Know when you get told something and it’s a given that it’s for your own good, but you’re not keen on hearing it anyway? Had one of those moments not too long ago.

So I’ve finished the breeding season with Thoroughbreds and with its end, have moved from work back to the parents place for the next five months or so with the view to get work in a riding school and achieve my Level 1 in instructing.

It was a given the horse work wasn’t going to be a problem – I’ve worked with and studied them for the past four years…. and on the ground am happy, confident and capable. In the saddle, I’m happy on my own horse and any other that behaves… Anyone spot the problem I may have with becoming an instructor? Then again, they say if you can’t do it, teach it.

So my riding I thought may be the area I most needed to work on and it was pointed out in an interview not too long ago that this is definitely the case and perhaps at this point in time I’m biting off more than I can chew.

I’ve landed one part time job at a riding school where I will be doing my Level 1 and teaching youngsters the basics. I’ve also just had an interview at another school where I’d be expected to prepare horses for lessons, care for tack, pick up yards, feed, rug, etc. Will be good to be at two successful riding schools and doing varied jobs. However, the other part of the job was to be exercising ‘willful’ ponies. I was honestly informed that in the said person’s opinion, I wouldn’t be capable of doing so and would struggle to pass the riding component of my Level 1.

Insert massive kick in the guts. Still a bit disappointed about this realisation but it has been suggested to me that I am capable of carrying out the rest of the job, so perhaps I could do this, accept slightly lower pay than anticipated but in return have a couple of riding lessons a week to get myself up to scratch for my Level 1.

Sometimes, it’s not nice to hear that you’re moving faster than you should (and yet slower than you want toward your goal!) but it is worth it if you’re made aware and are going to be helped to achieve your goals… even if it’s at a slower rate than anticipated.

“All I need to know in life, I learnt from my horse: Leather and chains can make anyone look studly.”

tag: australia, coaching, instructing, job

I’m a restless kind of person – unless I’m working constantly and learning new things, I get really anxious about the use I’m making of my time. The breeding season is coming to an end and yearlings are next on the list for the Thoroughbred Industry.

Of breeding, yearlings and weanlings, the mares and foals are definitely my favourite and with the most variety, I believe. I love this time of season as it covers so much on the care of the horse – medications, feeding, foaling down, getting mares in foal, bandaging, breeding.

But, upon the arrival of the other six months of the year, I find myself with heaps of extra time, a pretty set routine and not a lot looking like it’ll help me with my goal to become a horseriding instructor and teaching other kids about horses.

So – I’m going for a change of scenery – yes, again! Currently, I’m looking to move back home for awhile and have started the search to work in a horseriding school, gain experience in relation to riding and teaching and hopefully get practical tasks from my instructors course marked off. Now that that’s the plan, I’m getting impatient again! Also got the added fun of finding agistment for my gorgeous festively plump gelding.

Anyone that knows of agistment around the Cheltenham area or of any riding schools that are looking for an extra hand, I’d love to hear from you!

“All I need to know in life, I learnt from my horse: Ignore cues, they’re just another prompt to do more work.”

tag: instructing

Plan – wipe out as many ignorant horse owners as possible through owning my own agistment property, running a riding school and having facilities and contacts available for all areas of horse work.
Weakness – impatience!

I’m currently working on a stud to improve my hands on, still be working with horses and have the chance to earn/save money. This isn’t enough though! I want to instruct eventually and thankfully boss is kind enough to agist my horse so I can ride often, but I need the piece of paper that says I am qualified to instruct. After a small amount of research, one has discovered there are a few different possibilities in relation to teaching:

NCAS – Level 1 instructing is through Pony Club Australia and on the Pony Club Victoria website, it is stated to be for people over 18 years of age, designed to enable them to instruct at Pony Club C Certificate level and above; Candidates are expected to attend an NCAS Pony Club Level 1 Course (32 hours total) with 100% attendance.

EFA – Equestrian Federation of Australia – The EFA covers many disciplines – dressage, eventing, showjumping, show horse, reining, paraequestrian, vaulting, endurance and more. They offer coaching courses under an EFA/NCAS registered intructor. Need to be a member of the EFA to be able to become qualified. FEI is the International Federation for Equestrian sport.

RDA – it is also possible to be qualified to coach as part of Riding for the Disabled. The RDA Victoria, Australia website has some information although I’m sure any RDA branch would welcome those interested in coaching.

http://www.horseridingcoach.com/instructors.aspx – I stumbled across this site from the Pony Club Victoria website while looking into instructing qualifications. The courses offered here are appealing as you pay as you go at your own pace. There is a good response time in relation to doing your theory, handing it in and getting results back corrected. My only issue is finding an accredited person to mark off practical skills for me. Also some ‘events’ need to be carried out in a riding school. So, working in a riding school may be the easiest way to go about being qualified, but while working on a stud, the idea of being able to work toward being a qualified instructor also, is very appealing.

Before heading off to Ireland, I was doing about one module a month which costs between $100-200 each month – $50 a week investment and after 13 months (13 modules) you can be qualified to instruct at basic level… not bad!

“Definition: Equitation – The ability to keep a smile on your face and proper posture while your horse tries to crowhop, shy and buck his way around a show ring.”

tag: instructing