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Guiding outdoor trail rides on Ameland: Our instructors and guides
We’re often asked what skills are required to lead trail rides at Rijstal Le Cheval. In this blog post, we’ll explain this in more detail. Safety is paramount at Rijstal Le Cheval, which is why we carefully select our guides.
Safety certificate from the Equestrian Sports Safety Foundation
We recently received the safety certificate from the Equestrian Sports Safety Foundation. This demonstrates our commitment to safety. The safety certificate ensures, among other things, that our terrain is safe, our riding helmets carry the correct quality mark, our horse equipment is in good order, a first responder is always present, we are properly insured, and that we always work with well-trained staff. You can read more about what this last point entails below.
The photos below were taken by Gitte Talsma; you can follow her on Instagram!
Equestrian certificate and Trail Ride Guide Course for guiding outdoor trail rides
Everyone who guides trail rides at Rijstal Le Cheval holds an equestrian certificate and a Trail Ride Guide diploma. This is a requirement for guiding outdoor trail rides. The exams for these are administered by the Stichting Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen Recreatieruiter (SRR), an external and independent institute.
Equestrian certificate exam
During the equestrian certificate exams, riders demonstrate their ability to interact with ponies and horses in an animal-friendly and responsible manner. Animal welfare must be carefully considered, something we consider very important at Rijstal Le Cheval! In addition to a theoretical section that addresses questions about health, the exterior, the horse’s tack, nutrition, and, of course, riding horses, there is also a practical section. During the practical section, participants demonstrate their balance in the various riding disciplines, their ability to properly apply traffic rules, and their commitment to animal welfare.
Guiding outdoor trail rides: The trail Ride Guide exam
The trail Ride Guide exam is slightly more comprehensive than the equestrian certificate exam. This exam also consists of a theoretical and practical section, where participants demonstrate their solid knowledge of how to lead a group, communicate effectively, and handle specific scenarios, such as a fallen or anxious rider or spooked horses. Special attention is also paid to first aid.
Horse riding lessons
Riding lessons at Rijstal Le Cheval are only given by instructors who hold an ORUN diploma from the KNHS (Royal Dutch Horse Federation). Because these instructors are in limited supply, riding lessons are also offered on a limited basis.