TRAINING COURSE AND QUALIFICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL HARNESS HORSE DRIVERS
The first ever funded training course for Professional Harness Horse Drivers will be offered in a joint venture between the British Driving Society and Plumpton College, Sussex starting in January 2010. We have secured funding from ReedNet Funding for 50% of training course fees; this funding will be available from January 2010 until September 2011. The final Assessment Fee is fully-funded through the BDS.
The course will lead to one of the new BDS Level 4 Qualifications plus a University College Foundation Certificate in Professional Harness Horse Driving. This is a nationally-recognised ‘NVQ-equivalent’ Qualification which is suitable for anyone who provides horse drawn funeral, wedding or passenger-carrying services, using Light or Heavy carriage horses, as well as for those who simply aspire to a nationally recognised endorsement of their higher level driving skills.
This
course is open only to experienced harness horse Drivers, ( we
will be holding Introduction to Driving Courses, and courses for Grooms and
novices at a later time).
Drivers must be capable of driving to BDS Road Driving Safety Test
standard, using either English Coachman or traditional Dray Horse rein
handling style, with either a Single or Pair of horses or ponies.
Candidates who do not have the BDS Road Driving Safety Test Certificate will
need to provide evidence that they can meet these requirements - this will
normally be a short pre-Course assessment drive with the BDS Trainer.
The Course
· The course comprises 12 full days over a 6 month period, based on 2 days per month, comprising : one Induction Day; 10 intensive Training Days, and one final Assessment Day.
· You will be given assignments ( Course Work) after each block of training days, and will need to record your progress between training sessions in your Driving Diary/Workbook ( blank Workbooks will be provided as part of the course). You will need to bring your Workbook to each Training Session, as this Course Work will contribute towards your final Assessment.
·
Training will include
advanced Singles and Pairs Driving; advanced horse, harness and vehicle
checks and assessments; making an insurance claim, including making
statements following an incident; Health & Safety and risk assessments;
public relations; passenger care; child protection/CRB checks
( where passengers may include children), etc.
FEES
· The total cost of the Course is £1,000 per person. You can either send a cheque for the full fee ( £1,000) with your application form, or send a deposit of £200 and then pay 4 futher installments of £200 per two-day training session
· Candidates who attend Induction, plus all 10 Training Days and pass final Assessment Day ( 12 days total) will be eligible to claim a 50% (£500) refund from the BDS
· Assessment fees are fully-funded by the BDS
· This means that the total cost of this intensive, Professional Harness Driving Course is just £50 per day, with one FREE final Assessment.
· The fee is payable to the BDS upon Registration. Please note that the £500 refund is only available to Candidates who complete all 10 Training Days, plus Induction and final Assessment, twelve days in total. ( NB: any candidate who unavoidably misses or cancels any Induction, Training or Assessment Day will be allocated a replacement Day at no extra cost. Candidates must complete the full allocation of 12 days plus final Assessment, within 12 months from Registration on the Course).
The first Training Course will begin on 26th January 2010 at Swingletree Stables, near Diss, Suffolk/Norfolk boarders, and will be taught by John Parker, LHHI, one of the UK’s leading harness horse trainers, with final Assessment being at Swingletree Stables in June 2010 ( monthly Training Days will be allocated once you have Registered for the Course). Other Courses will be arranged in various parts of the UK with other BDS Training Providers.
You can either download the
from
this link, or send a stamped addressed envelope to the BDS Office for a
paper application form.
For further information about the course, please contact Stephanie Evans, BDS Awards Board – 01 379 388 314
To obtain an application form please send an sae to Tess Styles, BDS Training Board
83 New Road, Helmingham, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6EA –01473 892001
