Horse riding instructor

in your day-to-day duties you might:

• teach people who want to ride as a leisure activity
•  help prepare for competitions like show jumping, eventing or dressage
•  make sure health and safety rules are followed
•  help horses and riders to warm up and cool down during training
•  develop training programmes suited to individual riders
•  give practical demonstrations
•  help riders correct problems
•  lead groups of riders on treks
•  give feedback and keep records of rider development
•  assess riders who are working towards qualifications

• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• leadership skills
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to work on your own
• customer service skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• specialist courses run by professional bodies

With experience, you could supervise junior staff and train other riding instructors. You could become self-employed and work on a freelance basis for several centres.

You could take higher level qualifications like a Level 4 Certificate in Horse Care and Management or a degree in Equine Business Management to run your own riding school, pony trekking or riding holiday centre.

You could become a head or senior instructor, a competition judge, or move into management.

Once experienced, you could also apply for the IGEQ Equestrian Passport, making it easier for you to find work abroad.