Unqualified 'Instructors'

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Thanks for your responses, but you miss my point. I am not particularly interested in BHS quals either but I believe an instructor needs;
1. To know what they're doing - and you all have to agree there are some really dangerous ones around - if you are a student, you are relying on their expertise perhaps erroneously.
2. To have insurance to protect themselves and the rider, in case, God forbid, something goes wrong.
3. To be responsible enough to have first aid training in a high risk industry.
4. To be safe around children (I don't know any other way other than CRB checks to find out this one?).
I am sure you'll all agree with this?

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Couldn't agree more Shilasdair. And that is exactly result that the UK Coaching Certificate will produce.
 
Er, I was thinking about it from a personal perspective - as an experienced adult who can judge the ability of the instructor pretty quickly. From that perspective, all I'd worry about is just how capable they are - not on paper, but in practice.

However, if I was more novice or looking for an instructor for a child, then yes, your points become far more relelvant, IMO.
 
okay, I'll add my two pennieth worth.

My best instructor (at the time) wasnt BHS qualified. Heck, he didnt even hold insurance. We were taught to ride on scruffy little ponies in a makeshift 'arena' (constructed of a few posts, pig wire and a dirt surface). Eventually this guy went through his bHS stages, as after being a top competition rider for many many years felt that he needed some 'paper' to say he could teach. He's now a top instructor, but IMO no better than his pre exam days.
Someone else i knew of, claimed to be a BHSAI instructor. She taught alot of people with varying success, but in reality she'd failed her exams. No-one had asked her for proof of this 'qualification'. Anyone can claim they are qualified! IMO much better to take out insurance and admit you're not qualified but have years of experience. Let your reputation say it all.

as for CRB checks. Absolute rubbish. These checks take months to come through and yes, they do miss people who pose a real danger.
 
Not missing your point at all.

Point 1 - 3 you can have without qualifications.

Point 4 - As an adult this is of no interest to me when looking for a trainer. If i had a child learning to ride, well I'd probably going greatly on word of mouth or using someone i knew on a personal level and regardless, i wouldn't leave said child alone for the lessons.
 
I never ask an instructor about their qualifications or insurance, it makes no difference to me whatsoever. I judge an instructor purely on their ability to get the best out of me and my horse and if I had an accident I wouldn't sue. If I felt an instructor was asking me to do something dangerous I know enough myself to say I wasn't prepared to do it and wouldn't go back for more lessons!
 
Maybe your post should have been titled 'Uninsured Instructors'? As we all seem to agree that qualified can be either paper or experienced based
 
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