Training to be an instructor

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Thesnowbones

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I hope this is in the right forum!

I am a part time PhD student but would love to train as an instructor. What is the best way to do this? I'm based in Surrey!
 
Well the main route would be your BHS stages and instructor qualifications then. Pros and cons to those but still widely recognised. The other route (possibly independently but ideally alongside) is UKCC.

I'm assuming here that you 24 years of riding has included good formal training and/or a decent level of competition (you don't specify!).

I know plenty of instructors that teach beginners to ride - they themselves I wouldn't class as particularly good riders/competitors - however they have come through riding school and BHS and remained in a RS setting. Teaching a beginner is a definite skill set. Coaching more advanced riders is a different skillset. So I suppose it depends on your background and where you want to be
 
I did it a few years ago alongside my full time job, I did the bhs route and qualified that way which I feel is the most recognised qualification to have and the ones most riding schools want also.
I did the course then the exam for each but in hindsight I would go with someone privately so that you can focus on what you need specifically rather than have groups take up time with things you may already be strong at.
I only teach freelance now and get clients of the back of recommendations mainly but also from bhs website and from being out competing.
 
BHS stages is definitely the better way to go. There is the UKCC route - but IME most places would give a job to a BHSAI and not a UKCC level 2.

There are loads of places in Surrey. You can do your Stage 1 anytime - look it up on the BHS website and see who has an exam date suitable. What we do is book a couple of private lessons at the center in advance and explain that you want to ride as many of the exam horses as possible and they can usually sort that out. Wildwoods is really good at that. You have to do your BHS Riding and Road Safety before you can move on to your Stage 2. The best place for that we've found is actually Rosie Laud at Berkshire Riding College. Its a distance but the pass rate is absolutely fantastic. For individualized training for stage 2 upward you could also try Sarah McDonald at The Mill.

Once you have your stage 2 you can progress to your PTT. If you pass your PTT and your stage 3 you become an AI and so onward....

If you want to explore the UKCC route speak to Sally Thurloway. PM me if you need contact details.
 
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