We are the only state in the country that requires a test, license and yearly fees for horseback riding instructors. All of us want to instruct, because we have a passion and a great knowledge for horses and riding. We want to pass that on to others, who want to learn and excel!

The test that is associated with becoming an licensed MA instructor, is a contradiction to a person who has been riding/studying horses for years on end, to make it their life's work. The test ask questions of common sense in basic horsemanship. Anyone who wants to be an instructor, already knows it, and more! For example, Rather than how to properly fit a saddle on a horse, the test asks what are the parts of an English and a Western saddle. If the Commonwealth truly cared about the well being of the horses, the test would be revised. Or rather, get rid of it all together!

Studying the test, and all the rules (word-for-word) are very difficult, for someone, like me, who has a disability, but still is perfectly able to teach a riding lesson. It is near impossible for someone, with my diability, to comprehend all the old fashioned wording associated with each rule and remember it word-for-word. The rules should be revised and condensed, by an equine professional.

 Instructors already practice these rules And regulations.
Also, when taking the test, there is only 1 location, one can take the test at, right now it's, Randolph, MA. For those of us living on the other side of the state, that is a difficult location to get to, for the exact time the test starts. Factoring in traffic work, and kids. There needs to be local agencies, who are professionals, to hand out the test other than the Boston area. 
Someone really is not putting a lot of thought into the licensing of riding instructors in MA! Did you ever ask or worry if any of us were CPR/First Aid certified? Or CORI checking instructors? The test was drawn up not by a professional horse person who truly cares about equines, but out of a book! This needs to be changed, drastically! There are many of us going to different states, to teach, because no other state requires such absurd requirements. Those states, not MA, are getting our tax money!

what about having a horse trainer take a written test? Does that not make sense? They have a business, working with horses, where they need to know all they same terminology that us instructors do, around horses.

This makes more sense: if an instructor went to college, got a certification, with PATH (therapeutic riding), ARIA,AHA,CHA, and all the credential programsfor here should be no test! Some of us are way over qualified! 

Or,some that are disabled should be given help or at least more helpful and extensive information. The woman, a lot of us have been dealing with, over the years has been unhelpful. As-well-as extremely unfriendly.

this is my dream! I want to open my own therapeutic riding facility here in MA. but, the state is making it difficult.

Website with all information about becoming a MA instructor, rules, regulations,dates and location of tests: http://www.mass.gov/agr/animalhealth/equine/riding_instructor.htm