Celebrating our Equestrian First Aid Trainers – could this be you?

It’s Good Employers Week at the Equestrian Employers Association. But what’s that got to do with us at Medi-K?

As equestrian specific First Aid trainers, we understand that employment security for many in the equestrian sector is a precarious balancing act; ensuring that you have a work/life balance is important.  But so is paying your bills.  Protecting your physical and mental health and that of your horse is also important.  So maybe it’s time to consider a different opportunity to work in the equestrian sector as a First Aid Trainer?

What’s is it like being an Equestrian First Aid Trainer?

Having ridden, mostly badly, for years, I came to Medi-K in 2018, when I was about to give up teaching First Aid.  I’d delivered outsourced standard corporate First Aid courses to mandated attendees, many of whom engaged enough to just about pass but that was it.  

Not the case with Medi-K clients!  I generally find eager learners who are there by choice and want to learn. I work with a diverse range of learners from grooms to vets and farriers, competition and commercial yards, happy hackers and RDA volunteers. There’s always going to be an injury risk with horses around, so if I can help by equipping learners with the skills and confidence to make a difference, then I’m a happy trainer.

Medi-K, part of First Aid Training Cooperative (FATC), is always on the lookout for potential equestrian First Aid Trainers, and we provide full training for the right applicants! You just need the qualities, and desire, to become equestrian First Aid trainer, teaching people to make life saving decisions when they’re with their horses.

How do I become an Equestrian First Aid Trainer?

When you join FATC, as a freelance trainer, you will go through our Trainer Induction Programme to give you the skills you need to deliver, with confidence, a practical, memorable, and relevant First Aid course. On our courses there are no discussions of Karen having a stroke in a supermarket, or of Kevin slipping in a warehouse; it’s just not our world.  Our examples are bespoke to what the client does so are based on your world! We teach the standard Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work courses, but with additional content relevant to the sector (our +Eq module). We teach how to manage the injuries you are likely to encounter around horses, liveries and out in the field. Once you are confident with teaching the one-day course, we’ll then support your development towards teaching the two- and three-day courses, but let’s not get into eventing before we can manage our transitions!

Being part of a great supportive training team.

We are a network of new and experienced freelance trainers who will celebrate your great days and commiserate the bad ones.  We are a co-operative for a reason and working together and supporting each other for the good of the whole team is a fundamental part of our ethos.  A close-knit team who are more of a clan than a company, even though we cover the whole country.  We are provided with CPD opportunities, and as part of our AGM the entire UK team get together for 2 days each year.  Our office team are amazing and will support you through course paperwork, and they manage all course administration, finance, certification etc, so you have minimal logistics or marketing to worry about.

If you chose to come and be a freelance trainer with FATC, then the expectations are clearly laid out for both parties.  FATC are certificated as meeting ISO9001 – which is about quality management – good service, policies and standards; we are also a Living Wage accredited employer. Ensuring that you get a good day’s pay for a good days’ work!  What I like about Medi-K/FATC is that know where you stand in terms of pay and conditions with lots of support and clear guidance from the office team.

So, if you are a good communicator, keen to learn some new skills, fantastic at inspiring others or already a trainer why don’t you add equestrian First Aid trainer to your portfolio of work?  

Your next steps….  

T o join us as a First Aid Trainer, have a look at our website and download the information pack.  Hopefully we will get to meet at the annual clan gathering!

And while you’re thinking of your equestrian career, make sure you’re getting – or giving – the best employment standards and opportunities. Have a look at the website of the Equestrian Employers Association for lots of great free resources and advice.