The Royal Armoured Corps Saddle Club held its first ever Preliminary Teaching Test Exam in December 2007. Four of the staff of the Saddle Club successfully passed the teaching exam, which is made up of teaching a flat or jump lesson, a presentation lecture, a business management section and finally a lunge or lead rein lesson. The successful candidates were Jo Wood, Linzi Pennycook, Ian Lenton and Abi King.
The day was put together with help from the Saddle Club liveries and clients who gave up their day to guinea pig for the candidates. Lyn Baldwin, the Chief Examiner gave a glowing report of the yard for the standard of horses, facilities and attention to detail.
In the near future, the yard is going to hold BHS examination training and also host examinations, including a preliminary teaching intermediate and Stage 4 Riding and Stable Management exam. |
Once again the Royal Armoured Corps Saddle Club has pulled off another first in holding an internal British Horse Society Stage III examination, resulting in a 100% pass rate.
In the past, the Club has held B.H.S. Stage I and Stage II examinations, as well as Riding and Road Safety Tests. The Stage III examination is the last equitation and horse management part of becoming an Instructor. The exam comprises of the candidate riding 2 horses on the flat, show jumping and cross country. Mr A Noordijk rated the exam horses to be nearer Stage IV standard and quality of the flat work horses was exceptional and the separate set of jump horses showed their quality with their boldness and outstanding technique. The examiners also commented on how great it was that the candidates could ride a track of fences which included the water jump on the cross country course and that the horses also certainly rose to the challenge on the day.
The Saddle Club is known throughout the South of England for the quality of their horses and the high standards of tuition, along with first class facilities. Steph Buchanan, BHSI (SM), the Chief Instructor at Bovington, says, “The B.H.S. examiner, Mr A Noordijk told me that we were looking at ‘3 dumbstruck examiners' for it was rare to achieve a 100% pass rate. Also the report of the examination day left by the examiners was exceptional”.
Miss Buchanan went on to add, “Liveries and clients took valuable holiday leave from their employment to arrive at 5.00 a.m. on the day of the exam to help the staff to muck out, groom and plait the horse and to be on hand throughout the day of the exam. This is all part of the commitment and camaraderie which is unique to Bovington and it helped the day to go so well. We are delighted with the candidates' success and especially proud of our fabulous horses.
Training for the exam was run by Miss Buchanan along with Miss Sue Richards, BHSI (H), formerly of Leigh Equestrian Centre, which she ran for many years. The RAC Saddle Club is not only a training yard, but also a livery yard, riding school and has a thriving Pony Club, holding camps and events throughout the year. In April of each year, it also stages a British Eventing One Day Event.
The successful candidates were, Laura Pritchard. Jo Wood, Linzi Pennycook, Michele Thomas, Ian Lenton, Imogen Judd, Paul Warwick, Catherine Powell and Abi King. |
