There are two categories of Amateur Riders' Permits - A and B.

Catagory A

Category A Permit holders may ride in Flat, Hurdle and Steeplechase Races, confined to Amateur Riders.

The applicant must attend a one-day training seminar and an assessment day.

To see videos of the standard required for a Category A Assessment click here.

Category B

Category B Permit holders may ride in Flat Races confined to Amateur Riders, Steeplechase or Hurdle Races, except those confined to Licensed Conditional Jockeys, and in all National Hunt Flat Races.

The applicant must attend a five day training course. To be eligible for this training the rider must have had at least 15 completed rides under the Rules of Racing, the majority of which must be over obstacles or at least 20 placed rides in Point to Points and/or under the Rules of Racing. Generally, applications for Category B Permits are made by those who have already held a Category A Permit.

Category A Seminar

The seminar is run over one day and is designed to provide future Amateur Riders with information about their role and responsibilities on the Racecourse.

Content includes:

- Racecourse procedures
- BHA Rules and Regulations
- BHA Security
- Principles of Jumping
- Amateur Jockeys Association

Amateur Rider Permits - Cat A Seminar
Date End Date
15 November 2011 15 November 2011
10 January 2012 10 January 2012
13 March 2012 13 March 2012
17 April 2012 17 April 2012
14 August 2012 14 August 2012
06 November 2012 06 November 2012
08 January 2013 08 January 2013
12 March 2013 12 March 2013

Cost:

The cost of the one day seminar is £110.00 inclusive of tuition, all refreshments and lunch. Accommodation is available on request.

For further information and an application form please contact:

Clare Higgins
Courses Co-ordinator
The British Racing School
Snailwell Road
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7NU

Tel: 01638 675907
Fax: 01638 560929
Email: clare@brs.org.uk

Category A Assessment

The assessment is run over one day and is designed for the British Horseracing Authority's (BHA) Licensing Committee to make an informed judgement on the riders' suitability to be granted a Permit to Ride under the Rules of Racing.

The applicant must have already attended a Category A Seminar. As part of the assessment the applicant will be required to have a fitness evaluation.

The applicant must be proficient and experienced in the following:

Control:

Judgement will be made on the rider's ability to control a racehorse at speed. The rider should be able to restrain the horse (whilst keeping the horse and him/her self in a balanced position) alongside another horse and rider on the gallop. The rider should be able to slow the horse down to a speed required when asked.

Jumping:

For a Jumping only Permit the rider will need to be able to school over race type hurdles at speed, without unduly hindering the horse.

Stalls:

For a Flat only Permit the rider should be capable of jumping a horse out of the stalls without unduly hindering their or other horse's progress and direction

Cost:

The cost of the one day assessment is £115.00 inclusive of tuition, all refreshments and lunch. Accommodation is available on request.

For further information and an application form please contact:

Clare Higgins
Courses Co-ordinator
The British Racing School
Snailwell Road
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7NU

Tel: 01638 675907
Fax: 01638 560929
Email: clare@brs.org.uk

Amateur Rider Permits - Cat A Assessment
Date End Date
16 November 2011 16 November 2011
14 December 2011 14 December 2011
11 January 2012 11 January 2012
29 February 2012 29 February 2012
14 March 2012 14 March 2012
18 April 2012 18 April 2012
19 June 2012 19 June 2012
15 August 2012 15 August 2012
12 September 2012 12 September 2012
07 November 2012 07 November 2012
19 December 2012 19 December 2012
09 January 2013 09 January 2013
27 February 2013 27 February 2013
13 March 2013 13 March 2013

Category B Course

To obtain a Category B Permit the applicant will be required to attend and satisfactorily complete a 5 day course. The course will be an assessment on the individual's level of competence.

Prior to attending the course, the applicant must be proficient and experienced in the following:

- Galloping a racehorse at speed
- Riding work on a racehorse
- Schooling a racehorse over race hurdles at speed

On completion of this course a report will be written and forwarded to the licensing committee at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Cost:

The cost of this 5 day course is £735.00 inclusive of tuition, accommodation, meals and refreshments.

For further information and an application form please contact:


Jo Crawforth
The British Horseracing Authority
75 High Holburn
London
WC1V 6LS

Tel: 020 7152 0148
Fax: 020 7152 0141
Email: jcrawforth@britishhorseracing.com