Recent content by greybadger_19

Another bit of knowledge to discuss in an exam. Differences between competition and schooling, competition rules, etc etc. I just don’t like martingales full stop :-D

Settled on Ingestre - have been doing a pretty crazy round trip every weekend to get a load of riding in! Absolutely recommended; with three fellows, three BHSIs, and some lovely (and some challenging) horses it’s been a great place to train.

For what it’s worth, I applied for direct entry to Stage 4, and this morning I got confirmation of passing the last exam. Very chuffed to now be a ‘BHS Stage 4 Senior Coach in Complete Horsemanship’ (BHSII sounds better...!) Have the first of the BHSI exams booked for the summer. So -...

Thanks all - and no problem at all. Very hard to find anything above Stage 3 level, although my info will soon be out of date as the Stage 4 is being changed next year. Will let you know how the Stage 5 stuff goes when I sit it too - even less about that around!

You could also try a cherry roller style bit, but if the waterford didn't do the job that is unlikely to either. A good option could be a kimblewick - I'd think you'd want to find a slotted one so you can ensure the rein action results in some poll / curb pressure. An un-slotted kimblewick...

Unfortunately the Ingestre Stage 4 is on a date I can't do, otherwise I would go there (having spent two weeks over the summer with them!). Likewise unfortunately wouldn't be able to get up to BM until the exam day. Going in blind, what could possibly go wrong?!

Has anybody taken BHS exams at Brooksby Melton College? Looking at squeezing in my Stage 4 in a few weeks, would welcome a steer on the place!

Not to be confused with philhorseyfly, his somewhat more annoying twin.

The one thing to watch with over-using (or, perhaps more accurately incorrectly over-riding) the school walk is it can encourage a lateral, pacing walk. I think of it more of a result of owning each footstep through co-ordinated leg, hand, and softening in rhythm rather than a pace in its own...

Ditto. For me it's about having a consistent underlying philosophy, understanding of biomechanics and psychology, and then adding to the experience locker and riding toolbox on top of those foundations.

This - this - this - this - this!!!

Ah yes - absolutely agree in that case!

Spot on with floaty youngsters - in reality how many of these do we see going on to top levels? Not many - I think down to 2 reasons: There seems to be a marked drop-off with people's ability to produce horses above Medium level, and lots of the get over-produced / over-ridden early and break...

I think those that are saying you can't ride competitively with lightness really miss the point; there are plenty of examples of tests scoring highly that are perfectly engaged and light. As people say - this needn't be completely throwing away the contact, it's degrees of refinement. Now, what...

I’ve just had direct entry to stage 4 approved, with the aim of getting the exams done at the end of this year / early next year. I found spending time at an exam centre speaking in detail with assessors invaluable (I just spent an intensive two weeks training). The exam is just a tiny snapshot...