REQUIREMENTS

While there is no minimum age limit, it is unlikely that candidates under the age of 25 will have the necessary skill and experience to fulfil the requirements of the syllabus.

A c.v./resume of the candidate’s experience in riding and teaching which should include any competition and/or examination successes.

A current First Aid Certificate or Health and Safety at Work First Aid Certificate.  Photocopies of certificates must accompany the application form.

CONTENT OF THE EXAMINATION

After sufficient riding in, with the horse working correctly, ride and assess the following movements:

Shoulder in, travers, renvers, half pass, counter canter, single flying changes, rein back, and walk pirouettes, the candidate showing skilled and sympathetic use of the double bridle.

(Mature or physically impaired riders who are able to show a record and/or evidence of sufficient riding experience at the required level may apply to be exempt from the riding section.)

Teach a semi-private or private lesson and improve/enhance the classical position and effectiveness of the rider(s) in all gaits and gait variants.  The lesson must include lateral work and the candidate should show how this, ridden correctly, leads to collection and straightness in the horse.

Take a longe lesson and achieve improvement in both the horse and rider.

Teach an advanced jumping lesson.

Give a 30 minute lecture/demonstration, which should be prepared beforehand, on any subject of the candidate’s choice.  Hand-outs, equipment, training aids etc. may be brought to enhance the lecture/demonstration.

Discussion Theory – Candidates will be questioned on the general principles of teaching, training methods, approach to training problems, training aids/gadgets and re-training of problem horses.

GENERAL

Candidates are expected to arrive 20 minutes before the commencement of the examination and will be required to make their own arrangements for accommodation and food.  They must bring to the examination riding clothes and any individual equipment they feel is necessary for the lecture/demonstration.  The candidate’s appearance will be taken into account.

As great emphasis is placed upon the candidate’s ability to assess and teach unknown horses and riders at advanced level, they may NOT be examined at the Centre where they have trained, unless they have been absent from that Centre for at least 12 months.  The candidate may, however, attend the Examination Centre for a maximum of four days prior to the examination.

A list of examination dates and centres may be obtained from the Examinations Secretary at the ABRS Office.

For the riding section candidates may bring their own horse or a horse they have trained and ridden regularly but, in addition, they will have to ride a horse from the Centre. If overnight stabling is required, this must be arranged with the Examination Centre beforehand and the ABRS Examinations Secretary notified of the arrangement.

Results will not be available on the day of the examination but will be forwarded to the candidate as soon as possible thereafter.  The examiners’ decision will be final.

RECOMMENDED READING

Basic Training of the Young Horse Dr Reiner Klimke

The Complete Training of Horse and Rider Alois Podhajsky

Dressage Henry Wynmalen

Classical Principles of the Art of Training Horses Nuno Oliveira

CANCELLATION

The fee, less an administration charge, is returnable up to 4 weeks before the examination date. In the event of the examination being cancelled/postponed, the fee may be held over to the next scheduled examination, unless instructed otherwise by the candidate.

The Association reserves the right to postpone/cancel examinations, giving at least 10 days notice to the candidate.

In the event of a late notification of sickness/accident, accompanied by a Doctor’s note, the examination fee will be forfeited unless the vacancy can be filled by another candidate.  In this case, the fee may be held for a future examination date.