How to Become a Certified Riding Instructor
Becoming certified can help improve a riding instructor's image by assuring potential clients that the instructor knows what she is doing. Certification can provide an instructor with feedback on her teaching methods, as well as additional training. Also, if your state ever develops laws regarding training and certification of riding instructors (and some states already require instructor certification), you will already be in compliance. You may gain more business as your business is listed on the organization's website, and some organizations offer benefits such as decreased insurance costs.
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Instructions
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Teach as many lessons as you can outside of your own barn. If your riding is going to be tested as well, find opportunities to ride as many horses as possible.
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Decide which organization you wish to be certified by. If the organization you compete with doesn't offer certification, contact the American Riding Instructors Association. This association offers certification in multiple disciplines.
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Fill out the appropriate applications for the organization you are interested in becoming certified with. You may also have fees to pay.
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Read the manuals provided, or the books on the recommended reading list. The reading materials will provide answers for written tests, and help you prepare for any physical riding and teaching tests by giving you other methods to try.
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Attend workshops and pre-certifications (if offered). For some certification programs, workshop participation is required. The workshops help you learn the testing procedures, and can give you tips on how you test. Also, the workshops can introduce you to situations you've never had to deal with before.
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Attend your testing. The testing procedures should have been covered in your workshops and any reading materials provided by the certifying organization.
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Tips & Warnings
Popular riding instructor certifying organizations are the American Riding Instructor Association, United States Dressage Federation and the United States Eventing Association. Other possible associations include the United States Hunter Jumper Association and the Certified Horsemanship Association.
If you need to find lessons to teach and horses to ride, arrange clinics at unfamiliar barns, or offer to teach or ride horses for free.
