I'm just wondering if anyone who is a trainer has taken this course? Do you think it is worth it?
I'm thinking about it but $600.00 is alot for taking a simple written test.
Even if you didn't take it, read the website and tell me what you think, thanks so much
www.riding-instructor.com
Answers:
Yes, I know many people who have taken them, as well as just as many instructors who have not taken them. You are getting certified which is not something that is required in the US, but will usually reduce your insurance rates for your farm. For being a trainer, there is no point in taking the ARIA or any other exams, but for being an instructor there is if it is the right decision for you. There are many other associations out there that test people for instructor qualities, including the other big one the CHA. This is one of the hottest topics that we talk about in my clinics for furthering the education of riding instructors.
An riding instructor has a choice to make in their career, the first is whether or not he or she should seek certification or not. In every community, there is someone teaching lessons down the road on their horse in their backyard. Unfortunately in the US, it is possible where anyone with a horse and a saddle can call themselves a riding instructor without any qualifications. Not all of these people know what they are teaching. They have some knowledge, after all they have a horse, but probably the entire reason why they are teaching is that a neighbor鈥檚 child saw their horse and wanted to learn how to ride. The disturbing aspect of this is that the student or their parents do not know the difference in taking lessons from a lesson facility versus someone in their backyard, nor do they understand the risk involved with riding.
Many certification programs may be found for all types of instructors. Each of them require completely different requirements of their instructors. So, how does one know which one is right for their situation? OR are any of them right for their situation?
Gaining certification is simply a decision that one has to make as a professional. I am certified from the Tennessee Board of Education, as well as several other certification bodies for different aspects of my horse business. This is all of the certification that I am doing at this time. I am presently in the process of my British Horse Society certifications to work on my life long goal of being a Fellow with the BHS. That is something that very few people achieve in their lifetime. I simply do not have the time or ability to leave the farm in order to earn any other certifications. Many of you may have the same issues.
Certification programs are usually 40 hours long over a 4 to 5 day period with a written exam. Usually they require current CPR and first aid training. You will experience written and oral testing, sometimes video taped lesson review, and even an evaluation of your riding. Some require 60 hours of continuing education every 3 years to retain membership.
Depending on what group you go with, you may discuss in your certification period legal liabilities, horsemanship skills, safety and emergency procedures, stable management, teaching techniques, professionalism and herd management. You may also be able to choose which areas you decide to test in.
Most offer education materials at a cost, quarterly newsletters, attorney referrals, directory listing and website listing, magazine, affordable liability and farm insurances, annual seminars, continuing education workshops, and an annual conference/meeting. These are membership advantages.
Being a certified instructor has its advantages. You may get more business since you are certified. You may be able to get discounts on insurance because of your certification. You may be able to network with more riding instructors because of your membership in the association. You may be able to get higher prices for your lessons in direct result with your certification.
It also has its disadvantages. It costs money to be certified, anywhere from $200 to $400 or even over $1000 depending on which association you go with and how many areas and levels you want to teach on. This makes it hard on beginning instructors and by the time that they have the money to get certified their teaching schedule will not allow it since most of the certification locations you will have to travel to. The other problem is if you go to get certified, spend the money, and something happens and you do not get certified, you have lost the money and the time. Also, you may find once you receive the information from the association for the level and discipline that you want to be certified at, that some of the information you simply do not agree with. There are also plenty of instructors that are certified that I would never consider taking a lesson with. They have the certification but that is all that they have. They have no teaching experience or training, and cannot teach transfer their knowledge to their students.
The biggest problem with most of the certifying bodies is that they do not teach you how to teach. They test you on what you know. If you are wanting to get certified, but you want to have the teaching experience as well, look for a US Department of Labor certified apprenticeship program for riding instructors which will not only allow you to learn how to teach but will give you a journeyman's certificate which is the oldest and most trusted form of certification. There are also programs just for horse trainers too like this if you want to be a trainer and not an instructor. Very few trainers make excellent instructors, and very few instructors make excellent trainers. It is the difference in between you being able to teach horses or people easier. Teaching lessons however is the most efficient way for our horse business to make money under most circumstances.
So compare your pros and cons before you make the decision. It may or may not be for you.
Here are the other certifying bodies as of right now:
1.American Association for Horsemanship Safety, Inc. (AAHS)
a. 512-488-2220
b. www.horsemanshipsafety.com
2. American Riding Instructor Certification Program (ARICP)
a. 941-948-3232
b. www.riding-instructor.com
3. Association of Professional Trainers and Instructors (APTI)
a. 831-659-5696
b. www.california-dressage.org
4. British Horse Society (BHS)
a. 845-758-1964
b. www.bhs.org.uk
5. Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA)
a. 800-399-0138
b. www.cha-ahse.org
6. Horsemanship Safety Association (HSA)
a. 800-798-8106
b. www.horsesafety.org
7. United States Eventing Association (USEA)
a. 703-779-0440
b. www.eventingusa.com
8. United States Dressage Federation (USDF)
a. 860-487-1686
b. www.usdf.org
9. North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA)
a. 800-369-RIDE
b. www.narha.com
10. Society of Equestrian Educators
a. In formation stages, apprentice programs and certification, as well as membership
b. Effectiveed@aol.com
c. www.effectiveeducation.info or www.acehigh.info(click on left button for Effective Education and Equestrian Educator Program)
I hope this all helps, Good luck in your search!
It's just another "certification" course that is an attempt to get your money. Take for Instance a Realtor...you have to take the state board test, but if you want to be able to actually be called a "Realtor" instead of a "Real Estate Agent", you have to pay $400 in yearly dues as well as a one time $250 (in most areas) just to watch a video and take an ethics test. So, if you are thinking of becoming a trainer, my suggestion to you is to "skip" the tests and spend your time appreticing under some really good trainers in the areas that you want to focus. I, for instance, spent several years apprenticing under some of the most recognized Arabian Horse trainers before I decided to go out on my own, that is all the "certification" that I need. Save your money.
I looked into ARIA but ended up going with the CHA, Certified Horseman's Association. It was a total waste of time and $700 for a week long course with the worst riders I've ever seen. They certify these people for teaching, but yet the CHA feels that helmets shouldn't be a requirement, because since people don't like to wear them, it might take away from businessin your stable!! WTF?! I cannot believe I wasted a week of my life watching people who could barely stay on a horse get certified to be riding instructors. I wish I could have gotten my money back. At the end of the week, we got a 1 on 1 with both of our testing administrators, and I told them what a bogus waste of time it was, and how they could call themselves horsemen when they certify people who cannot ride and wouldn't be able to teach worth a lick. It was also mainly geared for camp-like situations, and the camp I went to to take the testing at had some of the worst, decrepit, malnourished, and over grown feet horses I've ever seen - I reported it.
ARIA doesn't even require you to go to a testing - you can send them a video of you riding and teaching in order to pass that test--- seems like an even bigger pile of baloney --- how could someone possibly certify you as a competent instructor and rider based on videos and a written test??
I think both those places are a total waste - you would be better off going out and looking for teaching jobs and catch riding and showing to prove yourself and get hired that way, as those certifications don't mean diddly, and people in the horse world know it.
Like AmandaL said, the certifications are meaningless. The most notoriously bad trainer in my area is also the only "certified" trainer in my area. Her lessons are a total death trap. The one time I visited the farm I was dropping the kid I baby sit off for day camp. Out of curiosity to see if she lived up to her bad reputation I decided to stay and watch for a little while, I saw small inexperianced children, jumping, with no helmets, by day 3 of 'horse camp', big suprise I also saw about 4 kids get dumped in the short time I was there. The kid I baby sat for bragged that she had only fallen of twice in the week so far...
This trainer gets a ton of clients by advertising as "the only certified equestrian coach" in the city. Non-horse people see that as meaning way more then it really does, and trust her whole heartedly because she is 'certified'. So, being certified can help you with advertising to people that are new to the horse world, but most experianced people know that the certification tests are BS. I would honestly say save your money, apprenticeing under a well respected trainer is a lot cheaper, and gives you more credibility.
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