A Bit of Research

If you compete in a particular discipline would you have lessons from someone without a formal qualification. I suppose I am suggesting BHS exams. Or do you consider experience & results in a discipline more important to you? I would do a poll but I don't have a clue how to set it up!
 
J

JM07

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Qualifications, on paper mean to me that the person can read and sit an exam..

Experience and results for me everytime.
 
I would err AWAY from BHS qualifications (yes, controversial I know
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For me the most important thing is empathy with horse and rider and I like my instructors to have competed at a level that I respect.

In other words, although young enough to be my son, I would happily have lessons from Andy
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Yes I would, and have done, although I do not go out of my way searching for someone without a formal qualification.
 
I would have lessons with somebody without a formal qualification.
I would rather have lessons with somebody who is out competeing at a high level and therefore knows what the judges are looking for, instead of say an AI who just purely teaches, does not ride/compete.
 
Absolutely
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Our old trainer was competing at Inter I. She was dislexic and had never taken her exams, couldnt fill out any kind of form. One of the best in the business IMO, shame she moved away. There is no substitute for experience.
 
I have lessons with someone who is a BHSI, because I get on with her and can understand her ways and means.
I also have a lesson from time to time with someone who hasn't done her BHS exams, yet her experience and the way she understands my horse and I is invaluable.
 
There is no pulling the wool over your eyes Lou.
I just can not understand the Insurance Companies point of view. Yet they ask me if he is going to train for a BHS qualification? Why would he for gods sake.
PS (not knocking BHS or it's Instructors) Boy do they slap you on the Insurance
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My showing instructor only has a stud handlers, but he's ridden at the highest level and been very successful, you pay for his knowledge and experience, also he has great understanding of horse psychology and can get a fantastic performance out of most horses.

My dressage instructor has no BHS qualifiations but is BD judge (can't remember what level) she has a wealth of knowledge, is a brilliant rider and very good at explaining things to nitwits like me!

Weezy, I'm with you. BHS never impresses me much. Girl at my last yard was doing BHS exams but didn't have a clue how what to do with a pony that was difficult to lunge. BHS has its place in the horse world, but I personally don't go much on it either.
 
If I think they know their stuff then I'll have a lesson from them. If I go there and I don't like their methods/they way they treat horses I won't go back
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I know someone with a BHSAI who has only ever done cross country for her stage 3 exam but she is now working in a centre trying to teach people who know more than she does
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Thats three of us who arent that impressed with the BHS yeaching qualifications. Ive come across any number of 'big names' connected with riding and associated horse care over the years who feel that way too.

I want someone who is on my wavelength and has experience, someone who can explain without patronising and someone who doesnt just spout quotes at me.
 
If I was a novice I would want BHS qualifications but I would rather have a good teacher with expertise in the chosen disciplines than all the BHS quals.... having said that the best instuctor I ever had was a BHSI and I dont think I ever saw her ride....

too poor to afford lessons of any sort at the moment, other than my mother shouting at me when I ride her horse!
Cassandra
 
Experience every time. My youngest daughter does have lessons with an II but she also competes and her daughters compete. She has the qualifications and experience. She is also open to learning from anyone and we often have good discussions.
I did not go to her because she was an II but recommended through competeing. My daughter had lessons from an AI in a rideing school, she went backwards. It was an excellent rideing school, the owbner had no BHS qualifications but evented. She was a fantastic instructer. It went downhill when she left it in the hands of the AI.
I do think in some professions experience speaks louder than paper
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I would consider anyone though on their own merits. Above is just my experience.
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I would also err away from somebody with BHS qualifications, although at the moment and for the foreseeable future I have regular help from an FBHS (ok so not your average qualification!) and my jumping trainer also has a BHS something, but because thats not important to me I couldn't tell you what he has!
I think it really depends on your situation, I am fortunate to have been in the job a long time and usually know of somebody that can help certain horses or problems, I would choose methods and suitability before qualifications.
And if all else fails I ask my family!!
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I have to say that i teach people to ride and my main interest is to work with both horse and rider to try to get the best results. I do hold the bhs teaching certificate but it isnt something i advertise! I only tell people if they ask as i dont think it is all that relevent. I may hold this piece of paper for having to stand infront of an examiner and be able to give a lesson in the way that they want me to but it isnt how i am interested in doing things. I have also worked in this industry for 13yrs yet an 18 year old girl with absolutely no experience of working with anything other than riding school horses could have the same piece of paper. So how is judging someone purely on quals a good way to judge? Experience and empathy along with a good conection between instructor and pupil is definately more important!!
 
No way would I go anywhere NEAR a BHS qualified instructor!!

A trainer who has been successfull in competition and has proven himself with good consistent results with a variety of horses , over a decent time span, is far more impressive.

And how many BHS instructors even have a decent competition record?? Very, very few.
 
I like to see someone who can do it well and empathetically and let them teach me and my kids. If they also want to get some recognised qualifications, well that wouldn't make any difference to me.

Apparently we share a talent - the inability to set up a poll!
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Experience and empathy every time, I have no time for the BHS in general.
 
Eugh, I hate the BHS with a passion! I'd choose experience over qualifications any day.
I've had hundreds of lessons with BHS instructors of different levels and the vast majority of times I have come out feeling utterly deflated with my confidence slowly getting trashed and when I've gone in for a lesson on one of my horses I've usually come out feeling rather insulted and we had achieved nothing. I went for one lesson with Geoff L and I came out able to ride my horse so much better, full of confidence (I realised that actually I can do it), things to go away and work on, everything was explained to me and I fet really geared up to go out and compete.
 
Aye, there's a thing - when somebody with the real credentials tells you you can do it, it's such a powerful positive boost that you really do come away feeling inspired to try harder and go further. There's nothing like the high after a really good lesson.
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So nice that many of the pro's teach and give back to the sport.
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It also helped that I was too scared to say 'no WAY am I jumping that!', I just got on and did it
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I'm now itching to get away somewhere for a few days traning with big bird to cleanse my mind of the BHS crap I've had rammed down my throat for the last few years!
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My instructor doesn't have any formal qualifications as far as I know, but competes BSJA at a very high level, trains with one of the Whitakers (can't remember which one) and is fantastic with me and my horse.

One time I was at a tiny clear round, a bag of nerves, and I called her up and at very short notice came straight to the showground, hopped on him and jumped tiny little cross poles, then gave me a mini lesson so I was able to complete the course.

She's worth her weight in gold
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On the other side of the same coin, I've had a very bad experience with a BHS trained instructor, she didn't do my confidence any good and probably hindered my riding.
 
I never ask what an instructors teaching qualifications are, to me it doesn't matter a jot. I have been taught by a couple of very good BHS qualified instructors (II and above) but their quals weren't the reason I went to them.

If someone tries to ram their AI down my throat then I would most definitely run very fast in the opposite direction

Insurance wise - how does it stand if you become an acredited trainer in your chosen discipline (or to become acredited do you need to have brown nosed with the BHS first?)
 
My friend / trainer has competed to PSG on her last 3 horses, she has no BHS or PC qualifications! I also used to use a SJ trainer who had no qualifications. Experience & how they explain things to me is the most important thing!
 
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