Teaching without qualifications?

Allie5

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2010
Messages
416
Visit site
Would you use an instructor who was very experienced but has no formal qualifications? I currently teach a few clients regularly but I am considering advertising for more. I have competed as a junior showjumper internationally as well as working at a native pony stud and a good few years at a riding school. At the risk of blowing my own trumpet I am a good instructor. I specialise in junior showjumping (obviously that's my main area of expertise!) but I have a real feel for nervous riders and have had some great results with terrified kids. However I never got around to taking any formal horsey exams. Would that bother you guys? I am self employed and pay all my taxes etc as well as my public liability insurance. If I was to advertise do you think I should say right from the start that although more experienced than most "qualified instructors" I don't actually have those bits of paper!
Thoughts?
 

Mythical

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 November 2011
Messages
310
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
My instructor is brill. For all I know she's got qualifications coming out of her ears but I've never asked and I'm not really bothered. She gets great results from me and my horse and at the moment, that's all that matters to me.
 

happyhacking:)

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 February 2011
Messages
366
Visit site
Would I use an instructor without qualifications yes! Not sure bout the advertising bit probs best to be upfront from start and though there will be people who are put off by this they most likely wouldn't have u regardless of when they find out bout lack of qualifications if u see what I mean.
Personally would take experience over piece of paper any day. Good luck with it
 

YorksG

Over the hill and far awa
Joined
14 September 2006
Messages
16,142
Location
West Yorkshire
Visit site
If you are likely to be teaching children, then it would be worth you getting a CRB check too, just so that you can re-assure parents that you are not a convicted offender :)
 

Toby_Zaphod

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 August 2005
Messages
9,259
Location
Midlands
Visit site
We have used an ex international show jumper, with qualifications & a current international show jumper in UK top 50 with no qualifications. Both have been great & have a wealth of experience & knowledge.

There are two things the instructor must have, one is the knowledge & the other is the ability to pass on that knowledge in a way that is understood by the student. Some have that ability & some don't & will never have that ability.

In short I would certainly use an instructor with no qualifications, but they would need to have a level of proven ability. :)

Addionally if you are thinking about teaching children it is a legal requirement to be CRB checked.
 

Grumpy Jewel

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 September 2010
Messages
447
Location
Very dry West Sussex!
Visit site
None of mine have had formal qualifications just years of experience, and there's no way in hell I'd do the bhs route to qualify to teach, so it wouldn't bother me. My friends who teach are insured to the eyeballs which for me would be key though.
 

mandwhy

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 July 2008
Messages
4,589
Location
Cambridge, UK
Visit site
If I had a choice of a BHS instructor or someone who was regularly competing in the discipline I was most interested in (at a decent level depending on how much I was paying) then I'd pick the latter every time!

To be honest most stuff I have needed to brush up on recently is so basic I think a child could probably teach me ;-)
 

cambrica

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 November 2011
Messages
2,145
Visit site
I've met many qualified instructors who quite frankly haven't got a clue and lack knowledge that can only be gained through experience.
The reason most kids give up lessons are not because they don't want to ride its because they are put in a school with 10 other kids for half an hour going round once then waiting their turn, taking months to acheive anything whilst the parents are paying a small fortune. Being without qualifications means you are less restrained by rules and when teaching kids it is also about having fun.
If you can offer a more personal service and have a good rappor with children then it won't be long before you have a waiting list.
Just cover yourself legally and get an enhanced CRB certificate.
 

corbleu

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2009
Messages
84
Visit site
Like most people it seems, I'm definitely on the side of experience! I've had a fab instructor with not a single qualification to her name but who had LOTS of experience with retraining racehorses and who had a real knack of understanding both me and my (occasionally eccentric) Thoroughbred, she was fab and it was a sad, sad, sad day when she moved down South. I have also had a qualified to the eyeballs instructor who simply couldn't get a tune out of me or the t*t (sorry, I mean talented) racehorse ;)
As long as someone is insured, understands my problems, potential solutions and goals and can put all that across to me I don't care whether they have qualifications or not, to be honest anyone can get a few letters after their name it doesn't mean they know how to do the job!
 

Allie5

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2010
Messages
416
Visit site
Thanks guys! That's made me feel a bit better! I do have public liability insurance as well as an enhanced disclosure certificate (also known as PVG or CRB check)
 

rockysmum

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 January 2006
Messages
3,137
Location
Near Leeds
Visit site
No the qualifications would not bother me, as in BHS quals that is.

The extras that are usually part of any teaching job, and I assume that applies to horses as well, I would expect to see.

Health & Safety in the Workplace, First Aid and Safeguarding (important in this day and age) especially if you are working with kids or other vulnerable people.
 

maresmaid

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 April 2011
Messages
539
Visit site
I would always be willing to consider an unqualified instructor with experience, especially one who was recommended by others. The final judgement comes down to the lessons and if they were enjoyable, and the pupils were making progress, and all appropriate insurance was in place, i would stick with it. When it comes to advertising, just highlight your experience and put a short paragraph which describes your attitude towards teaching and what qualities you have that make you good at it - just dont mention anything about formal qualifications at all. I am sure people will still be willing to give you a try, and will stay with you if they are making progress.
 

Allie5

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2010
Messages
416
Visit site
I have a full first aid certificate, h&s first aid at work and Im also an army medic so plenty of first hand experience of spinal injuries, broken bones and head injuries!*
I also currently work full time with people with mental health problems and part time with army soldiers under training, both of which are classed as vulnerable groups. Hence the CRB certificate. MonkeyBusiness Im in Glasgow btw!
Im happy to teach adults but I seem to have a good rapport with kids and I love helping them achieve things. For one little girl two weeks ago it was walking round the school on her pony for the first time in months after a horrific accident.
 

maresmaid

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 April 2011
Messages
539
Visit site
Your last paragraph makes a good basis for a statement in your ad. You could also put more about your own riding acheivements and say how the things in the first paragraph could help you be a good riding instructor - though it might be wise not to imply that your pupils will need the benefit of your experience with spinal injuries and broken bones on a regular basis! lol
 

mperson01

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 August 2012
Messages
102
Visit site
Yes, i do. I have dressage lessons from someone who competes advanced medium
Level, but no quals. and she's great. Also used to have lessons from an eventer, again no quals, and the only problem with her was getting a lesson booked in, as she competed weekends, and had lessons/own horses in week. :) This last instructor has a couple of ads showing a picture of her competing, and details of experience in local tack shops.
 

Dora5

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 August 2012
Messages
135
Location
Yatton, Bristol
Visit site
I am in the same position, but I have found that because I advertise as a trainee instructor as I'm not fully qualified, I really don't get any interest. I think if you aren't qualified, word of mouth is the best way as I haven't had lucking getting new people from advertising alone. Its also difficult if you are in a new area like me and so people don't really know me. I'm planning to do my BHSAI as I think in an area where you aren't known, BHS exams do help
 

charlie76

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 March 2006
Messages
4,665
Visit site
Can we not assume that a bhs teaching qualification is 'just a piece of paper ' and meaningless.
Don't get me wrong, I often have lessons from competition riders who don't have bhs qualifications. However please don't assume that instructors with them are all clueless!
I have my bhs senior coach certificate and without being big headed I know I am a good instructor! I can happily teach large groups, private lessons, any age or ability and know they will take some thing away from it.

If you want to teach and have no outstanding competition experience then I really do think that you need some form of qualifications. If you think the bhs system is too long winded then why don't you look at the ukcc route. I am half way through my level three portfolio that you do in your own time. The course itself is only for two days.
 

Allie5

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2010
Messages
416
Visit site
Maresmaid the plan is not to have kids flying off all over the place! However as a mother myself Id feel better knowing anyone teaching my son had a thorough knowledge of these dangerous unseen injuries!
 

Allie5

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2010
Messages
416
Visit site
Charlie76 I never suggested anyone with BHS qualifications can't teach! I think its fair to say that 6 years international showjumping (admittedly as a junior!) is outstanding competition experience!
 

maestro

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 December 2005
Messages
734
Location
Leicestershire
www.westonstud.co.uk
I dont quite understand why you should be allowed to teach without qualifications they are not difficult to get if you are experienced and good. The UKCC system seems to be evolving into a workable award and you can fasttrack the BHS system now. Im not saying the unqualified are not as good I just think they should go and get the paperwork to prove it.
 

Grumpy Jewel

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 September 2010
Messages
447
Location
Very dry West Sussex!
Visit site
One thing that really irritates me about the bhs route is that it's so expensive! Plus from what I have seen of the stages route most ways they teach things are so long winded no one practices them from day to day unless you are on a yard which operates like that, so why pay the money to get qualifications that won't be practiced the way you've trained. It's a bug bear of mine sorry.
 

Theocat

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 November 2010
Messages
2,753
Visit site
I dont quite understand why you should be allowed to teach without qualifications they are not difficult to get if you are experienced and good. The UKCC system seems to be evolving into a workable award and you can fasttrack the BHS system now. Im not saying the unqualified are not as good I just think they should go and get the paperwork to prove it.

Unfortunately many (although thankfully a minority) of those who are qualified are pretty useless. The qualification needs to be properly respected (i.e. do what it's supposed to by consistently producing competent instructors), which should make it desirable without making it compulsory.

I've been taught by plenty of outstanding qualified instructors, and plenty of outstanding unqualified instructors. Oddly, the rubbish ones IME have all been qualified - I suppose unqualified rubbish ones just don't get a foot in the door :D
 

Littlelegs

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2012
Messages
9,355
Visit site
My experience is the same as theocats. I've met highly qualified instructors I'd want paying to take a lesson from. Quals mean nothing to me, its down to ability. However, if you can fast track the bhs system, when I did it years ago getting the min ai made insurance cheaper versus the cost of qualifying, however my job had already paid for my stages so I didn't have to factor in that cost. I've only done freelance & word of mouth though, & had enough clients before I qualified, if not though I might have gone after my bhsi to appeal to a wider customer base.
 

Onyxia

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 May 2005
Messages
10,577
Location
Yorkshire
Visit site
Bad BHS instructors are thankfully few and end to fall into two "camps".
First, the "got the BHSAI t shirt 20 years ago and have no done a thing to develop my skills since" who I really dislike, and then the "I have my AI don'tyaknow so obviously I know more then you"(normally very young and spoiled ;) ).

The other 95% are good teachers,who ma or may not have an outstanding comp record in their own right that spend a good deal of time keeping up to date on current thinking and methods.
In short, I would not turn down a lesson with someone unqualified who had a proven record and reputation,but if I was looking for an instructor I would expect to see qualifications and TBH,would question why someone who wanted to teach had not go some.

Good luck expanding your client base Allie5, you do sound like a great instructor :)
 

Holly Hocks

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2010
Messages
5,402
Location
England
Visit site
Qualifications mean nothing to me when it comes to a riding instructor. In fact there are only a couple of qualified instructors I would even consider taking a lesson from - and they did their qualifications several years ago and have since got several years valuable experience dealing with a variety of riders and horses. I value experience much more highly. The best instructor I had was similar to the OP in experience - she had got individual gold in the 90s as a junior eventer and since then had been abroad and worked in classical dressage which she excelled at. She turned my riding, and therefore my last horse around - something lessons with tens of qualified instructors over the years had failed to do. I'm gutted that I now live too far away to have lessons from her!
 
Top