Riding Holiday Leader
What is the work like?
Riding holiday leaders organise and run group riding activities such as treks and hacks across open countryside.
As a riding holiday leader your work could include:
- assessing riders' abilities and providing them with suitable horses
- making sure that all riders are wearing the correct clothing
- explaining safety procedures and basic riding techniques such as mounting, dismounting and stopping
- organising yard staff and employing assistants and other junior staff
- training assistant ride leaders.
You may also have some supervisory responsibilities and might have to take temporary charge of the centre in the owner’s absence. This could include taking telephone bookings and dealing with accidents, queries and complaints.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You would need good riding skills and experience of horse care and management.
You can get into work with horses in one of the following ways:
- on-the-job training
- attending a college course
- attending a riding school as a fee paying student
- studying by distance learning whilst in a relevant job (for example as a stable hand).
Volunteering and seasonal work can be a good way to get started.
You could have an advantage if you have qualifications from the British Horse Society (BHS), the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) or the Pony Club, although these are not always essential.
Visit the BHS, ARBS and Pony Club websites for details of their qualifications. You can also find relevant information on the Horse Groom and Horse Riding Instructor profiles.
You could start as an assistant ride leader, escorting up to six riders on short rides, treks or hacks, and helping ride leaders on rides or treks which are longer or have more riders.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk (link opens in new window).
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are in a relevant job you can complete a variety of qualifications, including:
- British Equestrian Tourism (BET) Assistant Ride Leader and Ride Leader
- Riding for the Disabled Association qualifications
- NVQ levels 1 and 2 in Horse Care
- NVQ Level 3 in Horse Care and Management
- foundation degrees and degrees in subjects such as Equine Tourism and Equine Management.
See the British Horse Society website for details of BET qualifications, and the Riding for the Disabled Association website for details of their qualifications.
For information about foundation degrees see Foundation Degree Forward (link opens in new window). To search for colleges and universities offering HNDs, foundation degrees and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (link opens in new window). Please check with individual colleges and universities for entry requirements.
Where can I go for more information?
Queens Chambers38-40 Queen Street
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 4BH
Tel: 01736 369440
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 2XZ
Tel: 0844 848 1666
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 0870 060 2550
http://www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
1a Tournament Court
Edgehill Drive
Warwick
CV34 6LG
Tel: 0845 658 1082
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Salaries may be between £11,000 and £17,000 depending on qualifications and experience.
Earnings depend on the size of the centre and whether additional benefits such as accommodation, stabling for your own horse and use of centre facilities are included.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would often work long hours, which would include evenings and weekends.
In some jobs you may need to live at the centre.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good riding skills
- the ability to lead a group in a firm but friendly manner and reassure nervous riders
- basic knowledge of horse health and stable management
- knowledge of health and safety requirements
- map reading skills, familiarity with local countryside and the Highway Code
- clerical skills, including bookkeeping.
What opportunities are there?
You could be employed at riding and trekking centres all over the UK. Centres are particularly common in coastal areas, rural areas of Wales and Scotland, and in the Lake District, Exmoor and Dartmoor.
With experience, you could qualify for management positions by completing the BET Riding Holiday Centre Manager qualification. See the Riding Holiday Centre Manager profile for more information.
With BET qualifications you could find work overseas, as the qualifications are recognised internationally.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
British Horse Society (jobs page)
Horse and Hound
Leisure Jobs
Leisure Opportunities
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