Teaching others to ride is perhaps the most traditional of all the equestrian roles which comes to mind when someone contemplates working with horses. Being a coach requires excellent people skills, an ability to communicate clearly, empathy, understanding, patience and a healthy amount of resilience!
Did you know? The terms ‘instructor’ and ‘coach’ are often used interchangeably. There is an industry wide shift to the use of ‘coach’ rather than ‘instructor.’
Most coaches begin life at a riding school where they learn how to teach a variety of people and horses from complete beginners up to experienced riders. However, there are also a large number of coaches who start their careers riding, producing and competing, and then decide to formalise their experience through teaching qualifications.
The importance of experience
Before you teach others, it’s essential to be confident and competent in your own riding and horse management. Most coaches have years of hands-on experience at riding schools and/or professional yards, and it is important for a number of reasons. The more horses you meet, and the more circumstances you encounter, the better your ability to handle the inevitable unexpected situations which will arise when you are teaching.
Teaching riding is as much about horse care as it is about time in the saddle. Many problems your clients will experience will relate to their own horse’s management: feeding, shoeing, tack fit and health are all interconnected and as a coach you will have a duty of care both to your clients and for their equine partners. It is important that as a coach you are able to identify which issues are equitation problems (your client’s riding ability) and which are care related. As a coach, you will be part of a team of ‘para-professionals’ around the horse, and it is important you are able to play your role.
It is advisable to get experience on a variety of different yards. Every yard you go to will have their own unique systems in place, and in order for you to be a well rounded equestrian, it is important for you to get experience of how things are done in different places. Riding schools are wonderful places to started, but the best riding school staff are the ones who have gone away and learned how things are done elsewhere and then bring back best practise from elsewhere.
If you are already a professional, potentially training or producing horses for sale or clients, you are likely 1) very busy and 2) very experienced, but it is always good to see how other yards do things. Learn from your friends and colleagues, find out about their systems of management and training, and keep your horizons broad. We are always able to learn, and horses are always teaching us.
Gain Recognised Qualifications
In the UK there are two primary pathways to become qualified to teach. Both involve you gaining teaching experience under the guidance of another qualified coach.
1) British Horse Society (BHS) Career Pathway
The BHS pathway is the most well recognised route to becoming a riding instructor in the UK. To begin teaching, the minimum you will need to achieve is your Stage 2 Teach. Stage 1 is a ‘foundation’ qualification which covers a lot of the fundamentals that, if you have worked on a yard for any amount of time, likely already have experience of. This can put a lot of people off starting, but it is possible to apply for Direct Entry. You can read more about how to be directly eligible for entry to Stage 2 here.
Completing your BHS stages and qualifications requires you to carry out a mixture of self-guided study and training with a BHS Accredited Professional Coach (APC). The easiest way to do this is to find an APC who is local to you, and contact them about working towards your stages. Coaches will all do this slightly differently but most do it through a mixture of in person and online training to prepare you for sitting your exams. You can read more about the BHS Stage 2 Coaching Qualification here.
The BHS also offer a Career Transition Fund to support you with your training. You can learn more about it here.
After Stage 2, you can progress to Stage 3 where you further your coaching and equestrian knowledge: teaching clients to a higher level and offering a deeper level of understanding. As a Stage 3 coach, you would also be able to support learners through their own BHS Stage journeys at Stage 1 and Stage 2.
At Stage 4 and above, coaches often specialise in either Dressage, Eventing or Show-jumping. Each of these sports have their own individual governing bodies, who offer their own pathways and support packages for coaches looking to specialises. Coaches teaching at this level tend to have experience of competing to a high level in the discipline of their specialism.
2) Certificate in Equestrian Coaching – ABRS and 1st4Sport Qualifications
The Certificate in Equestrian Coaching – offered in partnership with British Equestrian, Association of British Riding Schools, Horse Scotland and accredited through 1st4Sport is a standardized coaching certificate across equestrian disciplines. It was formally known as the UKCC (UK Coaching Certificate).
Learners on the 1st4Sport pathways complete a wrap-around course at each level which covers all of the core elements required to pass the qualification. Teaching is a mixture of classroom based and practical learning, and you will complete a portfolio of lessons throughout the duration of your qualification which is overseen by another qualified coach.
You can find out more directly here on the ABRS website including course dates and how to register.
First Aid and Safeguarding
Coaches all need to hold up to date safeguarding and first aid qualifications. The BHS, as well as the various other governing bodies for equestrian sport underneath the British Equestrian Federation, all offer their own variations of these certificates.
For safeguarding qualifications:
For first aid qualifications:
You can also access individual First Aid courses through companies like St Andrews First Aid, the British Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance Service.
Working as a Coach
Once qualified, you will have the ability to work both as a self-employed professional or on a yard as part of a larger business. Those qualified through the BHS Pathway can become a BHS Accredited Professional Coach which allows them a number of benefits including being on their coaches register, making it easier for clients to find you.
Did you know? According to British Equestrian Federation research there is a shortage of qualified riding instructors in the UK, meaning that 75% of riding schools are operating at 75% capacity.
Working on a yard as a coach provides you with financial stability and access to varied horses and clients. Coaches working at riding schools may also be involved in the day to day care and running of the yard. Your employer may also support you gaining further training or qualifications.
Being self-employed is more flexible and has a number of benefits including being able to work around your own horse or other responsibilities. Self-employed coaches may also supplement their business in other ways, such as offering other equestrian services like riding, backing, producing or even groom services like clipping, plaiting and horse care. If you are self-employed and offering a variety of services, you should
Teaching is a rewarding career which is varied, dynamic and exciting. It is a skill which helps to future-proof your career within the industry: as it allows you many different pathways to earn a living, far beyond just teaching lessons.