HOW TO SET UP A RIDING TEAM
AT YOUR SCHOOL

c/o Mark Hawksworth Photography

. Ask permission from a senior member of staff to put a poster up on a notice board, advertising that you are hoping to set up a riding team. Ask for potential members to sign up.
. Find a member of staff who either has an interest in horses, or at least someone who supports your idea. (could be a member of the P.E Staff)
. Go to the Head Teacher with a list of pupils and supporting teacher. Ask his/her permission to set up a team. Give him/her the NSEA Membership form to complete.
. Following his/her agreement, elect a Riding Captain (pupil).
. Ideally, find a Riding Instructor who is prepared to hold practices and help to select teams for competitions. (this person could then be the Team Trainer)
. With your Supporting Teacher and with the agreement of the Head, send out a form to each rider’s parents explaining what you are aiming for, practice times, dates of competitions, financial implications (do parents or the school pay for entry fees/ training ?) etc. There must be a return slip on the form that parents must sign, agreeing to be present and responsible for their own child at competitions and practices.
. Make sure that the Team Trainer you have chosen is able to go along to competitions with the team, walk the course and advise each team member on how to ride it.
. Send in the NSEA Membership Application Form. Your school will be given a Membership Number and Membership Cards for the Team Manager/s and riding squad members . You can then enter competitions.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOOL TO DO ANY NECESSARY CRB CHECKS ON ANY TEAM MANAGER’S/ PARENTS AND TRAINERS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THE RIDING SQUAD.

IN ORDER TO COMPETE IN ANY OF THE INTER-SCHOOL EQUESTRIAN COMPETITIONS LISTED ON THE NSEA WEBSITE, YOUR SCHOOL NEEDS TO AFFILIATE TO THE NSEA.

Go to the Membership page on the website, print off the relevant information including the Membership Application Form, and give to your Head Teacher to complete.

ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES

The Team Manager can be either the Team Trainer or an elected Teacher or Parent. Providing they are listed on the Membership Form, they benefit from being covered, by the NSEA, for public liability insurance along with the listed riding squad members. The Team Manager MUST be an adult, not a pupil from the school.

1. THE INSTRUCTOR/ TEAM TRAINER

a) Train the squad
b) Select teams & the running order.
c) Liase with the Supporting Teacher/ Riding Captain on team choices, signatures on Entry Forms etc
d) Go to events. Walk the course & coach the team/s.
e)If there is a problem at a competition, make sure that you, or the Supporting Teacher, go to the secretary to rectify. Do not send a parent.
f) Encourage the proper treatment of horses at all times.
g) Ensure sportsmanship and the competition rules are adhered to.

2. THE SUPPORTING TEACHER

a) Dedicate an area on a notice board for riding news.
b) Make announcements in assembly when teams/ individuals have done well, or wish them luck in impending competitions.
c) Make links with the P.E Staff for GCSE & A level P.E, so that riding can be included as a sport option. Also the ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme’.
d) Liaise with your Head Teacher. They will be required to sign Entry Forms, talk to prospective parents and Govenors about riding progress.
e) Maybe set up team fundraising events to help pay for training, entries and transport.
f)  Set up links with BHS/ABRS Approved Riding Schools for non horse owning pupils.

3. THE RIDING CAPTAIN

a) Encourage as many pupils as possible to join the riding squad.
b) Liase with the Supporting Teacher and Instructor re forthcoming events.
c) Support team mates. Eveyone experiences good and bad days with horses !!
d) At the end of the competition, make sure that you go and thank the event organiser on behalf of your school.