Winter is on its way out and a new spring and summer season is around the corner. Just wondering if any Riding Centres are interested in the new BHS Ride Out Ride Leader Qualifications. They are basically the old Equestrian Tourism qualifications with a new and more practical face.
I do feel they are important qualifications for anyone responsible for providing or taking rides out, whether it is for an hour round the park or a day over the hills, moors, beaches. It is always good publicity for a centre to say they have confident, qualified staff. It is also a serious benefit for a Centre when a problem is reported to show it is using well trained, qualified staff. It may also have a financial benefit as Insurers generally take these things into consideration as does the public when booking.
All Candidates for Ride Leader 2 need to be a BHS member and hold Stage 1 and Ride Safe and First Aid at Work or equivalent. Alternatively if they already hold Stage 2 the Ride Leader 2 can just be added as a “bolt on”
The qualification itself is now just a half day assessment. If Candidates do not hold Stage 2 Care that can be taken on the other half of the day or on a separate date or venue both are needed for the full qualification e.g. Ride Leader 2 + Stage 2 Care = the complete qualification. The Candidate does not have to work for a BHS approved Centre the qualifications are open to anyone who is responsible for escorting groups of people out on rides. (Good for Riding Clubs, Livery Yards, etc.)
It is also nice for Volunteers to have a qualification to aim for and they can enter the qualifications through the new Challenge Awards (Riding Out Gold).
As a trainer and someone who has escorted rides over many years (as evident from the above photo) I know the benefit of having staff (and volunteer helpers) who know what to do when and how to avoid an emergency rather than have to deal with one. I am happy to come to Centres or a designated Centre for an area to do some training, or pre assessment refresher course. I am also happy to the same for promoting understanding of the qualifications
I have spoken about this now as a new season is looming which will lead to new staff for training and also because Assessment dates are now being put forward for booking
Dee Handley BET CM BHS APC 