BHS Exams....?

Sol

Sol

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As if yr12 isn't going to be hard enough.... I would really like to start working towards my BHS Exams this year :) Obviously starting with my Stage 1. I would love to eventually be qualified to instruct.

I've got a few questions though! :D

- Do you need to go to a RS or somewhere in order to take your exams/recieve any form of training? (if so, anyone know a good place near Sandbach, Cheshire specifically for this?) Or can I pretty much pick up the Stage 1 manual, learn anything I don't know, and take the exam? :p

- How long does it take approx. to work up to and take each exam? Or how many could I potentially work towards in a year?

- Anything else I should know?!


Thanks :D
 
Without seeing you ride it's hard to say what level you're at. Best bet is to go to an exam centre for an assessment lesson.

But stable management wise, yh you can just learn it out of a book!
 
Walk/trot/canter, jumped upto 3'6, only done 2'9 courses but on green horses, have helped back, had 3 classical dressage lessons and can do a fair bit of lateral work, uhm.... have done XC etc
I hope I'd be able to get through my stage 1 with -too many- hiccups? :) Could be wrong, but it would be nice!!

haha, do you know if the guide things are any good? Manuals I mean... have seen them around before.

Thanks :D
 
I'm sure you will... But you just need to be able to jump through the BHS hoops!

The manuals are good. I self taught stable management (had a couple of lunge lessons so I did it the BHS way!). I bought the White Hazel Read books
 
I can highly recommend the Islay Auty books. You should be ok with your Stage 1, just make sure you are aware of the BHS 'way' when it comes to things like rugging, tacking up, water buckets etc. The only other thing I had to swat up on a tiny bit was identifying straight feeds. If you read the book you should be ok.

Stage 2 my main problems are plaiting (I'm rubbish!) and flawless lunging (too many bad habits!)

Good luck.
 
I don't think you need to worry at all! As far as i'm aware, they're pipsqueak easy! True, with stable management you do need to be aware for specific BHS hoops (for example, if the examiner asked you what the correct way to dispose of a much heap was, you can't say give it to gardeners as fertiliser, you have to get it taken away, even though everyone does use it as fertiliser!) but yeah, stage 1 and 2 are pretty basic tbh! I'm in year 12, and i'm working towards both of them atm, gonna sit the exams once i have enough money to pay for them lol! But the riding is really easy, I think stage 2 you have to jump a course of 2 ft 6 showjumps. You don't have to show a horse working on the bit until stage 3, and I don't think theres any XC til stage 3 either. Goodluck! :)
check out:
http://www.bhs.org.uk/Training_and_Qualifications/BHS_Examinations_and_Qualifications.aspx
got all the info :)
 
Stage one is a breeze so i would just get hold of a syllabus read it and brush up its very straight forwards, if you have any queries on it any instrutor should be able to tell you some tips, the exam technique is a little tricky there is a particualr guide that helpes you with the 'bhs way' not sure whihc one it is

for the other stages the examiners hand book is super handy casue it tells you basically all the questions you will be asked in various sections and also the lay out of the riding sections as well, like the course you will jump the procedure for the lunging sections etc

there are also kind of like workbook Q&A type books which are quite handy if you have any queries about the theroy sections
 
Oh good grief:(

There is no such thing as the "BHS way", but these are professional examinations designed to produce people who can actually ride to a certain standard and know enough about horse care and management to be employable within the industry.

Yes, there is a certain amount of exam technique involved, much the same as doing your GCSEs, and I would strongly advise that you find a training centre or an instructor who specialises in training people for their exams (like me:) only I'm a bit far away!). Go for an assessment lesson and then decide if you need follow up lessons for your riding.

Stage 1 is fairly straightforward but you will fail it if you are unsafe in anything you do or if you have an incorrect/unbalanced seat when riding.

Stage 2 involves showjumping (on strange horses remember) and lungeing. If you do not lunge correctly and safely, you will fail. Most people who fail do so on the lungeing. At Stage 2 and 3 the lungeing is part of the Care section of the exam, so you can be up to speed on your stable management practical and theory, and fail the whole section on your lungeing.

Stage 3 includes xc.

There is plenty of info on the BHS website and lots of good training guides you can buy. The Examiners Handbook is a very useful tool.

Depending on your current level (and how much money you have because the exams are expensive) I would suggest doing 1 and 2 fairly close together, and then spending some time working for your 3. There is a pretty big difference between what is required for 2 and 3.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to pm me :)
 
Thanks everyone :)

Rowreach - All makes sense :) I think I'll have a word with one of the women where I keep Danny again, she's mentioned before that she's able to do the training I think, so might see what she has to say. I'm fairly sure I should be ok for my stage 1 riding but you never know xD

Thanks (:
 
Would totally echo Rowreach. Big difference between stage 2 and stage 3 in terms of the flat work in particular. In stage 3 you have to be able to really work the horse and explain to the examiner how the horse felt and what you would do to improve him/her. The jumping needs to look smooth and confident and I think you do need to have experience jumping competatively even if, like me, you only compete unaffiliated.

If you want to teach, you'll need to take your PTT and then complete a portfolio, in addition you'll need a first aid qualification and to do your child protection course. In addition to being quite expensive, the PTT is one of the hardest exams to pass especially if you don't teach regularly. When you get into that arena and are presented with 3 strange riders and 3 strange horses and only half an hour to teach them to jump, if you don't have the confidence/previous experience it will really show. You need to be able to explain your teaching decision with the examiner when you are questioned afterwards and if they aren't sure about a decision you made, you need to be able to argue (politely) as to exactly why you think it was safe/appropriate. Even if you have the knowledge and experience to pass your 1, 2 and 3 without outside tutoring/lessons, I think you will struggle to get your PTT without regular teaching hours and some training beforehand.

Good luck though, stage 3 riding in particular is brilliant fun to take!
 
icyfreya said:
I don't think you need to worry at all! As far as i'm aware, they're pipsqueak easy! True, with stable management you do need to be aware for specific BHS hoops (for example, if the examiner asked you what the correct way to dispose of a much heap was, you can't say give it to gardeners as fertiliser, you have to get it taken away, even though everyone does use it as fertiliser!) but yeah, stage 1 and 2 are pretty basic tbh! I'm in year 12, and i'm working towards both of them atm, gonna sit the exams once i have enough money to pay for them lol! But the riding is really easy, I think stage 2 you have to jump a course of 2 ft 6 showjumps. You don't have to show a horse working on the bit until stage 3, and I don't think theres any XC til stage 3 either. Goodluck! :)
check out:
http://www.bhs.org.uk/Training_and_Qualifications/BHS_Examinations_and_Qualifications.aspx
got all the info :)
Click to expand...

If you think the BHS exams are 'pipsqueak easy' and 'pretty basic', think again. The riding is not 'really easy' - but hey, I'm sure you'll find out for yourself!
 
Stage 1 is easy, stage 2 a bit harder, 3 quite hard and 4 really hard, this is what i have heard from alot of friends, im working towards my stage 1 at the moment aswell. I only know 1 person, out of alot of horsey friends that have done their stages, who has passed their stage 4 first time.
although the tests might seem easy the BHS is very fussy on how you do things, hence why so many people fail stuff like lunging, i go to duchy college which is a BHS yard and they are so annoying and fussy. i would advise getting the little bsh book and maybe having a few lunge lessons.
 
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