| Marie has been teaching hunt seat for almost 10 years. | | | | doesn't have a licensing program. And second, in a |
| As a junior rider, she had a successful show career | | | | word--cost. |
| with her two horses. As an adult rider, she has ridden | | | | "I would love to be certified," Marie explains. "But I can't |
| in advanced lessons and clinics with well-known and | | | | afford the cost involved." Marie teaches at a riding |
| talented professionals. She is an excellent teacher of | | | | school, like most riding instructors in the area. And, like |
| both children and adults, and she certainly has the | | | | most instructors like her, she doesn't have change to |
| experience and knowledge to teach beginner riders; | | | | spare. |
| however, she is not licensed or certified. | | | | Both ARIA and CHA charge close to $600 for |
| Some states, like Massachusetts, require horseback | | | | certification testing. Additionally, they require yearly |
| riding instructors to be state licensed. To gain a license | | | | membership fees and yearly renewal fees. "That's like |
| in Massachusetts, an instructor hopeful must perform a | | | | a week a half's pay for me," Marie explains. |
| 6-month apprenticeship with a licensed riding instructor, | | | | In contrast, the Massachusetts license application is |
| 60 hours of which must be teaching mounted students | | | | $20. If a state license program were available to Marie |
| under direct supervision of that licensed instructor. | | | | for a minimal cost, such as that of Massachusetts, |
| Instructor apprentices must also pass a written exam. | | | | would she do it? "Of course! I think it would be great |
| "There should be some sort of license or certification | | | | for instructors, students and the industry," she said. |
| program for riding instructors," said Paula, mother of a | | | | In addition to riding instructors, riding stables in |
| riding student. "We put our kids' lives in their hands. We | | | | Massachusetts must be licensed as well at a cost of |
| should have something that says they're capable of | | | | about $100. |
| that responsibility." | | | | Similar to Massachusetts, Maryland requires state |
| Certification programs exist in the United States | | | | license of riding stables. According to the Maryland |
| including the American Riding Instructor's Association | | | | Department of Agriculture, "Licensing helps ensure that |
| (ARIA) and the Certified Horsemanship Association | | | | animals in commercial stables are cared for in a safe, |
| (CHA). These associations offer clinics and testing | | | | sanitary manner and that horses used in the riding |
| sites. | | | | stable are fit for that purpose." The Maryland |
| So if the opportunity is there, why wouldn't someone | | | | Department of Agriculture inspects licensed riding |
| like Marie not be licensed or certified? First, her state | | | | stables annually. |