Teaching without qualifications?

[Lolo]

Why don't you work towards getting decent qualifications whilst you teach? Competition experience is very well and good, but I think attending conferences and expanding your understanding and learning new techniques will always be more important than your ability to ride.

Al's main instructor doesn't, as far as I know, have any qualifications. She's an amazing rider though who communicates very well and understands how to make the horse go better and will get on and show you. Which was very important and helpful with Reg. The man who Al attends SJ clinics with does have qualifications and is an astonishingly good instructor too- one session with him sent their confidence together sky high.

So it doesn't matter, per se, but you'll get better known if you do have them as it's easier for PCs to use you- vital, if you wish to work with kids IMO. Al has her B test and has attended a course on PC Coaching, and so now is allowed to instruct within the PC, can do her level 3 and then her PTT and on from there. She can also do a PC coaching course which will qualify her for stuff. Jut holding the B test is opening massive doors for her...

 

[Spit That Out]

My last instructor wasn't qualified but had years of experience and at 80 years young he's done ok for himself without them. I know many people who have benefitted from his experience and knowledge. A couple of people have gone on to compete at a very high level and wouldn't have done it without him.
I personally would only have an instructor that had been recommended from other riders than flicking through the yellow pages for an instructor with more letters than the Greek alphabet after their name!