BHS Exam attire....

Amigo

Amigo

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 May 2010
Messages
246
Location
Berkshire
www.aewfineart.co.uk
I know this possibly should be in Careers and Education, but I thought I might get more help from here! - Sorry!

I have my Stage 2 Friday and pulled out my tweed jacket from the cupboard to find out it is too small! :o oh dear... I would find it quite tight in jump position across the shoulders - or any exaggerated movement for that matter... I usually wear my dark blue jacket which fits fine, but they don't like you to wear Navy or Black as it is not 'workman like'... My other option is to acquire a 'V neck Jumper in Navy or Black' Which I have no idea where to get one that would be suitable (I am imagining my plain navy v-neck from Zara is not the style the BHS are after...)

So, should I wear my blue jacket and be frowned on but comfortable.
Wear my tweed and be restricted in movement, but correct.
Hunt around all high street stores to find a V neck sweater to wear over my shirt?!

Sorry! Thanks in advance!
 
Wear the navy one, they can frown but you won't get kicked out. I wore black v-neck jumper for mine, it was one from jane norman or somewhere I think, and it was fine :)

better to be comfy I think, you're far more like to show your riding to best advantage then!
 
Thanks for the reply :) I think you are right, I am just worried I will be the odd one out if I wear my blue jacket and I am quite concious of 'first impressions' especially with the examiners. :-$ Did anyone else wear a blue/Black jacket?
 
The BHS are so bizarre about this kind of thing, I dont get what difference it makes what you are wearing to how you ride and how much you know?? I got told before my stage 2 you cant do it with your hair that colour (was pink at the time lol) What the heck does my hair colour have to do with my ability as a horsewoman??? Passed by the way ;-)
 
theorangehorse said:
The BHS are so bizarre about this kind of thing, I dont get what difference it makes what you are wearing to how you ride and how much you know?? I got told before my stage 2 you cant do it with your hair that colour (was pink at the time lol) What the heck does my hair colour have to do with my ability as a horsewoman??? Passed by the way ;-)
Click to expand...

If you are at the level then doing the exam head to toe in Katie Price won't effect your ability, but the exam's are intended to be qualifications for professionals.
It is not odd then, that candidates are expected to turn up looking like the professional they are training to become.


I would try to borrow a comfy tweed Amigo, but if you can not I would imagine a smart navy will do fine.
 
I did all my exams (1,2,3,PTT) in a black jacket. I didn't actually see anyone else apart from a friend and one other, do their exams in tweed.
I had to repeat my 2 and went to England to do so, where I was the only one not wearing tweed :o I passed though, and no one commented. :)
 
Thanks for the messages. I will have a look in the 'school' sections of shops in town, but I think it's mainly primary schools that wear jumpers around here - but good idea. Otherwise I will brave it in blue! :p
 
You'll be fine in a black jacket. At my stage II and III there were plenty of people wearing black or blue jackets as well as some in tweed. I really don't think the examiners care as long as you are neat and tidy! Good luck. :)
 
Seapony said:
If you are at the level then doing the exam head to toe in Katie Price won't effect your ability, but the exam's are intended to be qualifications for professionals.
It is not odd then, that candidates are expected to turn up looking like the professional they are training to become.QUOTE]

I totaly agree with this, however..... Hands up who has their lessons with an instructor dressed daily in tweed and hairnets?

Maybe the BHS could move forward with the times a bit. It may even encourage more people to take their quals.
Click to expand...
 
Murphysgirl said:
I totaly agree with this, however..... Hands up who has their lessons with an instructor dressed daily in tweed and hairnets?

Maybe the BHS could move forward with the times a bit. It may even encourage more people to take their quals.
Click to expand...

quite so - surely if you were sensibly dressed in smart and practical clothing it would be better. They could still stipulate beige jods, and shirt and tie if they wish - but surely if they want practical clothing then a smart polo shirt would be better and more in line with what would be worn actually in the industry? I can understand some sort of dress code, to instill a professional atmosphere, but tweed jackets?
 
Murphysgirl said:
Seapony said:
If you are at the level then doing the exam head to toe in Katie Price won't effect your ability, but the exam's are intended to be qualifications for professionals.
It is not odd then, that candidates are expected to turn up looking like the professional they are training to become.
Click to expand...

Murphysgirl said:
I totaly agree with this, however..... Hands up who has their lessons with an instructor dressed daily in tweed and hairnets?

Maybe the BHS could move forward with the times a bit. It may even encourage more people to take their quals.
Click to expand...
On principle I agree. It is far more practical to dress in jodhs,t shirt and comfy boots of choice for daily work, but it would be sad to lose the traditional aspects of our sport altogether.
#I also don't think it is unreasonable to expect a groom or instructor to have a tweed jacket in their wardrobe so that if a client wants them to compete a horse they can.
Click to expand...
 
Seapony said:
Murphysgirl said:
On principle I agree. It is far more practical to dress in jodhs,t shirt and comfy boots of choice for daily work, but it would be sad to lose the traditional aspects of our sport altogether.
#I also don't think it is unreasonable to expect a groom or instructor to have a tweed jacket in their wardrobe so that if a client wants them to compete a horse they can.
Click to expand...

No I would fully expect a groom / instructor to have a tweed jacket, and other items to compete a horse in. However, the BHS exams aren't examining pupils on their ability to compete, but their ability to care for and manage horses. Surely if they know what attire would be expected to be worn in the different disciplines, this would be more appropriate than them wearing said attire for the exam?
Click to expand...
 
Abbeygale said:
Seapony said:
No I would fully expect a groom / instructor to have a tweed jacket, and other items to compete a horse in. However, the BHS exams aren't examining pupils on their ability to compete, but their ability to care for and manage horses. Surely if they know what attire would be expected to be worn in the different disciplines, this would be more appropriate than them wearing said attire for the exam?
Click to expand...

Are we discussing just the HK&C section or the whole exam?
As it stands I believe you can wear more typical yard clothes(I see plenty of yard staff dressed in shirt and jumper) if just sitting the care side,only needing the tweed for the riding section?
Dress for a local level show seems appropriate to me in an exam situation.
I know things have changed recently in many areas so may be out of date there.
Click to expand...
 
OP you will be fine in a navy/black jacket (trust me I know this for a fact).



Nobody seems to mind dressing suitably for a show or event, each of which have their own requirements. I wonder why so many people don't think that dressing appropriately for professional exams is a good thing? You will be smart, practical, comfortable (unless your jacket is too small :D) and you will be showing respect to the assessors.

Mind you, the way some assessors dress for exams shows little respect to the candidates imo :(

If you are only doing the Care you can wear dark trousers and a dark jumper/jacket, but in any event you must have suitably stout footwear and long sleeves (which is why the polo shirt option wouldn't work).
 
When studying for my BHS I & II I found it very strange (nay, old-fashioned) that they said they preferred you to wear a tweed jacket. There is such a great choice of practical (i.e. you can chuck it in the washing machine), inexpensive clothing that it seemed the guideline was there for the sake of it. Times change and we should move with them.
I've only had one instructior who wore a hairnet, tie etc. (and her social skills were somewhat lacking). She was fully qualified though :D
I'm not suggesting we turn up for our exams dressed in pink. It's impractical in that it really shows the - ahem - dirt, but surely neutral colours should be acceptable?
Anyway, best of luck to Amigo.
 
The important thing is that you are neat and tidy - a well fitting navy or black jacket will look better than a tweed jacket that is too small. Traditionally tweed has been considered more workmanlike but assessors know that not everyone can afford clothing just for exams. Some of the very "blingy" jackets might get the odd disapproving glance but that's all. If you're comfortable in your black jacket you'll ride better so don't worry :)

Despite everyones assumptions most assessors are human ;) I'm one and if a candidate performs well they'll pass regardless of their jacket. The things I personally prefer not to see are unnecessary jewellery (health and safety issue), plastered on make up and ties tied in huge knots sitting way below the top shirt button.
 
EventingMum said:
The things I personally prefer not to see are unnecessary jewellery (health and safety issue), plastered on make up and ties tied in huge knots sitting way below the top shirt button.
Click to expand...

And hair :D It seems nowadays that whatever your hairstyle you just plonk your hat straight on top of it (even if that means you can't see out :eek:). Hair is my bugbear - Couldn't care less what colour it is, but tie it back, wear a hairnet, keep it off your face even when you're doing the Care :D

Thank you :o
 
Well just as an update, wanting to make a good impression I borrowed a friends tweed jacket (still a little small), thus meaning I needed to dig out my old school shirt (tight round the neck) so that I wore a tie instead of a white stock, then couldn't find my coloured tie so borrowed my dads. So wearing a friends tweed, dads tie and an old school shirt I turn up to see over 70% of people wearing black or navy jackets. Conclusion and hints for the future: I wish I had worn my usual blue jacket, stock shirt and stock, been comfortable!
 
When I did my exams it was like doing a stage show and having 3 different costumes - 1 outfit for the classroom based part, another for stables and yet another for Riding (and lunging was a mixture as apparently riding kit not right :rolleyes:)

And then got to stage three where we thought we could wear XC colours and not have to be sucking in stomachs trying to look graceful for another hour on a horse that was determined to re-arrange the course we got told nope - tweed all the way :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top