BHS Exams

[Befairtoall]

I took BHS exams some time ago and was wondering if the “Club” mentality still exists. Let me clarify, In my day if one or more examiners didn’t like you you didn’t get in the “club” no matter how good you were. I fell out with an examiner (instructor, used to have lessons with her) who made my life very difficult when it came to exams, eventually had to take in another county under new married name and passed all of them. I’m not the only one who had to take drastic measures to get a fair evaluation. I have a client now who wants to do the exams, has this biased attitude been dealt with in modern times???? Unfortunately examiner in question is still in this sector.

 

[hazel25]

Something similar did once happen to a friend of mine. She switched instructors a while before her exam but unfortunately her old instructor who was her examiner got unreasonably cross about the change and did not evaluate her exam fairly. My friend ultimately went and took them elsewhere, passed easily. I do feel as though some examiners can like to take personal matters into the exam which isn't right at all obviously. Obviously not every single one but definitely quite a few.

 

[Befairtoall]

Hi, yes I saw it a lot in the day but hoped it was better regulated these days. My student is foreign so she can do FEI exams, I did both and to be fair the FEI passport was actually more useful teaching abroad to be honest.

 

[teapot]

I took BHS exams some time ago and was wondering if the “Club” mentality still exists. Let me clarify, In my day if one or more examiners didn’t like you you didn’t get in the “club” no matter how good you were. I fell out with an examiner (instructor, used to have lessons with her) who made my life very difficult when it came to exams, eventually had to take in another county under new married name and passed all of them. I’m not the only one who had to take drastic measures to get a fair evaluation. I have a client now who wants to do the exams, has this biased attitude been dealt with in modern times???? Unfortunately examiner in question is still in this sector.

The exam system has changed a lot, including the fact they're not called examiners anymore If you've not taken any exams under the new system (2018/2019 onwards) I would avoid putting any of your personal experience onto your client as the entire vibe and process is different. People are signed off in order to take the sit the exam etc, the exams themselves are a lot more friendly, more of a two way conversation, not tell me x about y, and the assessors will do their absolute best to get someone to pass, even at the higher levels. There's also only x amount of assessors these days and they work do across the UK - there is no 'patch' anymore that there was perhaps was.

They also now take conflict of interest seriously - no one should be being examined by their own coach. I had booked a mock exam a few weeks before my actual one, which happened to be assesed by a FBHS. Without giving the game away, they were quick to give me the option of the mock or the exam due to 'a conflict of interest' - I chose the exam! I'm not sure you can be signed off by a coach, to then find they're your assessor for the day either, that's just opening it up to be abused.

Naturally one or two of the old guard may still be around, but I had some notorious assessors for my exams, and yet would actually want to be assessed by them again.

 

[Befairtoall]

Good to know it’s changed a bit however I wouldn’t want the old school examining my pupil as leopards dont change their spots lol.

I had to go around the houses to get my BHSI done and I wouldn’t want anyone else having the same issues just because of personality clashes.

 

[Compasses]

Recently taken all of the Stage 2 exams (ride, lunge, care, coach) and Stage 1 a few years back. All assessors were friendly and no sense of not being in the ‘club’, even as an external candidate who didn’t work or ride for/in the centre or anything as I have my own horses and just trained with that centre.

 

[Befairtoall]

Congratulations on stage 2 glad you had a good experience. Maybe they’ve changed their ways now, 20 years ago that was not always the case lol

 

[cowgirl16]

I took BHS exams some time ago and was wondering if the “Club” mentality still exists. Let me clarify, In my day if one or more examiners didn’t like you you didn’t get in the “club” no matter how good you were. I fell out with an examiner (instructor, used to have lessons with her) who made my life very difficult when it came to exams, eventually had to take in another county under new married name and passed all of them. I’m not the only one who had to take drastic measures to get a fair evaluation. I have a client now who wants to do the exams, has this biased attitude been dealt with in modern times???? Unfortunately examiner in question is still in this sector.

This post was really interesting to read, as I had always thought that it was just my imagination. 40 odd years ago, when I took the BHSAI, I couldn't help but feel on occasions, that if your "face didn't fit", you didn't stand a chance. Seems my instincts were correct!

 

[Kaylum]

It was also very strange as when I passed another girl passed who never took her gloves off when doing the horse care part. Checking legs for heat etc.

 

[Befairtoall]

This post was really interesting to read, as I had always thought that it was just my imagination. 40 odd years ago, when I took the BHSAI, I couldn't help but feel on occasions, that if your "face didn't fit", you didn't stand a chance. Seems my instincts were correct!

Yes you are correct. I was actually told by a senior examiner who I got on with that a certain other examiner was not letting me in the club, she advised me to go to another county which I did and passed everything. I’ve also been in a room where examiners referred to a candidate who had not passed stage two riding as was ‘too stiff’ and far to old to be taking exams, she was 45. I’m obviously not mentioning names but they are still about.

 

[Befairtoall]

It was also very strange as when I passed another girl passed who never took her gloves off when doing the horse care part. Checking legs for heat etc.

My friend past her plaiting element even after leaving the needle still in the plait. Her mum was friends with one of the examiners. I’ve also sat in an exam where a girl said the best feed for a novice child’s pony was oats, she passed. Honestly you can’t make this up lol.