British Equestrian (BEF) and the ABRS+ consider the safety and enjoyment of young people while participating in any horse sport to be of paramount importance. The BEF and ABRS+ recognise that there is a duty of care towards young people and vulnerable adults.
The ABRS+ runs two courses:
- The Equestrian Safeguarding Officers
- Safeguarding in Equestrian Sport
An Equestrian Safeguarding Officer (ESO) is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the welfare and safety of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within the riding school environment. Their role typically involves:
- Implementing Safeguarding Policies: Ensuring that the riding school follows the safeguarding policies set by the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and ABRS+.
- Reporting Concerns: Acting as the primary point of contact for any safeguarding concerns, ensuring that issues are reported and dealt with according to safeguarding procedures.
- Training and Awareness: Ensuring that staff, volunteers, and coaches are aware of safeguarding procedures and have appropriate training.
- Liaison Role: Working with local safeguarding authorities, governing bodies, and other professionals when necessary.
An equestrian coach or yard manager has safeguarding responsibilities but primarily in relation to their direct interactions with riders. These include:
- Duty of Care: Ensuring their coaching/yard environment is safe, inclusive, and appropriate for riders of all ages.
- Recognising Concerns: Being vigilant for signs of abuse, neglect, or poor practice and reporting concerns to the designated safeguarding officer.
- Following Safeguarding Procedures: Adhering to safeguarding policies in their coaching sessions but not necessarily overseeing their implementation across the entire riding school
These qualifications are valid for three years and can go towards the requirements needed for a UK Coaching Certificate (1st4Sport) certificate.
Our online workshops are run a number of times as year. This training will be required unless participants work with children as part of their profession i.e. school teacher, nursery worker etc. If they do we then ask them to provide documentary evidence.
You can find upcoming Safeguarding course details below, or please contact the ABRS office
