BHS - what would encourage you to join?

i joined as i qualified for one of their championships

they have been very useful recently over an access dispute and even though i'm not a gold member said that if i took gold memebership out now - even though dispute happened before i was gold member - they would still represent me

(and that is in scotland fwiw ;))
 
Miss L Toe said:
In what way would it be different?

"up north" they do nothing constructive, and although I agree some sort of representation is vital, I am not sure how they do this,, and if they are effective.

To be effective these days, politicians need to be massaged, I don't know if they can do that. It is not the sort of thing they put in their magazine.

There are a few good BHSII and higher level instructors in Scotland, these tend to be people who are out of the ordinary. They may have their own yard and do external instructing and training, for extra income.

The average instructor can get by with Lantra training, which I assume is supported in another way. I have seen some paper homework, but this is not "corrected" as I would have expected, so somewhere there is an instructor out there telling her pupils that SALT is a form of energy!
As a horse owner, I don't want exams, and I only took the membership for insurance, which is available elsewhere cheaper [BDS]. Currently not insured as horse is not at home.
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I would strongly disagree that the BHS do nothing "up north" - a quick look at the BHS Scotland website shows that they are involved in a lot of things including being involved in the consultation with the Scottish government on the licensing of livery yards which is way ahead of the rest of the UK.

Kat said:
I'm already a member, it was the insurance that I initially joined for but I do think that membership is worthwhile for other reasons. The BHS are the representative for equestrian enthusiasts in the UK, they are our representatives who can lobby government and make representations for change, they can liaise on our behalf with other groups such as the CTC, the Ramblers, the national trust, the forrestry commission etc. I support their work on welfare issues and access, on road resurfacing and on consultations regarding wind farms. The BHS are also the governing body for affiliated riding clubs and for trec. They also run a xc series. Worth my £50 a year imho.

One thing I wish they would change though is the register of instructors. I like the service but the problem is that as it is expensive to be on the register many instructors don't bother making it difficult to check the qualifications of instructors independantly. Personally I wish that they would list everyone with the PTC or higher on a limited listing so that customers can check qualifications and then you pay to upgrade to a listing that includes contact details and a profile. I can understand that the register could be considered pointless for those that are employed rather than freelance or those who only do very limited amounts of teaching but I feel that the usefulness of the register is limited by this. I also feel that it is a barrier to improving the quality of instruction and of riding schools.

Doing exams is expensive, I'd love for it to be cheaper as I've been on the verge of doing them for yonks but can't really justify the expense as I have a non-horsey career and would only be doing it for personal acheivement and maybe to do a bit of teaching in my spare time. However I doubt that the price will come down as it must be costly to run the exams and doing any non-funded qualification is expensive.
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Totally agree. As for exams they are very expensive to run - most centres cannot do anything else on an exam day, the number of horses required is substantial especially for exams with jumping and lunging sections on top of flatwork not to mention all the other equipment which needs to be laid out by centre staff so it's only fair that the centre is reimbursed for this. Then the assessors have to be paid, after all most are foregoing a days income from somewhere else to be at the exam and also need to have their travel expenses covered. Add to this the costs for staff in the BHS exam office who have to arrange assessors, book candidates and prepare paperwork prior to the exam and then collate and record results and issues certificates etc plus liasing with various other bodies such as Ofqual and BEF and it's hardly surprising exams are not cheap.
 
I don't think the membership itself is expensive but the exams are so so expensive, if u fail on a stupid mistake, u have just lost a few hundred quid (depending on the level).
 
The question was what would encourage us to join. My answer is simple thinking about it. While I recognise the benefits that they bring to the equestrian community, I think that in some ways they are a bit blinkered and slow to change. Personally - if they specifically included bitless riding in their insurance policy I'd join. At the moment the reply to this query is evasive and non-specific and nobody can really trust that when taking out insurance.
By the time I've spent out on another insurance that covers me for public liability I can't really justify joining the BHS.
 
2horsesnomoney said:
Also someone posted earlier about travelling miles for the CPD etc, child protection is only once every 3 years first aid every 2 and cpd can be any form of education based on teaching it doesnt have to be the BHS ones it can be any lectures or info evernings to improve and progress. People need to be positive about the changes and the new Instructors coming out of the system can help change the attitude as it is becoming more modern in its approach.
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That "someone" was me. And to me it is a big thing when I have to travel 200 miles to attend a course which means doing my yard of 12 at some unearthly time in the morning to leave here at 7am, pay someone to cover at lunchtime and tea-time, lose teaching earnings, so for example to attend a cpd day would cost me £40 diesel, £30 course fee, £30 cover, and probably £60-80 in loss of earnings.

And no, it has to be the BHS approved CPD days, not just any old training I fancy to count towards staying on the Register. First aid is every two years, cpd is every two years and R&RS is every two years.

As it happens I want to stay up to date with my training and I do go to a LOT of training outside of what is required. However, the question was what would encourage someone to join, and my reply was based on already being a member, but suggesting some things which might be improved upon/encourage me to stay a member.

I think making these training courses more accessible and better in their content would improve things, as I said above.

Do forgive me for having an opinion, I clean forgot this was HHO. :(
 
I wouldn't join the BHS again.

I don't like their blinkered approach to how things should be done. I started off down exams and was failed at blimmin' stage 2 for two things that I though 'You have to be kidding me!'

Sorry, I don't need the BHS to tell me if I can put a rug on a horse. I do however ideally need some sort of qualification to continue teaching (which I have done for years now with insurance - just no formal qualifications) and for that reason I will be pursuing UKCC Level 2- where I find the attitude towards coaching is much more modernised.
 
I am with them but mainly for the insurance and thought of doing le trec and exams but not got around to it. I think they do need to move with the times a bit. When you read the magazine etc they still have quite an old fashioned view of looking after horses. When reading the exam syllabus there is only one way to groom a horse or put on a rug etc. Think they need to be more flexible.
 
Really? I think the whole "BHS is old fashioned and behind the times" idea is a bit of a cliche that people trot out without much to back it up.

They are modernising and certainly keep up with new developments in some areas. In terms of the exams, the whole point is that things are safe, so course guides will tell you the safe accepted way to do things, if you have an alternative way that is equally safe and can justify it then this shouldn't lead to a fail but often other ways of doing something aren't as safe with a potentially unknown horse.
 
I was going to become a BHS Welfare officer, but on turning up at the training day, was pretty much snubbed (could that be because i used to be RSPCA ?), by the "tweed hooray brigade". Went home in tears, and gave up. I really wanted to do it, even if it was giving my time for FREE.

I also called out one BHS lady to some ponies (welfare issue) and was distinctly unimpressed. That said, another lady I have dealt with has been much better.

Sorry, but I simply felt very uncomfortable about the whole thing. Like I really didn't belong.
 
The BHS is very much for the everyday rider and especially the 'happy hackers'. Training and things such as riding clubs are organised centrally and every region and county runs events and clinics with leading trainers in all disciplines. At county level the committee are all volunteers and deal with local issues affecting horses and riders. Access is a major part of the local effort, and in our area (Hertfordshire) the BHS works closely with landowners and the local council to secure more off-road riding road and safeguard and improve the existing bridleway network. We are very fortunate to have excellent hacking and this is almost entirely due to the efforts of BHS members! If you want the BHS to be more proactive and up to date, join and volunteer - I can guarantee your local committee will welcome you with open arms.

The more members the BHS has, the more influential its voice will be and the more we will be able to demand our fair share of resources. Despite being one of the most popular participant sports in the country and probably the only one that can be enjoyed equally by people of all ages and the disabled, we are very much ignored and marginalised when it comes to the provision of facilities. Riding schools are treated as commercial units and heavily rated, and we do not receive large sums of taxpayers cash to fund our sport unlike many other activities. We need to change this NOW!
 
Oh and i forgot to mention that a certain riding centre where I helped out occasionally got PASSED as a BHS Approved place. I used to despair of the place. I was soooooooo shocked. What does a yard have to do to FAIL ??
 
gingerfan said:
The BHS is very much for the everyday rider and especially the 'happy hackers'. Training and things such as riding clubs are organised centrally and every region and county runs events and clinics with leading trainers in all disciplines. At county level the committee are all volunteers and deal with local issues affecting horses and riders. Access is a major part of the local effort, and in our area (Hertfordshire) the BHS works closely with landowners and the local council to secure more off-road riding road and safeguard and improve the existing bridleway network. We are very fortunate to have excellent hacking and this is almost entirely due to the efforts of BHS members! If you want the BHS to be more proactive and up to date, join and volunteer - I can guarantee your local committee will welcome you with open arms.

The more members the BHS has, the more influential its voice will be and the more we will be able to demand our fair share of resources. Despite being one of the most popular participant sports in the country and probably the only one that can be enjoyed equally by people of all ages and the disabled, we are very much ignored and marginalised when it comes to the provision of facilities. Riding schools are treated as commercial units and heavily rated, and we do not receive large sums of taxpayers cash to fund our sport unlike many other activities. We need to change this NOW!
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I think its probably BHS publicity required as I never realised it did all this when I joined for the public liability insurance. Perhaps linking up more with Pony Clubbers. I just dont think people realise what they do, I never did. It was only getting the magazine that I found out all the other things. I had no idea my money helped Welfare etc. I do like the local bit and always read up on my area(I am guilty of not going to the meetings). Perhaps if all riding establishments or livery yards were asked to put up information and give flyers to join would help get more input. Local members could request the information and drop to local yards nearby? Stands at shows(perhaps they do that already)?
 
shysmum said:
Oh and i forgot to mention that a certain riding centre where I helped out occasionally got PASSED as a BHS Approved place. I used to despair of the place. I was soooooooo shocked. What does a yard have to do to FAIL ??
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i know what you mean, we have an "approved riding school on the isle of wight which is bloody awful, they have one instructor who spends a good amount of the lesson on her phone and siping from a mug of "doctored" coffee!!! and the last lesson i had there the horse was obviously lame and when i pointed this out i was told he was just a bit stiff and to just ride him through it!, i got off and refused to continue my lesson and asked for my money back.
i reported them to bhs who said they would look into my complaint only to find out that the owner of the school was friends with bhs welfare officer!!!!
 
thats awful :( in this day and age a bit of video footage might do the job BHS has a facebook page you could always complain on that if its a danger to the children in the class.
 
I think a book with all the registered bridleways would be a great idea. I'd buy it instantly, I'm always looking for new hacks.

I joined this year for the insurance, but love the magazine, it's a nice surprise compared to others!
 
I thought they already had books on bridle routes!?
Just looked at their new website.Kinda excited to see a route from Worcs to Coventry till I discovered it wasn't a bridleway, ditto all the other rides in my part of worcs.
I'm just interested in being able to use my equine not just hack round in circles. For instance' as a rambler I would be able to walk from the littletons to Stratford off road but as a vunerable rider I'm kicked out onto the main road after a few miles.
Even if you can go shopping there's nowhere to hitch up when you get there!How about a list of horse friendly access places like The Fleece at Bretforton which welcomes riders and has a hitching post :)
 
shysmum said:
I was going to become a BHS Welfare officer, but on turning up at the training day, was pretty much snubbed (could that be because i used to be RSPCA ?), by the "tweed hooray brigade". Went home in tears, and gave up. I really wanted to do it, even if it was giving my time for FREE.

I also called out one BHS lady to some ponies (welfare issue) and was distinctly unimpressed. That said, another lady I have dealt with has been much better.

Sorry, but I simply felt very uncomfortable about the whole thing. Like I really didn't belong.
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Thats a HUGE shame you felt you were treated like that :(
I know its hard, but had you thought about calling HQ & explaining this to Welfare dept?

I was a member way back when I did my exams & carried on being a member up till the 'turn of the century' ;) Then lapsed...cannot remeber why- prob forgot to pay & then was a slacker & didnt need membership at that point to still teach at PC (and didn't need it for competing etc)

Re-joined 3 yrs ago when I got quite cross :mad: with a local RSPCA inspector over some travellers ponies which had had no water for several days on bare grazing & were looking very poor, in the end I managed to get BHS locally to get involved & action swiftly came in. (sorry, but RSPCA were useless in this instance - and seem to be round here with anything to do with horses, tho great with small animals!)

Subsequently, I managed to get onto local area & get myself onto a Welfare training course & have been a welfare person since - I feel I can put my skills to use on occasions when needed :)

OP - IMHO there needs to be MORE grass roots - but I keep on telling area chairman that too :D I get more out of local RC's to be honest.

To those who have issues with Riding Schools/Approved yards etc, - have you reported your concerns to the BHS about them? They DO take a close interest & will listen to you. If they don't have any feed back, how can they take action? (sorry if you have reported back, but so many do grumble but will not go any further in complaining)
 
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I dont think they could do anything that would get me to join, hubby hates them because of the way they treated him but thats another story. They probably do a good job for riders, but i prefer to support another charity, and have insurance.
 
Oh and after finding out on here that they deal with horse welfare I rang them about a couple of horses nearby that are kept In an appalling half acre field with dangerous fencing, litter all over, the horses are scrawny and dull, and aren't consistently fed. The welfare person got back to me to say several people have rang about these and not much they could do apart from keep an eye as its a dealers field and the horses don't stay around long. Oh well dealers must be exempt from caring for their horses.
 
Yes I agree the BHS is outdated in their assessment and delivery for the
Exams. I am not encouraged to join and i support other horse welfare organisations. The UKCC system is far better and in my personal experience a more up to date method of training. My coach outshines every BHS qualified instructor I have had in 30 yrs.
 
Are people aware that the teaching exams were adjusted in line with the UKCC? The PTT hours were replaced by the UKCC portfolio and the practical assessments made for the UKCC level 2 (generic) are made within the PTT exam. The same goes for the practical sections of the UKCC 3 and the ITT exam.
 
AHH - some of these replies make me want to bang my head on the wall in frustration.

The BHS does have books of bridlepath routes and has the new mapping system. (New routes are published in the magazine). The books are being phased out as they don't sell all that quickly and so that people can download them on their own printer. Remmber that they were developed and published by local volunteers of the BHS.

People seem to moan about the exam system and the ones who are moaning are those that didn't pass. (Although I admit that some of the examiners are very old school!). The BHS system grew up from the army and traditional methods of keeping horses, but if you are a member (!) and look in the magazine for all the training available for instructions, coaches and ordinary members that are many "modern" and less traditional things available. For the last 2 issues at least there has been an article by BHS instructors who are also Monty Roberts qualified.

As for the poor livery yards/riding schools, etc. report it to the BHS at Stoneleigh.
 
After seeing the goings on at one of their approved centres - unclipped hairies being worked hard until they were lathered with sweat and then just chucked back in their stables tacked up - instructors screaming at children and one physically hurting one in a temper, and after knowing full well one of their welfare officers was notorious for abusing her own animals - I for one would not pay £50 to join!
I used to be a member but there was nothing of any use to me in it. We have few bridle ways, and my equestrian interest tends to be centred around the PC.

If they made their membership more than just the insurance, I'd join. If there was things we could do with them, like local lectures or demos (even if we had to pay extra), I'd join.
 
To answer the OP - i was encouraged to join last night when i received an email to say you can now spread the cost over 10 months... I've mainly taken it for the 3rd Party cover & personal cover (should i be riding someone elses horses etc.)

I was a member years ago, but found I didnt want to pay the full £60 in a lump (was a student at the time) so cancelled it, and now, that lump of £60 is two weeks worth of livery for me, so by only paying £6.20 a month for 10 months i get the membership benefits, but dont feel the cost of it...

I think the welfare & legal department alone are worth the money from experience i had in the past...
 
I haven't read the whole thread but having paid for Gold membership I'd like to get occasional legal advice without having to jumping through hoops.

The legal helpline phone number rang out and my email to the BHS was unanswered. But I'm in Scotland and maybe they don't bother up here.

Will I be renewing my membership? Don't know. I shall decide that when I renew my insurances, but probably not.
 
ponypilotmum said:
After seeing the goings on at one of their approved centres - unclipped hairies being worked hard until they were lathered with sweat and then just chucked back in their stables tacked up - instructors screaming at children and one physically hurting one in a temper, and after knowing full well one of their welfare officers was notorious for abusing her own animals - I for one would not pay £50 to join!
I used to be a member but there was nothing of any use to me in it. We have few bridle ways, and my equestrian interest tends to be centred around the PC.

If they made their membership more than just the insurance, I'd join. If there was things we could do with them, like local lectures or demos (even if we had to pay extra), I'd join.
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So just because someone caught food poisoning at one michelin starred restaurant would you refuse to ever eat in any restaurant with a michelin star???

Why not report the poor standards to the BHS approvals department if you were concerned rather than just ignoring it and blaming the BHS? They cannot act if people don't report things to them. If people don't report how do they expect the BHS to know what goes on when there isn't an inspector present?

If you don't have many bridleways locally then the only way to get more will be to work with your BHS access team who will liaise with the CTC and Ramblers to improve access. Refusing to give the BHS any money will not improve access, but giving them some money and offering support to your local team might improve things.

If you look in the magazine there are lots of events organised in the regions, it varies a bit from area to area but in my area there are lectures and demos and fun rides. If your area don't offer what you want why not contact them???
 
Dry Rot said:
I haven't read the whole thread but having paid for Gold membership I'd like to get occasional legal advice without having to jumping through hoops.

The legal helpline phone number rang out and my email to the BHS was unanswered. But I'm in Scotland and maybe they don't bother up here.

Will I be renewing my membership? Don't know. I shall decide that when I renew my insurances, but probably not.
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I would contact Helene Mauchlin the Development Officer for Scotland (details on BHS Scotland website) - I would be surprised if she doesn't try and get things moving for you as she's very passionate about her job.
 
Kat said:
So just because someone caught food poisoning at one michelin starred restaurant would you refuse to ever eat in any restaurant with a michelin star???

Why not report the poor standards to the BHS approvals department if you were concerned rather than just ignoring it and blaming the BHS? They cannot act if people don't report things to them. If people don't report how do they expect the BHS to know what goes on when there isn't an inspector present?

If you don't have many bridleways locally then the only way to get more will be to work with your BHS access team who will liaise with the CTC and Ramblers to improve access. Refusing to give the BHS any money will not improve access, but giving them some money and offering support to your local team might improve things.

If you look in the magazine there are lots of events organised in the regions, it varies a bit from area to area but in my area there are lectures and demos and fun rides. If your area don't offer what you want why not contact them???
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The problems we encountered at this centre went beyond those given, and the matter was reported to the BHS. It included dead animals being left on site. It's still a BHS approved centre so either my comments were ignored or this is something that the BHS are happy with. Either way, my sole interest is welfare and if money is not going into that, then I'd rather send my money elsewhere.

Lack of bridleways doesn't particularly bother me, we have private land to hack on and any bridleways are accessed by busy roads, so I'd rather just stick to local lanes and private hacking. It's my choice.
Lots of the activities offered were along the lines of sponsored rides, trec, etc and as i don't have transport for my horses currently it's not something i can participate in.

So, no, I won't be sending my money to an organisation that has nothing to offer me.

Would you send money to an organisation that could offer you nothing? Or one that blatantly ignored welfare issues in it's own centres? If you would, then you're a richer person than I am!
 
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