ABRS vs BHS???

[sandrider]

Hi. Does anyone know how the ABRS teaching qualifications compare/differ to BHS quals? Also are there any quals (teaching or other) in classical riding?

[Wally]

Okay, BHS expect you to pass their exam using their own methods, ie, if you don't teach what the BHS preach then you fail, whether it works or not! ABRS have a much more open mind and will accept a wider variation of teaching methods, if it works then use that method for that client/horse partnership.

I think the BHS is far too dogmatic and snobby about their methods, that's just my predudice! ABRS exams are a full day's assesment, you take a group and private lesson, give a talk on a subject of your choice covered by their tests, then you are questioned at length on safety proceedure and local authority licence provisions, insurance etc. My BHS exam was a farce, sorry but it was, I was given a bit of paper saying I was qualified by identifying a dressage saddle and answering one question on feeding. I put one plait in a horse's mane and demonstrated how to take a shoe off!

You don't HAVE to have bits of paper to be a good instructor, experience, empathy and common sense are far more important. Sadly the BHS don't hold theses things in such high esteem!

[fionahogg]

What are the ABRS qualifications? I've only ever heard of the BHS intructor ones.
Completely agree with Wally - a piece of paper doesn't necessarily mean one instructor is better than another.

[Wally]

Assocoation of British Riding Schools (ABRS) do a similar bunch of exams to the BHS. They range from everything from weekend riders exams to Fellowships.

[Mossy]

For my curiosity, What do the BHS Instructor courses teach you about the theory and psychology of learning? It is all very well being able to do something but teaching it is a different ball game altogether.

[Wally]

NOTHING!! It may have changed now but it used to be a big ZERO!

[sandrider]

Thanks, Wally. That's really useful to know. Everyone I know has gone the BHS route but I have reservations and the ABRS sounds interesting. I agree that you don't have to have qualifications to be a good instructor but I worry that if there was ever an accident during a lesson not being qualified could lead to complications. Good point about the psychology of learning. I'm a teacher in my other - non horsey - life so I've had a pretty good grounding in that. I think the best riding instructors are great psychologists (horse and human).

[Wally]

Insurance companies want to know who is being employed as an instructor and their qualifications. If no qualifications are held they will want to know relevant experience etc. and insure the school you are teaching at appropriately. It may mean that the school pays a higher premium, I don't know, but last I enquired of our insurance company our premium would not change if Frances and I added BHS "assistant ride leader" and "rider leader" qualifications to our names!!

[sandrider]

I don't think the club where I teach has such a thing as insurance - it's more likely to be a scenario of being thrown into jail and/or out of the country or even asked to pay blood money!

[Wally]

For heavens sake be careful then, take out your own 3rd party insurance to cover yourself if any one make a claim of negligence against you!

[sandrider]

Yep - insurance is something I'm going to look into - for horses as well a people. Difficult to get here - not a developed area like in the UK. Maybe I should go into the equine insurance business!!!