BHSAI SSA'C' (side saddle qualified instructor) HND Equine Science BSc Leisure Management Level 3 Award in Education and Teaching Driving licence up to 7.5t

I have been an instructor (BHSAI) for over 30 years, mainly at two yards. I have taught all levels from complete beginner to stage 3 and PTT students and pony club and am also a qualified side saddle instructor and can teach polocrosse too.

I started working with horses aged 18 with event horses in the USA on a short placement, came back to the UK & worked for a NH racehorse trainer for 6 months before attending Writtle College in Essex, getting an HND in Equine Science. I came home to Cheshire and have spent the last 26yrs working in riding schools and gaining my BHSAI, the last one for 16 yrs but I was very sadly made redundant in June '16 as the riding school I was assistant manager of (Mobberley in Cheshire) closed down. I have done some breaking and schooling over the years but to be honest I am mostly used to dealing with quiet, well behaved school horses, not sharp youngsters! I do prefer teaching and will teach any level but am not adverse to yard work either and am happy to muck out and also do the odd jobs such as fence fixing, ragwort pulling etc. I can plait, clip and trim and in my last post was in charge of the shoeing programme and tack fitting and maintenance as well as tractor and 7.5t horsebox driving.

Teaching, I especially enjoy training students for exams and was the PTT trainer at my last establishment as well as other exams and pony club tests, I am also a level 'c' sidesaddle instructor and can teach basic polocrosse, having taken teams to the pony club championships in centre equitation and polocrosse. I can clip and trim adequately, can lunge & long rein and whilst not the most confident rider (about BHS st3 level flatwork, not so great over jumps!) I have done some breaking in too.

Have ridden limited fast work and slow fitness on NH racehorses in the past, can school and improve to about BHS st 3 flatwork, am a nervous jumper but will have a go, probably st 2 level for jumping! understand the requirements and schooling needed for up to Elementary dressage.

Lots of unaffiliated dressage, jumping, xc and showing M&Ms and show hunters and sidesaddle showing with both my own horses and my employer's, all as a competitor and a groom.