Minimum age for an instructor at Riding school

H

Helen65

New User
Joined
11 September 2013
Messages
1
Visit site
I attended a Registered Riding school today with my 7 yr old daughter, and found that the young girl taking the lesson was only 17 years old and in charge of the whole school with 18 ponies. I was recommended this school some weeks back but am a little unsure if they are in fact registered and insured, I could see no certificates hung up and when I asked, I was told that they hadn't time to put them up yet! Do i continue to use this school or find a new one?
 
doesnt sound ideal, but if she has passed her teaching exams then no reason why not i guess.

What area are you in? Maybe someone could recommend a different yard
 
A registered school local to me used to use the girls training for bhs stages and apprentices (16+) etc to teach beginers and special needs lessons. They were not insured to do this as they were not qualified instructors and it shouldnt have happened but it was all down to saving money not having to hire AA instructors. I taught a few lessons before i had even gained stage 1! This was about 10yrs ago though, no idea if it still goes on now.
 
There is no requirement for "instructors" to hold any formal qualifications and as far as I know no reason a 17 year old cannot teach lessons but I do think there needs to be a person overseeing the yard that has first aid cert and is in a position of authority, I think they need to be over 18 but things may have changed.

If you do want to go back check with your local authority to make sure they are licensed and insured, if not licensed do not go there as they will not be able to have insurance without being licensed.
 
Being a licensed riding school is not the same as being BHS approved. You must hold a local license to trade as a school which simply ensures that various fire regulations are complied with and there is some form of insurance in place. They make no rules about teaching qualifications. If you want assurance as to teaching standards etc you need to opt for a BHS approved school.

It is difficult to see how a 17 year old could be fully qualified to be able to teach under the BHS and manage without supervision. But you don't have to comply with BHS provisions to run a riding school.
 
As someone else said, legally there's no requirement to hold any qualifications unless its under the BHS approved riding school scheme.
I don't think this affects your insurance cover.
I think the minimum age to escort a ride at a riding school was 16 but that could have changed.
 
I passed PTT at 17 (minimum age to take was 17+6 months then) so perfectly possible that she could be qualified.
But as others have said, even if she isn't it doesn't necessarily matter.

Did your daughter enjoy her lesson? Were you happy that the set up seemed safe?
If so, no problem!
 
Bobby Boy said:
I would be more worried about 18 people in the lesson than the age of the instructor, we have a limit of 9 per lesson
Click to expand...

I thought that was 18 ponies mostly in stables rather than in the lesson!

Sole charge has always been 16+ for licencing and I don't think it is unusual for beginners to be taught by older teenagers with/without qualifications tbh.
 
OP said 18 ponies in the school, not 18 in one lesson!
I think a 17 year old is quite mature enough to take lessons. After all, you can be married with a child at that age, or fighting for your country.
 
stormox said:
OP said 18 ponies in the school, not 18 in one lesson!
I think a 17 year old is quite mature enough to take lessons. After all, you can be married with a child at that age, or fighting for your country.
Click to expand...

Some 17 year olds are mature and experienced but it depends on the individual. As a parent, you have to be confident that the instructor is risk aware and able to deal with any untoward incidences that might affect your child.
Being able to teach is not the same as being competent enough to ensure the safety of young children around horses.
 
Shay said:
Being a licensed riding school is not the same as being BHS approved. You must hold a local license to trade as a school which simply ensures that various fire regulations are complied with and there is some form of insurance in place. They make no rules about teaching qualifications. If you want assurance as to teaching standards etc you need to opt for a BHS approved school.

It is difficult to see how a 17 year old could be fully qualified to be able to teach under the BHS and manage without supervision. But you don't have to comply with BHS provisions to run a riding school.
Click to expand...

This is interesting as I used to work and teach at a riding school and I never had any qualifications to teach, I always wondered if it was illegal or not.
 
Pretty sure it's 16 to be in sole charge of a riding school.

The school probably has insurance to cover people who aren't qualified, but have suitable experience for the level they are teaching at.
 
As a kid when I went to riding school an awful lot, I don't think I ever had a riding instructor over their early 20s. Most of mine would have been between 16-20 I'd say.
All were lovely and I never came to any harm.
 
I would be quite happy to be taught by someone aged 17 if they were competent and mature. However I wouldn't feel happy if the most senior person on the whole yard was 17.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top