Horse Riding Instructor
Entry Requirements
- GCSEs, including English and Maths
- excellent riding ability
- a teaching qualification from the British Horse Society (BHS) or the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS)
You can also complete other specialist instructor awards through organisations like The Pony Club and the British Driving Society.
To work with people with disabilities, you'll need to follow the Coaching Pathway from the Riding for The Disabled Association.
You could get into this job through an apprenticeship.
You'll need clearance from PVG Scotland
Skills Required
- the ability to communicate well with all age groups
- patience and the skills to motivate and encourage people
- the ability to remain calm under pressure
- business and clerical skills, if self-employed
Typical Day
- teaching people who want to ride as a leisure activity
- helping prepare for competitions like show jumping, eventing or dressage
- making sure health and safety rules are followed
- helping horses and riders to warm up and cool down during training
- developing training programmes suited to individual riders
- giving practical demonstrations
- helping riders correct problems
- giving feedback and keeping records of rider development
- assessing riders who are working towards qualifications
You may also teach assistant instructors, supervise work in a stable, or combine instructing with working as a groom.
Working Hours, Patterns and Environment
Your working hours could be long, and include evenings and weekends.
You'll usually work outdoors, in all weather conditions. Some larger riding schools may also have indoor facilities.
Work may be seasonal.
Your work may involve travelling with riders to competitions, in the UK or overseas.
If you're freelance, you'll need to travel between riding schools.
In some jobs you may have to live in at the riding school.
Career Path
With experience, you could become self-employed and work on a freelance basis for several centres. You could also run your own riding school, become a head or senior instructor, a competition judge, or move into management.
A really rewarding industry
