Horse Riding Instructor Training

Interest in equine activities has increased in recent years, not just among youth but also among adults. Some adults who once may have had horses when they were younger or perhaps were horse show parents to their youngsters now have time to ride themselves. This renewed interest has led not only to a demand for well-trained horses but also for good riding instructors.

  1. Characteristics of a Good Riding Instructor

    • Instructor certification associations offer programs for both English and Western disciplines.

      While lots of people with horses offer riding lessons, not all provide the necessary quality of instruction. A good riding instructor should, of course, be a good rider and love horses. He should take good care of his horses and be willing to get involved in all phases of horse work from riding to scooping manure. A good instructor should also be patient with both horses and people. He also needs to be a good listener; each student will have goals ranging from being able to safely go on a short pleasure ride with friends to competing at one of the world championship breed shows. A good instructor must also have good character; he needs to help his student set goals and give honest evaluations as the student works toward those goals, and if he knows the rider's goals are not in his area of expertise, he needs to be able to direct the rider to someone who can help him obtain them.

    Certification and Degrees

    • Instructors can also gain certification for trail riding.

      Those who possess the characteristics of a good instructor should consider obtaining either certification or a degree in riding instruction. Not only are there several colleges that offer degrees in equine science with concentrations in teaching, there are also two main organizations that offer riding instructor certification programs. These two organizations are the Certified Horsmanship Association (CHA) and the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA).

    The Certified Horsemanship Association

    • Driving instructors can also earn certification.

      The CHA offers several levels of certification from assistant instructor to master instructor. The CHA also offers certification for clinicians and trail guides. Prospective instructors can also earn certification for working with riders with disabilities, in equine facilities management, in recreational vaulting or in driving instruction. According to the CHA, the organization evaluates instructors in all areas on safety, horsemanship knowledge and ability, teaching technique, group control and responsibility and professionalism.

    The American Riding Instructors Association

    • Saddle seat instructors can also earn certification.

      The ARIA offers three levels of certification in each of 12 specialties: distance riding, dressage, driving, eventing, hunt seat, recreational riding, reining saddle seat, show jumping, western pleasure and equitation, stable management, and mounted patrol officer training. Clinics across the nation provide both instruction and the tests for certification. Certification tests include written essays, interviews and videos demonstrating a variety of skills

    Schools

    • Mounted patrol officers can also receive certification.

      Several colleges across the country also offer programs for riding instructors. Many of these like Meredith Manor in Waverly, West Virginia, offer complete degree programs in equine science and farrier science. Many agricultural universities and colleges also offer similar degree programs. There are also a few programs for instructors that are totally online. The Equine Studies Institute offers one such program.