How to set up your team

HomeMembershipHow to set up your team

Your guide to getting going

The amount of support that you will need in setting up a squad will very much depend on the experience of those involved.

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.

Getting Started

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 or a member of staff who has ridden in the past)
Go to the Head Teacher with a list of pupils and supporting teacher. Ask his/her permission to set up a team or to ride as an individual.
Following his/her agreement, elect a Riding Captain (pupil).
We suggest that you find a qualified Riding Instructor who could hold practices and help to select teams for competitions (this person can then be the Team Trainer)
With your Supporting Teacher and with the agreement of the Head, set up a meeting for potential riders and their parents in order to plan any competitions you wish to attend. You may wish to include practice times, dates of competitions, financial implications (do parents or the school pay for entry fees/ training?) etc. Parents need to agree to be present at events and responsible for their own child at competitions and practices.
Establish who will be the Team Manager, as they will need to complete the online membership application via the NSEA website. They may also appoint two Team Assistants.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOOL TO DO ANY NECESSARY DBS CHECKS ON ANY TEAM MANAGERS/PARENTS AND TRAINERS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THEIR 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.

Roles and Responsibilities

A successful NSEA team requires the following roles, though an individual can perform more than one role

Team Manager

Can be either the team trainer, elected teacher or parent
Manages the organisation and logistics of the team
Manages the online account of the riding team
Assigns team assistants if required
Benefit by being covered by the NSEA for public liability insurance
Must be an adult

Team Trainer

We recommend that a qualified trainer should train your squad
Select teams & the running order.
Liase with the Supporting Teacher/Riding Captain on team choices, signatures on Entry Forms etc
Go to events. Walk the course & coach the team/s.
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.
Encourage the proper treatment of horses at all times.
Ensure sportsmanship and the competition rules are adhered to.

Team Teacher

Supporting teacher from the school
Dedicate an area on a notice board for riding news.
Make announcements in assembly when teams/ individuals have done well, or wish them luck in impending competitions.
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’.
Liaise with your Head Teacher. They will be required to sign entry forms, talk to prospective parents and Governors about riding progress.
Maybe set up team fundraising events to help pay for training, entries and transport.
Set up links with BHS/ABRS Approved Riding Schools for non horse owning pupils.

Team Captain

Is a member of the riding team
Encourage as many pupils as possible to join the riding squad.
Liase with the Supporting Teacher and Instructor re forthcoming events.
Support team mates. Everyone experiences good and bad days with horses!!
At the end of the competition, make sure that you go and thank the event organiser on behalf of your school. You are the ambassador for your school.