Are BHS qualifications worth it?

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Hi, I started my BHS journey about 10 years ago. Scotland based and there are very few actual BHS training centres up here. Anyway, long story short I ended up working at various riding schools and doing the training separately. I have my BHS stages 1,2, PTT and all of the Stage 3 APART from the riding jumping part. As I was skint I couldn't afford to continue lessons to pass this part, so I'm still not a fully qualified BHSAI.

I have been working freelance for the last 10 years and have a good client base. No one cares I don't have the full BHSAI, or Stage 3 Coach as they are now. I was planning to resit next year essentially to get the piece of paper. However now the BHS want a riding session with an assessor prior to booking the jumping exam, they also want the teaching exam redone AND the new log book completed.

My question... this is an awful lot of work (and money!) for a piece of paper when my clients don't actually care. Would you do this? Would you think less of someone like myself who didn't?

Being in Scotland with Assessment centres few and far between makes it very inconvenient, not to mention expensive 😕

Thanks to anyone who got this far.

The best riding instructor I've ever had didn't have a single qualification when she taught me and even now my 20 years later is only stage 2. If your clients are happy, don't put yourself through the trouble and expense!

@anonymous123a thank you. I get the majority of clients via word of mouth, probably similar to your instructor! It feels like a dark cloud constantly hanging over me but the BHS seems to make things very difficult unless applicants have gone through the system eg through college or a training centre from day 1.

I’m a BHSAI, but in your shoes I wouldn’t bother unless you want to do it for yourself. You already have lots of clients and experience. I presume you still have insurance. If I was employing an instructor I’d definitely choose someone like you over someone qualified with less experience. You’ve got the teacher part of the AI anyway. (and I’m quite scathing of the types that did their stage one and start calling themselves instructors!)

As long as you have the correct insurance, it sounds fine. You can be a flatwork coach without doing the jumping I think if it is that putting you off?

I have good insurance. To be honest no one really asks. It was more for my own satisfaction. I hadn't thought about being more dressage/flat work based. That is a good shout. Thanks!

I wouldn’t bother now. If you were just starting out the qualification would be your CV headliner, but you’re not, you got loads of experience and referees who can testify to your work.

I doubt all the professional riders who teach clients have got qualifications either.