I am still taking working students, you would of course be welcome to come for a trial.

Heather

[Rakeli]

Thank you!