RTSS ride leader qualification.

[Floob]

YO wants me to do this course at around easter time. She will pay for me to do it and its 3 days long.

Problem is I dont know if I know enough. By the end of the coure you need to be at least BHS stage2 or pony club B test level:( .

I have not done any of my stages or any pony club tests.
I dont think the riding will be a problem as the course will be held at my RS, i know of someone who dod it somewhere else and they had to ride complete nutters:eek: . So basically i have an advantage, because even though ill be expected to ride the nutters, they will be nutters i know.

The minimum age for the course is 16yo (im 16)
and ill have exams coming up in may, so would ideally like Easter time to study.

The main problem at the moment is that im scared that I'll not get enough practise leading rides as i havnt really taken out anything except 1/2hr lead rein hacks by myself. Another girl at the yard, same age as me has been allowed to take out more rides (even though she doesnt really want to)

Oh well sorry about the blabbering on.
Would just like your general opinion:)

[drookitsheep]

Difficult trying to juggle school exams and riding exams! I don't know about the TRSS exams but BET have Assistant Ride Leader before you do the Ride Leader. If you're worried about the workload for the Ride Leader exam, might be worthwhile finding out if the TRSS have an Assistant Ride Leader one you could do? Should be less workload and a bit more of a "stepping stone". Hope that helps?!

[Wally]

It's not a terrifyingly difficult exam, I looked into it but told them no thanks as I am not going to muck out other folks stables for them!!!! Which was part of the course, If you have stage 2 (which I did I know how to muck out)

I thought you had to do assistant first, before you could do ride leader, assistant ride leader might be better.

Don't you have to have riding and road safety first too, have you got that?...and I thought you had to have a first aid cert.

[drookitsheep]

Wally, you're right - you do have to have an up to date Health & Safety at work certificate for the BET exams to be valid, so I'd imagine it's the same for the TRSS ones. (although I think there's another first aid exam which is an alternative? not sure). You're right re road safety too.

The most embarrassing bit for me was in the Assistant RL exam when the examiner asked me to guess his weight...! Allocating a horse for him would have been fine, but I think I was a little bit generous with the number of stones I guessed, judging by the look on his face...

[Floob]

For the RTSS there is "Ride leader" and "advanced ride leader"
or something like that (so ride leader is the stepping stone one). The course will allow me to take out rides of up to 6 people for up to 2 hours i think, and manage the trekking centre for a day.

To get the course certificate you need first Aid and R&RS as well, but you dont need it to do and pass the three day course. You will only get the certificate when all parts have been completed.

I have to muck out other peoples stables anyway, so that shouldnt matter.

Its just the work load im worried about really

[drookitsheep]

If your YO thinks you're ready to do it, why not sit down with her and a copy of the syllabus and have a chat about exactly what's expected in each element, and tell her which bits you're worried about and ask if you can do more practise at this bit, or that bit whether it's stable management type stuff or assisting with rides out etc. At the end of the day, the worst that can happen is that you have to re-sit - and if you give it a go you'll get a feel for what's expected on the day which will help for the next time. Good luck whatever you decide - let us know how you get on! x

[Floob]

YO doesnt have a clue, she wants us to do it for insurance reasons, last time she saw me ride was about a year ago.
Fat chance id get anything out of her.

I think ill go and give my old instructor a ring, she did hers and has helped others prepare, she just lives too far away to come down often. (about 1 1/2 hrs on a good day)

i will keep you updated and tell you how i get on.
I will also have a chat to someone i know who did her ride leader thingy last year