National Diploma

[Forever Fern]

What sort of riding ability do you need to take this course?
Thanks
xXx

[XxTraceyxX]

To take ND you need "Proof of ability in riding and stable management to Pony Club C test standard or equivalent must be presented or demonstrated" Thats what it says in the Bishop Burton prospectus but it may vary from college to college.
I think in genral you have to show that you are a confident rider and know in genral about horses.

Hope this helps

XxTJxX

[emlybob]

You need to show that you can walk, trot and canter in balance and can jump. Also think it's 5 GCSEs and some equine experience. If you don't have this then some colleges go a first diploma which is a slightly lower level but will then give you the qualification to do the ND

[eml]

I have a pupil off to do ND this year...very nervous rider, brilliant in walk and trot and able to work horse reasonably correctly, very nervous in canter and had never jumped anything other than X pole.

She went for college assessment and they said she had to go in the top group and could she learn to canter and jump 2'6 courses by September(this was in July)

Apparently bottom group don't ride, middle group can just about trot and top group are the rest!!!

So obviously depends on your college!

[joey_olop]

When I had my college interview all they cared about was my GCSE grades which I was a bit annoyed about because my grades were low but had loads of horse experience. They wanted to put me on the FD but I didnt want to waste a year so went for a working pupil option at a RS instead.

Good Luck

[Forever Fern]

How do you become a working pupil, please could you exlian what this means to? What exams you take etc

THnaks
xXx

[joey_olop]

Originally Posted by Forever Fern

How do you become a working pupil, please could you exlian what this means to? What exams you take etc

THnaks
xXx

Have a look on the BHS website and go to the where to train section. Look at the centres in your area and contact them, thats how I did it. I rang around a few of my local RS to see if they had any WP vacancies.

You work whilst you train and take the exams when you are ready to. I did mine at Suzannes RS but its closed down now. They normally pay for you to take them too.

Good Luck

[racer]

Originally Posted by Forever Fern

What sort of riding ability do you need to take this course?
Thanks
xXx

I've been told you can have no confidence or only a couple of months of lessons or be a rider who's had loads of horses, loads of experience and abililty! But like some say it does vary if you look on the college webistes, ones that you may like to go on it states what you need to have like an ND is 4 - A/C and FD is 4 - A-D's. When i did my interview i did very badly they accepted me but i knew i could ride better, they asked me to walk, trot and canter, and the riding part of the interview lasted 15-20minutes. And i also got asked about other experiences of horses as well!

[XxTraceyxX]

I rember my interview for FD last year I was riding Potain in the big indoor school and i managed to get her to walk and trot on both reins and then she would only canter on one rein! I also nearly mowed my dad sister and tutor down during canter! (She canters really fast) Then my tutor went looking for a whip for me to use but she couldnt find one so i used a branch off a treethat she found :0!

XxTJxX