Assessments

One of the big reasons why Hayfield pupils make such good progress is that we run assessments twice a year, in March and in September. There are many distinct advantages of bi-annual assessments the primary ones are as follows.

1. New pupils and parents can see at a glance exactly where they might fit in to Hayfield lessons. A private assessment lesson with any coach will confirm which lesson standard will suit best.
2. Knowing your exact lesson standard allows you to confidently chose to join another class of the same standard from the chart in reception knowing that you will be up to standard.
3. This allows you to change coaches until you find one that you like.
4. Assessments allow you to alter the speed of your progress to suit your own personal learning curves.
5. Parents who know nothing of riding can easily chart their children's progress over the months and years. Pupils who might sometimes get disheartened can look back and see just how much they have learnt.
6. Assessments make sure that the instructors are teaching the correct lessons content at each standard. The experienced master trainers who do the assessments are able to assist each coach by giving them guidance, suggesting the best way to advance their pupils progress.
7. Assessments work as safety checks, helping to prevent pupils attempt tasks beyond their abilities which cause them harm or destroy their confidence and future progress.
8. Very importantly assessments allow each rider to see what their next goal is and work towards obtaining it.
9. Riders visiting or riding at other stables will be able to state accurately what level they have reached allowing coaches to check up on-line and know what to expect of them.
10. At each landmark point in the assessments you will be awarded a certificate of merit which you can proudly keep for life!

Remember Assessments are not exams!
Think of them as goals.

You may not move up a level at every stage as some stages or ribbons are harder to achieve than others. Rising trot is something you will master with just a little practice. Jumping a course of fences in reasonably good fashion takes a lot more practice!