Bhs exams as an 'older student'

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ChestnutConvert

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In the nearish future i'm thinking of going into a horse related business and although i have years of experience thought it might be good to have some exams under my belt too. I've thought of the BHS ones but when looking realised it hasn't changed from when i was 8 and still seems aimed at younger people. Would it be silly for me at 28 to be taking these? Are there any other courses that i could takje as an older student that would actually stand for anything and give some sort of qualification at gthe end of it?
 
I did the BHS exams at 25 and now 28 with my AI. They are good to have and they are regonised all over the world.
However the BHS Horse Owners are also good but that is only care not riding.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
Go for it - I took my Stage IV at 29 and BHSI SM at 32. Age gives you experience and common sense. Professional qualifications are great for what ever reason. I retrained at 50 and did a Bachelor of Business degree. At 29 you are still a spring chicken! :)
 
Out of interest, why do you think they are aimed at younger people?:) There is a lower age limit, yes, but I train people of all ages for BHS exams, and tbh I think the older and more experienced you are, the better. I doubt you'll find you are the oldest person there on the day of the exam :D Go for it!
 
You're definitely a mere spring chicken!
I started doing my BHS exams in my "mid to late" thirties, the part time evening courses.
Most of the people there were"mature", still had a right laugh tho and all managed to pass our various courses.
Good luck!!!
 
Join the wrinklies and get on with it!

It may be worth knowing that if you have comprehensive equine CV, and good references - you can submit these to the BHS and they will consider and award what they feel to be the suitable qualifications. It is isn't cheap - but if you were awarded say the AI, then it would be cheaper than working your way through the individual exams.

If you look under training and education on the BHS website - you will find info about it.
 
I was 45 when I did my stage 1 & 2. two years ago. I really need to do my stage 3 but I just cant get into picking up the books. I like studying and learning and to complete an exam at the end of it is a bonus.

go for it :D
 
i think examiners actually prefer an older student, you can talk from experience and also often have more confidence to speak up in a group situation. depending where you take exams will depend if you are the oldest. Ive taken most of mine at colleges and was the oldest (mid 20) amongst students of the college. However this does make you stand out a bit and so you can impress examiner more. Go for it.
 
Bertthefrog said:
Join the wrinklies and get on with it!

It may be worth knowing that if you have comprehensive equine CV, and good references - you can submit these to the BHS and they will consider and award what they feel to be the suitable qualifications. It is isn't cheap - but if you were awarded say the AI, then it would be cheaper than working your way through the individual exams.

If you look under training and education on the BHS website - you will find info about it.
Click to expand...

Out of interest, what counts as a comprehensive equine CV?

Is it purely competition based?
 
TOO OLD?!!! Don't be daft!
I know lots of people that have taken their BHS exams that are waaayyy older than you!!

Like people saying here you're never too old to learn..in fact I think they're a great thing to do once people have been working and out of education for a while as they can often provide you with another alternative career or hobby!

Main reason I commented though was as I read recently on the BHS blog the whole of their exam structure has changed and you can now just take individual modules...great for me as I am not the bravest of jumpers and coule actually get all the way to my Stage 3 in Care/riding on the flat, which I was never able to do before :) www.thebritishhorsesociety.wordpress.com

Good luck!!!!
 
xspiralx said:
Out of interest, what counts as a comprehensive equine CV?

Is it purely competition based?
Click to expand...

I don't think so - although a competitive history would help towards the riding part of the exams.

Say for example, you have managed a livery yard for five years - mixed clientelle - some competition, some breeding and youngstock - with suitable references that could well mean you could be awarded your stage four care, or even stable managers certificate.

I have not gone through the process myself - but a colleague recommended this process to a friend of hers (who I believe was a regular competitve rider) and she was awarded the full BHS II certificate.

This process isn't cheap - I think around the £350 region - but when you consider the cost of the Stage One is around £160 it could save you some pennies!.

Worth looking into!;)
 
OK OK!!!! i wasn'y saying that i am too old, i don't personally think i am and i think that it's good for a person of any age to be learning. It just hasn't changed in 20 yrs, you still have to wear hacking jacket and beige jods, that kind of thing and i didn't want to be sticking out like a sore thumb with people 20 years younger!
Now i know that all ages are doing it i have no worries!

Except that i can't find anywhere too local to where i live and i don't have too much transport...
 
go for it!! Im 23, and doing Horse and Stable Management in April, then I want to do my BHS stages after that, its good to get the qualifications to back up what u know and increase ur knowledge :)
 
Sarah_horsey said:
OK OK!!!! i wasn'y saying that i am too old, i don't personally think i am and i think that it's good for a person of any age to be learning. It just hasn't changed in 20 yrs, you still have to wear hacking jacket and beige jods, that kind of thing and i didn't want to be sticking out like a sore thumb with people 20 years younger!
Now i know that all ages are doing it i have no worries!

Except that i can't find anywhere too local to where i live and i don't have too much transport...
Click to expand...

The way the world is now, most people will have several careers in their lifetime so this is certainly a sigh of the day and age we live in. You're right to ask people's opinion though and I hope that the posts have put your mind at rest. I took my stage 1 in 1989 and am taking my stage 2 riding this May. I love all the pomp and ceremony of having to wear hacking jacket and jods as we don't get to dress up too much here in Hong Kong as local shows are pretty unheard of (or heavily oversubscribed).
If you live too far away would it be possible to contact one of the larger yards and offer some type of exchange such as working pupil? It's always worth asking if they can do this as lots of them have onsite accommodation and it wouldn't cost them anything to have an extra worker for a few weeks. (again I don't know your situation so it may not be possible).
Good luck with your choice and your future too.
 
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