The Lingfield Instructor Group

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Here in the office of Lingfield Correspondence, we do sometimes put out calls for help now and again.  I hope you don't mind me asking again for a bit of help for someone who has recently learned to love horses but is struggling somewhat.

We have a young lady - nearly 16 - on a course with us who has had a bad time previously and has - much to the amazement of her care home, got really stuck into doing our Level 1 course. She used not to get out of bed or go to school or do anything much with her life except get into trouble.

However, she has really worked hard and even though she had hardly put much time in at school, has nearly reached the end of the course. She is also aiming to take the BHS Horse Owner's Certirficates Level 1 exam - so this is a real big thing for her. She will be the first youngster ever to gain a certificate on leaving the care home.

It is a huge achievement for her to have taken this first step of enrolling on a course. I would like to help her along a little more both right now and in the future. She needs more reading matter on horses and things to enthuse her and help her keep her interest in horses alive.   If any one out there has any old horse magazines knocking around at home and would be kind enough to send one to her - please do so - it can go in a recycled envelope but would mean you paying for the stamp but it would be soooooo good for her. If you send just one mag in a matching sized envelope it shouldn't cost more than 61p (a large letter stamp) I think.

She is due to leave care in May (at age 16) and will no longer have the support of the lady who has been helping her with this course (or any support at all for that matter). The lady at the care home has been personally buying her assorted equestrian magazines for the last 3 months so older magazines from a few months ago are just fine.

From May however she might need newer mags but I might not still be in contact with her - I hope to be.

Please help if you can because maybe, just maybe she will keep herself out of trouble and hopefully get a job at a stables and find a goal and purpose in life through her new found love of horses.

That would be her second big step to getting back on track. What do you think - can you help? - with just one mag - or even a book if you have something suitable?

I have no idea if she needs anything else - but maybe some of you might have stuff she could use if she DOES go for a job interview - perhaps second had boots eventually might be useful - I will try to find out if that might be the sort of thing she could use in future.

Please jot a note in a comment on here if you can send a mag - and mail me and I will send you the address - I will have to keep track on what we send because she wont want to be inundated or have duplicates.   mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Working with horses in a hands on capacity is something which does usually require qualifications these days.  Gone are the days when as a less than experienced rider or owner, you could virtually guarantee that the horse owner down the road, was someone who knew more than you and could teach you well. Plenty of people have horses these days - but just owning a horse does not mean they are experienced and knowledgeable.  In the same way that just owning a car doesn't necessarily mean you are a good driver, nor that you can understand the workings of the car or could teach someone else about it.

Most people looking to employ someone to work with their horses need to know what sort of standard to expect of the person they are interviewing.  Having either the BHS Stages or the ABRS Levels exams is therefore a good guide.

Those wishing to find an instructor to train them with a specific problem with their horse - perhaps a quirky behavioural problem, or need someone to improve their riding technique or to help with preparation for competitions etc., also need that guide to standard of knowledge and competence.

Once again therefore, if they are wise, they tend to look for people who have either BHS or ABRS qualifications and who are therefore well trained, insured and continue to update their professional qualifications and training techniques by using continued professional development courses and training days.

All of the professional exams enabling people to work hands on with horses are practical in nature.  The theory on equine care & management is questioned orally during the days of the exams.

Here at Lingfield we cannot provide those professional exams but we can help with that theory. It is this theory knowledge on equine management which we are able to provide.  That is where our distance learning courses are found to be so very useful, especially if people cannot find the time to train full time.

A study run by World Horse Welfare last year revealed what most of us out here in the wide world have known for a very long time.  Livery Yards are often the ideal breeding ground for many a welfare problem. 

The WHW ran a survey for 12 months from April 2008 to April 2009.  The result highlighted issues relating to equine welfare. 

Many different issues were reported by the public such as:
Lack of fresh water in grazing and turnout areas, ragwort was a particular problem but other poisonous plants were also reported. Injuries at yards was I understand quite high on the list, as were dangers in grazing or turnout areas.  Physical abuse and poor foot management were other problems reported to be prevalent.

The point of the survey was to establish whether there were any worrying trends and issues which may compromise any horse’s welfare.  Clearly this survey did just as we all might have expected - i.e. showed that there are indeed many welfare issues at Livery Yards all over the country.

President of BEVA (The British Equine Veterinary Association) Chris House, chaired The Livery Yard Working Party. 

Chris House commented:
“This survey has confirmed the presence of a wide variety of welfare-related problems, not only in the construction of premises, but just as important is the way livery businesses are supervised and run.”

“Problems are surprisingly widespread.  Action needs to be taken to address this to ensure that good yards are recognised and encouraged, and the bad ones improved.”

“The working party is compiling evidence of problems at livery yards in order to confirm the concerns that have been expressed over many years.  A proposal will be released in the coming months to address the welfare issues that have been raised.”

I personally wonder why on earth all this has taken so long to come to the surface.  The fact that the government postponed the second part of the Welfare act (which was to include licensing of Livery Yards) should have meant that consultation should be completed on this issue now. 

From what I have been given to understand, several equine groups stated their concerns over the initial licencing regulations owing to the fact that they considered the bill to be too weak to prevent further problems on the welfare front.  This should, one would have thought, have meant more consultation, however I suspect that as usual the powers that be, took a back seat and did nothing to establish the introduction of new and more concrete regulations. 

I have also been told that although the BHS Livery Yard Approvals scheme has been up and running for some time, the criteria on which the ‘approval’ is based is facilities alone.  This means you still cannot guarantee that the yard will be well run and supervised.  However, I have no doubt if this is incorrect, someone will soon enlighten me.

Comments on any aspect of this particular issue would be more than welcomed right here on this blog - I know you have to register - sorry about that but please do comment.

Earlier this week I met up with well known journalist Peter Biddlecombe. Now maybe I am unusual, but when I meet poeple for the first time I like to know just who it is I am meeting.   I called on another journo friend, Peter Corrigan who writes The Hacker sports column in the Independent on Sunday.

According to my friend Peter Corrigan it seemed that Peter Biddlecombe has a very good track record as a journalist, has written several amusing travel books and is a big crossword fan - understatement that last one to be honest.   He has been The Times Crossword champion on more than one occasion and writes crosswords himself I hear.

Armed with my newfound knowledge I headed to the meeting through a small snowstorm (again) and arrived at the hotel reception just as Peter appeared.  We sat by the fire at the Whitehorse in Exford and chatted over a coffee. His quick wit and sense of humour soon put me at my ease whilst he quietly extracted far more information from me, and about me, than I had perhaps intended.

Peter has an equestrian web site which he was keen to introduce me to. It is a useful site for equestrian news and has one or two good pages - one to bring a bit of fun to your day and make you laugh is the video page I have linked to here My only problem with the site is the noise as you reach each page - it drives me nuts frankly and I have to turn the sound down or leave the site.  I guess if you use the internet at work in between doing your paid work, (and you don't work in the equestrian industry) this noisey site could be a problem.  It would most certainly alert your boss to the fact that you were not actually working.

Peter has other equestrian projects in the pipeline - but I think I will leave all that for another day.

There are plenty of riding teachers out there.  Many call themselves instructors or trainers.  How many are there however, who have absolutely no qualifications at all? - not even at the most basic level.  How many are there who actually do not even ride very well either? It has always astonished me that people take it for granted that because a person can ride and owns a horse or horses, they will be suitable riding instructors or teachers.

The sensible thing is to ask if the instructor has teaching qualifications and ask to see the certificate or sticker on their car. If they ARE qualified there is no need for them to be affronted by this. Alternatively of course you can attend a riding school where you can guarantee that there will be qualified instructors available, BUT it is still wise to check because not all of the instructors at riding schools will be fully trained - they may be trainees.

A great many people however, give it little thought and learn to ride with, or have lessons from, an unqualified freelance instructor.   Many parents allow their children to be taught by unqualified freelance instructors. Even teenagers, who happen to 'live down the road and have their own horses' are often given complete authority to give a child lessons.  I have often wondered if these parents have ever thought about whether the person teaching their child is genuinely and seriously qualified for the job - never mind whether they are insured or not.  If you were sending your offspring/wife/husband on a high risk sports course such as skiing, on a motorbike course or a canoeing course in an area where there was fast running water or strong tides, or indeed if you were going on such a course yourself, would you check the credentials of the person running that course?  Would you want them to be well trained, insured and up to date with the latest methods and techniques as well as being up to speed with the latest safety issues?  Most probably the answer is 'yes'.  Why then, do many just not bother with these factors when the high risk sport is horse riding?

Riding is not just sitting on a horse. Riding properly, so that both rider and horse are comfortable and above all safe, is not a straightforwards procedure.  Neither is it easy to teach someone to have the a good enough position ('seat') so that when they get a bit wobbly, they can maintain their balance without hanging on to the reins for security, or gripping the saddle with their legs to be sure they keep their balance and don't fall off.  Good riding instructors and teachers take years to gain their qualifications, and to maintain those qualifications they must attending regular training courses held by the relevant governing bodies.  The qualified instructor is trained in teaching and coaching methods to a national standard.  They know HOW to teach a person to ride safely - it isn't just a matter of teaching them to sit on top and steer.

Someone once said to me that the so called 'riding teacher' who has no training should be likened to the average car driver teaching someone to drive an HGV properly and safely - without damaging either the vehicle or anyone else, or their property.  The untrained teacher might manage to get some things right, but a good deal would be wrong and could go wrong, and a whole lot more would be very unsafe.

If you use an unqualified riding instructor, not only will your riding experience most probably be unsafe, but have you ever considered what might happen should there be an accident?  Suppose you have a fall?  What about a serious accident ?  Most people are aware that riding is a high risk sport. The trained instructor has possible problems in mind at all times and risks are calculated and sensible.  They are taught how to prevent them and know at what stage riders can undertake more advanced or difficult exercises etc. Riders are not presented with a situation they are unlikely to be able to handle.

Few seem to realise that the unqualified teacher is an uninsured teacher.  To my knowledge, there are just two insurance companies in UK which offer a policy to cover freelance teaching insurance. Neither will insure the unqualified teacher. The uninsured teacher is unlikley to be able to afford to pay out thousands of  pounds in compensation and could well lose their house never mind their horse!  The permanently injured child or adult rider could well struggle to get any compensation in these circumstances.

The qualified instructor should be a member of an organisation which offers official registration and relevant insurance.  Third Party Public Liability insurance is NOT enough even though this is commonly assumed to be sufficient.  It has to be the right and relevant insurance for teaching. Only the BHS or Association of British Riding Schools are likely to provide sufficient qualifications and therefore enable the instructor/teacher/trainer to gain the relevant insurance.

For your childs and your own safety and security, always check that the teacher you use is qualified and therefore insured, he or she will then understands HOW to teach safely and knows what a good 'seat' really is so that you or your child is secure and safe and can enjoy a long and happy hobby.

Guide on How to Get Qualified here

Please feel free to coment.  I know you have to register, but you only have to do it the first time.

I often wonder how many horse loving youngsters are enrolled (and financed by their parents) on 1, 2 or even 3 year college courses only to find as they reach the end of year 1, that it isn't the right course.  Many find at this stage, that to achieve the qualifications they really need - usually a teaching / instructors certificate - they have to take yet another course on top of their existing one and several further exams.  It means more expense for the parents, or sadly they have to drop out.  Training in the equine industry drop out rate is a big issue which needs to be addressed.

I recently received a letter from the mother of a young lady who is currently working in administration in an office.  This was not what she really wanted to do at all.  She had always loved horses and wanted to work with horses, but felt she didn't have the finances or time to do a college course.

Mum, Jo, had been trying for several weeks to find out all about equine training for her daughter Charlotte and had obviously been getting a little frustrated.  Jo found that there is a lot of information out there but no place can you find it explained in detail and all the information all in ONE place. Jo had finally got hold of the guide called  "How to Get Qualified" - find it on bottom right when you reach that link.

Here are extracts from her letter:

"This little book is just great.  I have been struggling to find out about training to work with horses for my daughter.  I had spoken to an instructor friend and to 2 colleges as well as the BHS, but none of them had given me nearly as much information as I found in that little book.  For one thing, we didn't realise that you can easily train part time and don't have to go to college to get equestrian qualifications !  We were amazed at that, we thought the college route was what everyone had to do! "

"It answered so many questions.  Why has it taken so long for someone to produce this.  My daughter now understands all the different exams there are available and what qualification she wants, and more importantly knows how to do it."

I certainly know about the problems people encounter.  We get at least 20-30 emails or telephone calls every month from people asking about professional qualifications.  It IS complicated, I realise that - and I try to help and explain it all.  It is complex mainly because there are so many different types of qualification and training available from different sources such as the BSH and Association of British Riding Schools, then there are work based National Vocational Qualifications and City & Guilds and BTECs, National Diplomas and Certificates from colleges not to mention the Degree courses.

You might think that for those gaining an equine science degree it would be easier to gain employment.  The positions available for those with such qualifications however, are few and far between.

All providers seem happy to discuss what is available from them - none however, offer information on other routes to gaining qualifications.  What is more, the majority of enquiries we get are from people who want to become professional Grooms and Instructors. It is sadly often not understood that few of these qualifications offered from organisations and training providers provide a qualification enabling people to gain the relevant insurance for teaching / instructing - freelance or otherwise.  I think it is about time some of these providers came clean.

found an interesting blog today - will post again about this though

And another

one or two

 

Bailey and Tinkerbell - Have been found - with a little help from Lingf ield Correspondence! The two horses are pretty little miniatures, both youngsters and both are much loved by their disabled owner Daniel.

We probably all receive the odd mail about lost dogs or stolen horses.  I receive quite a few here and always pass them on to those friends or coleagues who I feel are the sort of person to pass them on again.  I often wonder if these animals are ever found. You never seem to hear any more about it.   It is rare that we ever hear of the good news - only the bad.  This time however we had some good news, these emails really DO work.

With our help, the two little horses were found in Kent and have been reunited with Daniel.  They were stolen from Shepperton in Surrey on 29th December.

You might wonder how this came about considering I am based in Somerset!  Well, last week I received an e.mail here at Lingfield from Julie Garbut, the South West Regional Development Officer forthe BHS.  The e.mail was a request to spread the word about two stolen horses along with a poster giving details.

I forwarded the email & poster to several people as usual, one of whom was another Lingfield Instructor Group member in Surrey.  It just happened that the instructor was driving over to a client in Kent the next day and spotted the ponies en route.  She immediately rang the police - who were on the ball - and not long afterwards collected them.  The ponies had been turned out into a field off Hever Road in Kent. Well done to all concerned.

Images to follow

It was just a lucky coincidence that I had sent the mail the day before and that my colleague just happened to drive that way the next morning.  It is thought they would have been moved on within a day or so.

Wouldn't it be great if only all these lost animals found their wayback home.  I wonder if anyone else has a similar story to tell or good news to report?  Drop me a comment if you do - I know you have to register - sorry, but you only have to do it once !

All this snow has made me think of my niece who lives in Canada on Vancouver Island.  Rambling along in my brain, my thoughts linked on from my niece, to extended family, and on to spell of western riding many moons ago when we visited family in Calgary and did a couple of spells of trail riding.

My father who at 64, and as far as I can recall had never ridden a horse before, joined us on the first trip. An organised 'Ride a Horse To Dinner' 2 hour jaunt in the woods for a BBQ (where he swore the moquitoes were the size of helicopters' and my brother in law who found it all too much and too uncomfortable for words, swore never to sit astride a horse again . My brother in law again being apoplectic as he saw the pony his son was riding (son was about 5) stepping close to the edge of the ride to reach what was obviously a very tasty plant growing on the lower edge of the track on the side of this very steep mountain.  Those are the sort of holiday memories you can never forget.

All this made me do a bit of googling and I spotted an interesting video on training the Reining Horse.  The video shows a trainer on the GB Olympic site - there are several, but this particular vid is with Doug Allen

I wonder how many people in UK have you ever ridden Western? Some of our Lingfield students do I know that for sure because we have at least one on our message board.  The second spell of trail riding I did all those years ago in the Rockies in Alberta, was again with some of my extended family, but this was a  bit more adventurous.  We went off on a 3 day trail ride with an old log hauling family from around Upper Hat Creek I think it was.   The family's name was Speight and 3 generations of them joined us on our trip.  They used to haul logs with teams of 8 or more horses before the days of the big trucks.  Not for the feint hearted - missing fingers on the hand of one of the men were proof of the dangers involved if the team got out of control.  The Speight family loaned us horses, cooked us some great food on the campfires and made us all so welcome - but that story is for another day.

If any of you have ridden western syle why not drop in and tell us what you thought of it!   I personally thought it was great.  What did you think?  How do you think it compared to English riding?  I reckon everyone should ride western before sitting astride English fashion.  In my opinion we would all have a much better English seat and a much better feel with the reins too.

Drop in on the blog if you have a moment and tell us your thoughts.  Do leave a comment - just a couple of words will do.  I realise having to register is a pain - but we are trying to persuade them to bin that form and registration process.

Seeing the Doug Allen vid sent me off on a really happy memory and a search for holiday ideas too Rocky Mountain holiday - Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures

 

 

 

EDITED 13th Jan -" yet more of the white stuff.  5 inches last night".

It is snowing big flakes again. 6 days now since we got snowed in. The UK just isn't geared up for this is it?  We have weather like this so infrequently.  It feels like the wind is coming from Siberia - it is freezing.

We are low on stationery.  Cannot get deliveries.  We have to go to the post & to lead someone in tomorrow so let's hope we can find the way.  We managed yesterday quite well, but the farmer's tractor tracks showing us the best route to walk will now be obliterated by drifting snow. We'll have make sure we keep our minds on where we go; Some fields have areas with waist high drifts but it is difficult in this undulating ground to tell where they might be.

Although we haven't had a lot of snow falling over the last 5 days, nothing has thawed.  We haven't had temperatures above zero even on the best of days.  Last night outside our sheltered back door it was -12c.  Today's windchill factor makes it feel a whole lot colder than that.

What has it been like in other parts of the country I wonder?  How are you horse owner's managing?  Are the horses going nuts in their stables?  Tell us what is happening!  Send us some news.  Be brave and leave a comment or two - we would love to communicate with people.