So Glad I didn't loan my horse to this yard.. Mini Rant/concern

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dobbin27

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A month or so ago I posted about loaning my horse to a local riding school, I had been less than impressed with the level of professionalism when teaching my child, and just didn't feel 100% about how safe he would be, despite being sure he would be fed etc..

I went to collect some bits I had lent them yesterday, and the more I think about it (And the more time I spent shut in my office today!!) the more I just want to go and give them a bit of a shake!!

I turned up about 5.30 yesterday afternoon, to find a school age teenage girl teaching a class of approx 8 novices (some learning to canter, some still struggling with rising trot) unsupervised in the school, and the three staff (AI/YO, and two part BHS qualified) were sat in the house, smoking and well into the second bottle of wine!!! Seriously?! Do they have no comprehension of how dangerous horses/learning to ride can be????!!!

I'm speechless.. I had been warned this was a regular occurance, but if I'm honest put it down to bitchy ex-liveries!!!

Would you report this to anybody, or just keep your nose out?? Some of the kids in the 'lesson' I witnessed were probably no more than about seven??
 
What exactly are you 'reporting'?

If you read on here, the majority of people prefer to be taught by unqualified staff such as the teenager you describe.

Riding schools have to be licensed by the council only - and you say this one has such a license.
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Could you mention it to the owner something like ' noticed yesterday that x was taking the lesson, I hadn't realised she was old enough, would she be ok if something happened?'

I would be concerned too, and would have to do something. I personally wouldn't report them this time, but i would let them know that I was concerned. Hopefully that might shake them up abit??
 
Before you report anything I would go back and check what you see. The 'school age' girl you describe - how do you know she is that age? A girl who used to work at the riding school I worked at was 23 - and she used to get IDed when she bought fags for our boss (and that was when the age was 16!) Also, how do you know she is unqualified?
Secondly, I was teaching people to ride from the age of 16, and I am proud to say that I never had a single one of my riders fall off, and I taught nervous beginner to the more experienced, whereas those older people teaching had several falls. Just because she is young, doesn't mean she isn't any good.
I get totally where you are coming from and understand your concerns about the childrens safety, I just think you need to look into the issue a bit more before you think about making allegations.
 
Report it! I'm no kill joy don't get me wrong alot of yards crack the bottle open after a hard day but thats after work and when they don't have to drive anywhere.

I'm sorry but I would not be paying for a qualified instructor to teach my child (if I had one that is or my little sister/brother...again if I had one!) to be sat on there lazy ar*ses supping on wine while some young girl with god knows what experience....who shouldn't even be working with children, was teaching a class of novices!..dear god, mind you by the sounds of things she might be doing a better job.

Absolutely disgraceful! and do these staff actually own cars and drive home after a so called hard day teaching?
 
I was less concerned by her level of competence, or ability to pass on her knowledge. More that it was a lot responsibility to put on somebody so young (Last year of secondary school!), with nobody else on the yard to help should there be a problem, which seemed an un-necessary risk with three qualfied members of staff available.

I don't think that qualifications make a good instructor, it just seems that there is/is frequently a very lazy/irresponsible/dis-interested attitude to teaching/safety

It is highly likely that I am being overly fussy!! I had to stop working with horses when the reality of mortgages kicked in!! There is not a chance given the opportunity to do it full time again that I wouldn't give it 100%!!
 
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Before you report anything I would go back and check what you see. The 'school age' girl you describe - how do you know she is that age? A girl who used to work at the riding school I worked at was 23 - and she used to get IDed when she bought fags for our boss (and that was when the age was 16!) Also, how do you know she is unqualified?
Secondly, I was teaching people to ride from the age of 16, and I am proud to say that I never had a single one of my riders fall off, and I taught nervous beginner to the more experienced, whereas those older people teaching had several falls. Just because she is young, doesn't mean she isn't any good.
I get totally where you are coming from and understand your concerns about the childrens safety, I just think you need to look into the issue a bit more before you think about making allegations.

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Completely agree, you don't know how old she is or whether she is qualified. Remember too that trainees need to get a certain number of hours teaching practice before their exams. If she has been riding all her life she may well have started her stages at the minimum age or even have gained exemptions if she had other qualifications. If she is genuinely still school age and unqualified do complain though, it is a safety risk and clients should be getting what they pay for and if they think they are paying for a qualified instructor then they shouldn't be fobbed off with a trainee or unqualified person.
 
this used to happen at a yard i worked at & after i left there was a big accident with un qualifed member of staff teaching, went to court & the riding school had to pay out, the riding school lost its licence by the concil but still is a riding school!!!
 
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If you read on here, the majority of people prefer to be taught by unqualified staff such as the teenager you describe

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Eh? Really?
 
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[ QUOTE ]

If you read on here, the majority of people prefer to be taught by unqualified staff such as the teenager you describe

[/ QUOTE ]

Eh? Really?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think people's opinion has been taken a little out of context here! Rather than people preferring to be taught by unqualified instructors, I think the general consensus was that people are not concerned whether a good instructor has formal BHS qualifications or not, if they are doing a good job with horse and rider.

Take myself as an example - I have regular lessons from an excellent instructor who has improved me and my horse no end. I'm sure she probably has a list of qualifications as long as her arm, but it's never occurred to me to ask her about them!
 
I'm not sure what you would report. A person was in charge who looked young while 3 members of staff were close by, possibly having lunch? There is more than one way of interpreting this. Do you know who this girl was, her age and her qualifications and/or lack of them? Plus her experience? The children were being supervised and indeed taught. No-one seems unhappy but you, and you are not directly involved. Where does supervision end? Does the girl/teacher who is superivising the children herself need supervised? And who would supervise her suprvisor? Personally I wouldn't jump to conclusions gained on one quick snapshot of a visit to this yard. You haven't mentioned anything else that seems out of order.
 
If she was teaching children under 16 years of age she must have completed a child protection course. She must also hold a first aid certificate.
Without that their insurance policy will be invalid.
Any business should have third party public liability cover.
 
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