How much "formal" horse education do you have?

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now_loves_mares

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I have been dwelling on this a bit lately. Since I did my pony club H test about, hmmm 17 years ago, I haven't officially learned anything new about horses! Of course I've picked things up as I've gone along, and things like HHO are great, but sometimes I feel I should be making more of an effort.

Do you have any qualifications, is your knowledge through working with horses, or just owning them? If you were to do more "study" what would it be? I considered BHS exams, but have no desire to teach. I'd just like to learn the theory side a bit more. And this after I said "no more studying EVER" after qualifying as a CA
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There are plenty of distance learning courses. Some you have to go for "study weeks" and others, following completion of the modules etc you get certificates of completion etc. There are also those that you can get formal recognised qualifications too.
It really depends what area you lean towards (I second the teaching issue BTW :-) )

Try http://www.compass-education.co.uk/ or http://www.equinestudies.co.uk/

These may give you inspiration...
 
Just riding lessons, and an ABRS stable management thing I did when I was about 10 (things like putting on a headcollar and the points of a horse, nothing complex). I'd like to do BHS stages because I might one day want to work with horses, but if I knew I wouldn't ever want to get a job with horses I wouldn't bother - they cost a lot and you can learn most of it as you go along anyway. Nobody needs a certificate to be good with horses.
 
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I have been dwelling on this a bit lately. Since I did my pony club H test about, hmmm 17 years ago, I haven't officially learned anything new about horses! Of course I've picked things up as I've gone along, and things like HHO are great, but sometimes I feel I should be making more of an effort.

Do you have any qualifications, is your knowledge through working with horses, or just owning them? If you were to do more "study" what would it be? I considered BHS exams, but have no desire to teach. I'd just like to learn the theory side a bit more. And this after I said "no more studying EVER" after qualifying as a CA
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I've got quals, both BHS and academic, and worked full time with horses for about 20 years, until I had enough a couple of years ago.
But I like learning new stuff, so am currently fighting the urge to start again.
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Pony Club C+ test many years ago (about 18 years ago!). Now an active BRC member & regular lessons.
But overall no 'formal' horse education
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Not bothered - the best way to learn is 'practical experience' rather than 'classroom teaching'
 
I've done quite a bit so far. I've got my BHS stage 3 and PTT, plus all the various courses to be on the BHS register of instructors. As teaching is my main income i will probs end up doing my stage 4, and would like to get my BHSI one day, but for the mo i'm concentrating on getting the results with my riding rather than more exams. Riding wise I have had regular lessons since i was 13. I got a pony on loan when I was 15, and then got my first horse at 16. I got my 2nd horse when i was 18, then got my 3rd horse when I was 20, and my 4th and 5th when I was 21 (last year). I still have all 5 of my horses
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, I not sure I could really bear to part with them. Plus Millie's foal should be arriving in June, so that will be another one to the tally
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!!!!!!!!!! I have been a working pupil on a few event yards from local eventers, to Badminton winners. I also spent a year at college part time, and have part timed in my local tack shop, which I had to stop when I realised I spent more there than I actually earned, so was loosing money
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I started off with weekly riding lessons and helped out with the stable management where I learnt a lot. Then moved onto working atvarious yards where I learnt a lot of practical applications. Then moved onto sharing and loaning horses.

Now I in my 3rd year BSc (hons) Equine Dental Science. I have studied alot of other aspects of Equine/animal Science....and although I may not go into Dentistry anymore....I have learnt so much from my degree. And through loaning horses at uni at the time I have been able to apply the theory I learn at uni.

Yes it costs a lot of money...but hopefully I will go into a field of Equine after
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LOL Shilasdair... Resistance is futile!
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I gave up on formal education (BHS and Uni) after fracturing my skull many years ago. I went off and did the "proper job" thang... and then realised that working with horses is the only thing I really enjoy and am any good at. (have the enthusiasm for)

After looking back at what I have achieved with mine and what it really centered on, I have been studying behaviour with a view to "rehab" work. Hopefully one day I will be able to open a centre for "holistic healing / rehab" for large and small animals. The reality is that if your heart is really in it but you feel trapped "working for someone else" then you will need insurance to work on your own. For that you will need certificates / bits of paper. Sad but true, no matter what your experience is or how good you are. The realities of this litigious society are far too scary to contemplate.

At the end of the day it is about what you want to achieve / what your motivations are. And yep, most things in the horse world cost! (just the mere mention of the word "horse" and most things double in price! :-> )
 
I did an HND, did my stage 4 and nvq 2 & 3. Was busily working with the horses but screwed my back up big stylie, which meant it wasn't a viable option to carry on working with the horses.

so now I just have my own - although I am trying to reduce numbers over the next couple of months!
 
Ive got my B test through pony club, and trying to apply for the ukcc. I would love to do H and A test but thats not going to happen
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Distance learning courses , lots of practical courses, riding lessons and 40 years of riding/horseownership.
 
A real variety of learning routes there! Whilst I agree a certificate proves nothing, I'm also uncertain if you can learn everything by experience only? I think it's a great way to learn if you are surrounded by experienced people, but for instance now that I keep mine at home, there is no-one to ask daft questions of. My vet and farrier are plagued by my questions when they are here!!
 
got BHS stage 3.

qualified EBW (but don't practise).

also got 5 years experience as head girl on 4**** event yard after being WP at an intl dressage yard (one whole year of no stirrups!).

unformal experience is much bigger and has been picked up along the way from a variety of sources!
 
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None at all!
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But I do have lessons very regularly and I enjoy reading so I have a lot of books of riding, handling, behaviour, etc. (does that count?
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'Course it counts!! I think even reading HHO counts
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MickeyMoo, see my response above - you're already studying
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I wonder, would it be worth just reading the Stages books but not taking the exams? This is all purely for my own education (and my horses benefit), not for any career aspirations, so surely it can only help?
 
Books, books and more books then if it is only for your personal benefit.

I also have the same problem in that having my horses at home I dont have anyone to "spark" off.

Forums are great places for that though, and just the web in general. There are some great books out there for general info. All info is good info!
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Ive got ABRS up to level 6 on ridden and stable management. But I think years experience teaches you most of it anyway
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Ive been round horses for about 18 years
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I got my BSc (Hons) in Equine Sceince two years ago. I loved learning about all the technical sides and keeping up with the new research and do try to keep up to date with whats going on just as I find it interesting

Although the technical side is very interesting I have found it hasnt really helped me that much with the day to day care or managment of horses (apart from whent the vet comes and starts usung all the big words). So on the whole I would definatley say that there is no subsitute for experience and that I probably learnt the most from just being around knowledgable people.
 
Hi
Well I left school and went to do a BTEC National Diploma in Horse Studies and also did my NVQ Lev 2 & 3 .I then went on to do a HND Equine Business Management. So 5 yrs "Formal"horse education, After leaving college I went to work on a showjumping yard about 3yrs and then to a rideing school/delaers yard and also for a short time on a hunting yard.I have learnt loads both at college and at work , the different people you meet and there differant ways of doing things.College is very BHS - but you can't always do everything day in day out as you are takeing an exam.I used to read loads of horsey books but i have read all the ones I own 10 times but i always use them for reference if i can't remember something.
There are some great books out there and I think you would gain a lot from investing in some good books.
I would be intrested in doing my BHS Stages but as i'm still payeing off my loans from college so at the moment I don't have the funds !
 
no formal training except PC tests a LONG time ago lol!

Have ridden since i was 6, owned since i was 10 and have lots of hands on experience but could fancy doing Equine Science and may do that just for enjoyment at some stage. I enjoy my job and have no desire to work with horses but i do find learning more of the theory side appealing.
 
Did pony club tests to B test and have my BHSAI which I did for fun rather than because I wanted to teach. I took a summer off work and studied at a teaching yard and took the exam. Always feel I ought to read much much more as would like to know more about the mechanics of riding and our effect on the horse. Had very little other formal education and rather "winged" it through my show jumping years. Since moving into showing have far more lessons than I used to. Have been lucky to have learnt off knowledgable "nagsmen" and "nagswomen" along the way.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies - it's really interesting to see the different routes to knowledge people have taken. I hope I didn't inadvertantly imply I was a novice, I've owned horses for 25 years, evented up to BE novice, etc; but I'm a bit of a geek who likes to feel clever
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Hence my interest in swotty stuff
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My job sadly is an accountant - for which I studied at school, then university, then did my 3 year CA training. I suppose what *worries* me is that, if say you were a very well educated BHSI who ran a yard, you could get by with basic spreadsheet knowledge to keep the finances ticking over, but I'm not sure the same is true in reverse. In other words I'm very knowledgeable about finance/accounting, but I feel it's only fair on my horses to learn as much as I can about them - it's also rather more fun than learning about Accounting Standards
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