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Riding holiday leader

  • Hours

    Variable

  • Starting salary

    £12,000 + per year



The work

Riding holiday leaders organise and run group riding activities such as treks and hacks across open countryside.

As a leader, your tasks would typically 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
  • employing assistants and other junior staff
  • training assistant ride leaders.

You could also have some supervisory responsibilities, and may have to take temporary charge of the centre in the manager's absence.


Hours

You would often work long hours, including evenings and weekends

You may need to live at the centre in some jobs.


Income

Salaries can be between £12,000 and around £17,000 a year, depending on qualifications and experience.

Earnings depend on the size of the centre and whether extra benefits such as accommodation, stabling for your own horse and use of centre facilities are included.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

To become a riding holiday leader, 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 with 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 the Apprenticeships website.


Training and development

Once you are in a relevant job, you can complete a variety of qualifications to help your career development, including:

  • Equestrian Tourism 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 BHS website for details of BET qualifications, and the Riding for the Disabled Association website for details of their qualifications.

From January 2011 the NVQs will be replaced by Level 2 Certificate/Extended Certificate/Diploma in Horse Care and Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Horse Management.

To search for HNDs, foundation degrees and degrees see UCAS website. Check with individual colleges and universities for entry requirements.

With experience, you could qualify for management positions by completing the Equine Tourism Riding Holiday Centre Manager qualification. See the Riding Holiday Centre Manager profile for more information.


Skills and knowledge

  • good riding skills
  • the ability to lead a group in a firm but friendly manner
  • a reassuring manner with nervous riders
  • knowledge of horse health and stable management
  • knowledge of health and safety requirements
  • map reading skills and familiarity with the local countryside
  • knowledge of the Highway Code
  • administration skills, including bookkeeping.

More information

People 1st (Opens new window)
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
www.people1st.co.uk

Pony Club (Opens new window)
www.pcuk.org

Riding for the Disabled Association (Opens new window)
Norfolk House
1a Tournament Court
Edgehill Drive
Warwick
CV34 6LG
Tel: 0845 658 1082
www.rda.org.uk

Lantra (Opens new window)
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
www.lantra.co.uk

Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) (Opens new window)
Queens Chambers
38-40 Queen Street
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 4BH
Tel: 01736 369440
www.abrs-info.org

British Horse Society (BHS) (Opens new window)
Stoneleigh Deer Park
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 2XZ
Tel: 0844 848 1666
www.bhs.org.uk


Opportunities

Riding and trekking centres are particularly common in coastal areas, the Lake District, Exmoor and Dartmoor, and rural areas of Wales and Scotland, although you could find work all over the UK.

With Equine Tourism 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):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The equine industry is part of the environmental and land‐based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural crops; agricultural livestock; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land‐based engineering; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber; and veterinary nursing. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self‐employed.

Equine industry includes the welfare, husbandry, supervision and riding of horses, which means there are opportunities ranging from livery operations to thoroughbred racehorse training. Employers in the industry include: riding schools; livery yards; racing yards; breeders; trainers; and those involved in various other equine‐related activities, such as coaches and rehabilitation. Equine encompasses:

  • Riding schools and livery yards
  • Competition and racing yards
  • Studs
  • Instructors
  • Working horses
  • Clubs and hunts
  • Diversified equine activities
  • Equine paraprofessionals, such as Equine Dental Technicians, Barefoot Trimmers (i.e. people who trim horses’ hooves that do not have shoes)

Key facts:

  • There are 20,700 people working in the industry, in around 3,450 businesses.
  • There are approximately 100 barefoot trimmers and 200 equine dental technicians in the UK.
  • 80% of businesses employ 5 or less staff, 18% employ between 6‐25 staff, and only 2% employing between 26‐100 staff.
  • Volunteers are a significant part of the workforce within the industry.

Jobs in the industry include: apprentice jockey, performance groom, PTT instructor, BHSAI Assistant Instructor, stable person, stallion handler, Coach Level 1 Stud Yard Supervisor, Coach Level 2 Stud‐hand, Coach Level 3 Supervised/Assistant Groom, foaling specialist, trek leader, yard manager, horse transporter, yearling manager, jockey.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are an estimated 1,900 employees in the regional workforce, in around 300 businesses.

East of England – There are an estimated 3,250 employees in the regional workforce, in around 450 businesses.

London – There are an estimated 1,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 250 businesses.

North East – There are an estimated 500 employees in the regional workforce, in around 100 businesses.

North West – There are an estimated 1,850 employees in the regional workforce, in around 250 businesses.

South East – There are an estimated 3,550 employees in the regional workforce, in around 600 businesses.

South West – There are an estimated 2,700 employees in the regional workforce, in around 400 businesses.

West Midlands – There are an estimated 2,450 employees in the regional workforce, in around 300 businesses.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 1,550 employees in the regional workforce, in around 300 businesses.

Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 350 employees in the regional workforce, in around 50 businesses.

Scotland – There are an estimated 1,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 250 businesses.

Wales – There are an estimated 550 employees in the regional workforce, in around 150 businesses.

[N.B. Data derived from Experian National Surveys Database, 2008.]


Career paths


Further sources


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