BHS Stages/Wannabe Instructors - Rant warning.

[Shilasdair]

I would just like to rant about those people who want to be instructors, but don't want to do the BHS Stages.
I have read so many threads by people who want exemptions from doing the Stages exams on the grounds that they 'can't ride strange horses', 'don't want to jump', 'don't have the money to pay for the fees', 'don't want to pay for the training', blah blah.
Now, I don't have anything against those many excellent instructors out there who are experts in their disciplines, such as eventing, dressage, SJ: they have proved that they can compete to a certain, professional level, and make a business of it.
It is more the people who want to charge others for the benefit of their experience, and knowledge, but they can't ride, don't want to pay for insurance, don't have a First Aid qualification - those people should be squelched under a rhino's bottom.
Thank you, I feel better now.

S

 

[Equus Leather]

Bit harsh you cheeky mare.

I can't afford to pay for my stages, but would like to teach.

What say you?

 

[dingle12]

I dont want to teach but do want to do my stages i sould of done them years ago, however i cant afford them.

 

[the watcher]

Um, I suppose your views on those who would like to be qualified, insured, have first aid training but are too disabled to do the BHS stage training are the same?

 

[Shilasdair]

I say 'Get a job' or 'Work in return for lessons'.

So there.

S

 

[teddyt]

Personally i have met many BHSAIs that think they know it all and dont. IMO BHS exams are not the be all and end all. Give me experience (with professionalism) over a BHS certficate anyday

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally i have met many BHSAIs that think they know it all and dont. IMO BHS exams are not the be all and end all. Give me experience (with professionalism) over a BHS certficate anyday

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't disagree with your thoughts, teddyt, but I would add the word 'proven' - so 'proven experience with professionalism'.
If in doubt, check out the instructor's comp record, watch them ride, ask around for their reputation.
Crucially, check that they are insured, and first aid qualified, if gods forbid, you have a bad fall.
S

 

[dsophiea]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally i have met many BHSAIs that think they know it all and dont. IMO BHS exams are not the be all and end all. Give me experience (with professionalism) over a BHS certficate anyday

[/ QUOTE ]

i totally agree, also someone that really wants to see a person improve and build up there confidence. ive met to many BHSAIs that feel that once they have this qualification, they know everything about horses. i believe you never stop learning about horses. this is just my personal opinion, i can accept that not everyone will agree

 

[teapot]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally i have met many BHSAIs that think they know it all and dont. IMO BHS exams are not the be all and end all. Give me experience (with professionalism) over a BHS certficate anyday

[/ QUOTE ]

*nods* I've had some fab BHSIIs, some fab BHSAIs and I've also had some really shoddy ones. However one of the best people I've ever been taught by isn't qualified so who knows really. I wouldn't turn down a lesson with Lucinda Green just because she doesn't have her BHS badge and certificates that's for sure.

The only reason I want my 2 and 3 (riding rather than the care) is personal satisfaction

)

 

[JessPickle]

I don't think your instructor has to have stages, I do think they should have ridden to decent level, and ideally be at a higher stage then you are. My instructor doesn't have formal qualifications, he does however have years and years of jousting experience, and evented a lot when younger with some very difficult horses!!

I enjoy his lessons much more than some fully qualified instructors I have had at the riding holidays I have been on.

 

[somethingorother]

I've known terrible BHS instructors who are no good because they just follow it to the letter and have no common sense in them or natural ability to teach. I've also known terrible 'instructors' without their BHS stages, and those better than people who do have BHS stages.

I think terrible ones should be squashed by rhinos regardless. They can be damaging to horses and riders confidence, and sometimes physical safety. But that's regardless of whether they have their BHS qualifications, as there's always going to be people on both sides.

I hope that makes sense... ? My brain doesn't seem to be able to form comprehensible sentences today.

 

[shadowboy]

I teach- several of my clients are children from my school (im a secondary school teacher) I am fully insured and CRB checked. I dont ride naughty horses now because I broke my foot in 2008 and if I fall on it i would most likely be in a wheelchair but I teach two nights a week- and by word of mouth I have now 15 regulars and I struggle to fit them in when they try to book. I am not 'qualified' but have rideen for 19 years and competed to BD elementary- yes not the top- but my students have competed BD Novice and gained points, and I train a small team to the Interschools ODE where we did well last year. But from what you say I shouldnt be teaching.

 

[LEC]

It makes me laugh people wanting exclusions yet the levels that need to be achieved are easy for AI and anyone remotely competant should be able to achieve them. How can you expect to understand a horse/riders problems if you do not like riding strange horses?

If under the age of 21 join the PC. Then you can do the levels for pretty much free by going via the PC tests. B test is ok with a bit of work which the PC will provide and this will mean you can bypass stage 2.

 

[legend]

I have also seen a BHSAI make someone get up after having been bucked off, walk 300 or so yards then sit on a mounting block to wait for the ambulance that WE insisted on calling having seen the nasty grey colour that the girl had gone...she'd broken her pelvis...good call to move her, not!

However, aside from that I agree with your sentiments regarding all round competance being tested by the stages, and yes if you have competed PSG/4* eventing then I don't mind that you don't have the bit of paper. Anyone that wants to teach and doesn't hold an extensive competition record should sit their exams imho.
My pet hate however, is 'instructors' that won't ride. If you have a genuine medical reason then fine, apart from that I just don't understand how you can be teaching me how to ride better if you can't ride my horse better than me? Put your money where your mouth is and SHOW me

 

[competitiondiva]

Don't even get me started on the BHS exams...!!! mmm I was about 15 when I had to confront an examiner on a question they marked as incorrect and show them in text that I was actually correct!! Their excuse oh I didn't have my glasses on!!!!!!! Not good enough I'm afraid!!

Then on exam day a pass rate of 2 out of 14 students!!!! You don't have that many people pay over £100 per exam if they didn't have a good idea that they were of a suitable standard to pass. Just putting it out there but are they required to get a certain level or retakes in a year in order to get more fees in??!!!!

I also know of a few AI's that won't ride any horse who isn't 100% and one who even couldn't put a bridle together and put it on!!!! Not sure how they passed!!!

 

[teapot]

[ QUOTE ]
It makes me laugh people wanting exclusions yet the levels that need to be achieved are easy for AI and anyone remotely competant should be able to achieve them. How can you expect to understand a horse/riders problems if you do not like riding strange horses?

[/ QUOTE ]

I do agree with you but unless you're riding at a decent riding school/where to train centre, you never get this experience, even when having your own horse. Trying to find a BHS yard that trains to that standard is hard enough, let alone somewhere decent that knows the constantly changing syllabus/requirements etc.

Totally agree about the competent part as stage 3 isn't overly taxing in what's required. The problem comes for people say like me as a student who doesn't have their own horse, can't afford their local where to train centre at home (£50 for a private lesson anyone)? And can't find people willing enough to let you ride your own horse/help out etc.

From personal experience, I just don't think it's easy to do when you're on a tight budget with limited horsey time each week. I was doing my training properly alongside my A-levels but lost my jumping confidence AND lesson prices were hiked up. So when I needed to ride as much as I physically could have done, I actually rode less.

I will go back to it, WHEN I can afford to put the time and cost into lesson prices. Think some people (this isn't aimed at you Lec AT ALL) just don't realise the cost of riding at a decent riding school these days. Talland, Huntley, the YRC, my old yard etc all charge through the nose which for anyone on an average wage just isn't do-able I don't think.

 

[Shilasdair]

QR
I do wish some of you would actually read my OP properly, esp JessPickle, Inks_77.

Somethingorother - I think rhino-squishing is an underused motivational tool for instructors (but I can say that - I don't teach

).

Mother_Hen - I think physical injury/illness coupled with some past evidence of abilities are things that should be dealt with by exemptions, unfortunately I can see the BHS's difficulty in establishing competence that way.

Ok, continue fighting now.

S

 

[LEC]

I can understand about the quality of training but can you not find a good yard and work in kind? I do a fair bit in kind for people as work off a very tight budget. This year I have done PR for a 4* rider to get free lessons and worked for one day riding out and mucking out in order to use an arena over the winter. I find with horsey people its lack of time that can really pay off if you can donate it. I spent most of last year without a horse to ride and thanks to putting the word out rode lots of different horses just because I was keen to do the dull stuff.

 

[JessPickle]

[ QUOTE ]
QR
I do wish some of you would actually read my OP properly, esp JessPickle, Inks_77.



[/ QUOTE ]

I did! my instructor was never a "professional rider" a jouster teaching SJ/Dressage isn't exactly usual is it!

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
QR
I do wish some of you would actually read my OP properly, esp JessPickle, Inks_77.



[/ QUOTE ]

I did! my instructor was never a "professional rider" a jouster teaching SJ/Dressage isn't exactly usual is it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, they recruit the male students from equine colleges, the last one I knew who went jousting also had his BHS Stages.
S

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
I have also seen a BHSAI make someone get up after having been bucked off, walk 300 or so yards then sit on a mounting block to wait for the ambulance that WE insisted on calling having seen the nasty grey colour that the girl had gone...she'd broken her pelvis...good call to move her, not!

[/ QUOTE ]

I have seen more than one member of senior staff at an equestrian college encourage a girl to get up and walk out of the field following an awful fall....... We, as first aid trained students, (and her complaining of pain her back) were telling her to lie still, but they came and took over. It turned out she had fractured vertebrae in her back and was apparently mms from damaging her spinal cord....

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have also seen a BHSAI make someone get up after having been bucked off, walk 300 or so yards then sit on a mounting block to wait for the ambulance that WE insisted on calling having seen the nasty grey colour that the girl had gone...she'd broken her pelvis...good call to move her, not!

[/ QUOTE ]

I have seen more than one member of senior staff at an equestrian college encourage a girl to get up and walk out of the field following an awful fall....... We, as first aid trained students, (and her complaining of pain her back) were telling her to lie still, but they came and took over. It turned out she had fractured vertebrae in her back and was apparently mms from damaging her spinal cord....

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, they shovel them into the air ambulance these days.
S

 

[Puppy]

Ahh, this was 10 years ago. I am clearly outdated

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Ahh, this was 10 years ago. I am clearly outdated

[/ QUOTE ]

Outdated = very, very old.
The modern casualty-shovelling techniques are a wonder to behold.

S

 

[kimky]

Sat down with popcorn, and a glass of wine

continue fighting x

 

[rara007]

*Is squished by rhino*

 

[somethingorother]

aw i'm disappointed, Shils you didn't keep this going very well, not your usual standards

 

[Tharg]

Those who lack the ability to teach should be squashed by a Rhino's (Shils) arse.

 

[teapot]

[ QUOTE ]
I can understand about the quality of training but can you not find a good yard and work in kind? I do a fair bit in kind for people as work off a very tight budget.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I used to do but so so so many yards refuse to do it now because of health & safety - I loved working for rides, escorting hacks, free lessons and still got a bit of cash on top of it occasionally but a system like that is as rare as hen's teeth

I learnt SO much from "on the job" training as such, I'd love to do it, as even one day a week keeps your eye in far more than just a weekly 45 min lesson but it's finding somewhere that'll let you

 

[Tnavas]

Save up - that's what I did! They aren't that expensive.

You don't expect to get a business degree without doing all the subjects why should you teaching exam be any different - it is a professional exam and should be respected as such.