22.1 General Rules
- All approved WES Professionals must be current WES members. If a professional fails to renew his/her subscription after a period of 8 weeks they shall be removed from the approved list. Should they then fail to renew after a period of 6 months they will be required to submit a renewal fee of £75 to regain status. If they fail to renew after 12 months they will have to reapply as if they were a new applicant.
- All accredited WES professionals must have the following: current Public Insurance of a minimum of £5 million to teach at a WES approved Liability event; First Aid certification from a recognised organisation, acceptable certificates include a Safety at Work, two days initial first aid course or an equine specific first aid course; Safeguarding training (if working with children), e.g. a Child Protection training course and obtained a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check before they can work with children aged 18 or under. Professionals will be required to provide evidence of the above to event organisers.
- WES professionals are also required to: have a working understanding of the WES Rulebook; commit to the WES Professional standards and have signed the WES Code of Conduct.
- A WES professional must always act in the best interest of The Western Equestrian Society avoiding any circumstances which create a conflict of interest while instructing at any WES event. Conflicts of interest are subject to review by the WES Council. In the event it is determined that an instructor has acted in an official capacity with a conflict of interest the professional may be removed from the WES professionals list and may be subject to further disciplinary action.
- Professionals shall keep in mind that while coaching at a WES event they are representing the Society. Professionals shall dress appropriately in western attire including western hat to favourably represent their position.
- A Professional shall conduct themselves in a manner fitting and proper. Any misconduct on the part of the professional at any WES clinic such as excessive drinking of alcohol immediately prior to or after the clinic, the use of abusive language or any other action unbecoming to one in their position either on the grounds or elsewhere during the duration of the event, will make them subject to a complete and impartial hearing on the cause of the complaint before the appropriate committee.
- A Professional who undertakes the obligation to instruct at a WES sanctioned event is responsible for fulfilling that commitment. Should they be unable to officiate for any reason, they are required to arrange for a suitable qualified replacement.
- Under the terms of the Riding Establishments Act 1964 & 1970, a Professional who provides a horse for the purpose of tuition must ensure that he/she carries the appropriate insurance and license to operate as a Riding Establishment. Any approved Professional found to be in breach of the Act will be immediately suspended from the accredited list.
24.2 Selection of Professionals
- Professionals for all WES clinics/events should wherever possible be selected from the WES approved list as effective at the time of approval application.
- Guest professionals may be approved for selection at an approved clinic provided they have provided evidence of insurance of a minimum of £5 million to both the organiser and the WES Council. Approval to be made via application to the WES Education Officer who will confirm the intended guest professional may be used.
- Designation as a WES approved Professional is a privilege, not a right, bestowed by the WES Council following the professional's assessment.
24.3 WES Professional Pathways
Option 1: Assessment Pathway
Apply for a practical, in-person assessment with our Education Officer. Suitable for experienced riders and teachers not already qualified through UKCC.
- Professional Levels 1 & 2 assessed together or separately. Details of WES Professional levels are published on the WES website at wes-uk.com/wes-professionals.
- Applicants must complete a Rule Book test and return to the Chair of Judges. Rule Book tests will be marked before the assessment date and results given to candidates and assessors.
- Candidates achieving 94% or less will be asked to resubmit the test. 94% or less on the second test will result in failure to pass the WES Professionals assessment.
- Pathway Fee: £125 per level. Open to all WES members.
Option 2: UKCC/Portfolio Route
For applicants who have already undertaken and qualified as a Western UKCC Level 1 or Level 2 coach, they are eligible for application by portfolio of experience and CV.
- Applications are assessed/approved by the WES Education Officer and WES Council.
- Western UKCC level one coaches can only apply for Level 1 WES professionals' status.
- Western UKCC Level 2 and higher coaches can apply for WES Level 2 professional status. To continue to higher WES levels an additional application has to be made subject to the conditions set out in the WES Professionals syllabus at wes-uk.com/wes-professionals.
- For all professionals applying using this pathway they must complete a WES rule book test, hold a current WES Professionals membership, First Aid qualification, Insurance as stated previously and have attended a child protection course.
- This pathway has a £75 application fee.
(Please note that all UKCC Western coaches' technical competence is assessed during the UKCC workshop as outlined in the UKCC Technical syllabus.)