A RIDING centre on Teesside has been selected to host a national exam.
The Unicorn Centre at Hemlington, near Middlesbrough, has been chosen as a test centre for Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).
Eight trainee instructors from across the UK will be taking their examination at the centre next Wednesday.
Claire Pitt is manager at the centre, which is used by more than 150 riders a week.
She said: "Our facilities were purpose-built as an RDA Centre, so we are delighted that RDA headquarters has acknowledged that they are of an exceptional standard.
"I am also pleased that we now have sufficient high-quality riding therapy horses and ponies to be used for the exam. Our riders will be used as guinea pigs on the day, which I'm sure they will thoroughly enjoy.''
RDA instructors undergo training, which involves teaching and volunteering, before they can take the examination to become a fully-trained instructor.
The exam involves teaching a group lesson and an individual lesson, demonstrating knowledge of horse care, understanding physical and learning disabilities and how riding therapy can help, and a working knowledge of the structure of RDA.
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