A riding Horse instructor is a person whose job it is to teach methods of horse riding (and also horse care) to beginners and improve the intermediate and advanced rider’s style and technique.
What are the benefits of becoming a Horse-riding Instructor?
There are many benefits to becoming a certified horse-riding instructor. Being a certified riding instructor and having gone through all the extensive safety training exams, you are capable of teaching proper riding safety protocols to horse riders.
As a certified riding instructor with the knowledge and practical skills you obtained through your certification, you get to support and develop other horse riders in reaching their horse riding goals.
Where will a horse-riding instructor find employment?
As a certified horse-riding instructor, you would be able to find employment at a riding school, private stables, agricultural or Equine college. Trail riding centers, holiday horse-riding centers, and Pony clubs might also offer employment opportunities.
You could become a senior head instructor or competition judge at a riding school or even work abroad. Your certification is recognized and accepted internationally by member countries.
What subjects did you study at school?
I did PE at A-level. It taught me about fitness, so I understand things such as how to get a horse fit, how quickly horses recover and the importance of using ice to help horses’ legs to recover after exercise.
What makes a great horse-riding instructor?
A great riding instructor strives to gain their students’ trust and understand that building this trust should be earned and will take some time. A good instructor allows their students to perform their very best and learn with ease while being comfortable and confident.
A good riding instructor never asks their students to do something beyond their riding capabilities. An instructor should be empathic, patient, and non-judgmental.
Even experienced riders have their off days where they don’t feel invincible; a good instructor will understand this.
A student should be able to admit to the instructor when they are not feeling confident, worried, or comfortable without the fear of being criticized. Students should feel comfortable enough in the riding instructor’s presence to make mistakes without feeling embarrassed.
How to Become A Horse Riding Instructor In South Africa
skill sets should a horse-riding instructor have
A horse-riding instructor needs good knowledge and understanding of horses. An instructor should enjoy teaching.
A skilled riding instructor should show professionalism and leadership through their instruction skills and be exceptional in communication, demonstration, explanation, feedback, questioning correction, and time management.
To be a good riding instructor, you need to be disciplined, friendly, patient and have good motivational skills. An instructor also needs to be firm but respectful and be able to remain calm in stressful situations.
A riding instructor should be able to provide tactical and technical instruction using varied approaches to meet the students’ needs to reach their desired goals.
A riding instructor should always be able to give constructive feedback, both criticism, and praise, in a consistent, clear, and respectful manner.
The instructor should be able to always provide the highest possible professional customer service and support special requirements.
A professional riding instructor will be able to adapt teaching techniques to target specific levels and groups of horse riders.
Qualifications needed to be a horse riding instructor in South Africa
Typical entry requirement:
You can get into this job through an apprenticeship or specialist courses run by professional bodies. You may be able to start through an intermediate equine groom or senior equine groom advanced apprenticeship.
Once you complete your apprenticeship, you could apply for jobs as a riding instructor’s assistant and take further coaching qualifications on the job.
You’ll usually need some GCSEs (or equivalent), usually including English and Maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship, or five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), usually including English and Maths, for an advanced apprenticeship.
Below are the tasks of a horse-riding instructor in South Africa
A riding instructor plans organizes and conducts riding practice sessions and sports instruction riding sessions for individual riders or groups.
A riding instructor develops training programs for individual horse riders or groups of horse riders.
A certified horse-riding instructor teaches horse-riding safety to horse riders.
An instructor teaches horse-riding students and horses to a competitive standard.
An instructor teaches stable management, horse care, riding safety, and horse health to students.
A riding instructor gives practical demonstrations on horse riding activities.
The instructor should observe horse riders’ skills and riding abilities in order to correct problems.
Highlight a rider’s achievements and mistakes and set up assessment methods to evaluate the rider’s work.
Do you have to be qualified to teach horse riding In South Africa?
Legally you don’t need any formal qualifications to teach riding but I have done quite a few, including my Pony Club teaching qualification and the SA Credited Coaches Level 2 qualification.
How much do horse instructors get paid In South Africa?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as R 627193.57and as low as R 294705.41, the majority of Horseback Riding Instructor salaries currently range between $25,000 (25th percentile) to R 574297.73(75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making R 604523.92 annually across the South Africa
Is it hard to become a horse trainer In South Africa?
“Training is a lot harder than people think. It’s not all blue ribbons and glamorous horse shows; it’s hard, dirty, tiring, long days, and apprenticing shows you the reality of being a horse trainer.”
What skills do you need to be a horse trainer In South Africa?
Horse trainers are required to have expert riding skills and a thorough knowledge of horse management. Patience and a love of animals can also be extremely beneficial.
How much does a riding instructor make a month In South Africa?
Riding Instructor Salary
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | R 770768.00 | R 64230.67 |
| 75th Percentile | R 612080.47 | R 51006.71 |
| Average | R 539038.87 | R 44916.13 |
| 25th Percentile | R 392940.55 |
Can you teach horse riding without insurance In South Africa?
you can teach, but it;s highly unadvisable to do it without insurance and the premiums for someone unqualified will be sky high.
Is horse training a good career?
For people who enjoy working with animals, a career as a horse trainer can be rewarding. Horse trainers can spend a significant amount of time working outdoors, and no two days are exactly the same. They can also build lasting relationships with the horses they train, as well as with their owners.
How much does it cost to hire a horse trainer In South Africa?
On average, lessons (an instruction session when you are present and riding the horse) and training (a session between the trainer and the horse) cost between R 453.39 and R 1511.31 per half hour.
How long do you have to go to college to be a horse trainer In South Africa?
For a college degree, that means you will have to attend a school. This could be a four year or two year equine science program or equine management program at an accredited college. Another option is to find a 4 year college with an intercollegiate team.
How can I work with horses with no experience In South Africa?
One of the best ways to get hands-on experience is to volunteer with a non-profit horse organization. The most common types are horse rescues and equine therapy centers; both can usually use all the help they can get.