BHS Stage 1 on Monday any tips?

Swift00

Swift00

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Soo I've got my stage 1 exam on Monday at runningwell stud in Essex, also got a prep day there tomorrow, starting to get nervous, has any one got any tips for it, one question I have is, I know you have to take gloves off to adjust tack and have them on for leading and riding, what do you do for doing the girth whilst mounted?? Any one done an exam at runningwell I'd be very interested to hear what it's like there!
Thanks in advance
 
for doing the girth while mounted, leave your gloves on - taking your gloves off and trying to hold them, the reins and your whip whilst doing the girth might be a bit much :)

you will be fine, stage 1 is basic knowledge that you will know like the back of your hand. in the theory section, don't be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat the question, think before you answer, but don't waffle on and on!

If the examiner cuts you off during an answer, don't be offended - it means you have answered the question fully enough and they want to move on :)
 
Just try not to worry about it too much, (easy to say, I was bricking it before mine!) but its not hard at all, just common sense really. And don't be afraid to speak to the examiner if you need to. During the grooming part of mine, I didn't know which colour sponge was for nostrils etc and which for bum, so I just told the examiner that I wasn't going to use either as didn't want to risk cross infection, she passed me with a clean sheet, so obviously didn't mind me checking!!! Good luck and don't panic!! :)
 
hollybear said:
Just try not to worry about it too much, (easy to say, I was bricking it before mine!) but its not hard at all, just common sense really. And don't be afraid to speak to the examiner if you need to. During the grooming part of mine, I didn't know which colour sponge was for nostrils etc and which for bum, so I just told the examiner that I wasn't going to use either as didn't want to risk cross infection, she passed me with a clean sheet, so obviously didn't mind me checking!!! Good luck and don't panic!! :)
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This! It is much more about being able to show common sense around horses (in a lot of ways) then doing things from a text book.
In my stage 2 we had to lunge in average lunge gear (side reins and cavesson) and I completely left the side reins off because I thought they were too short for the sort of work we were supposed to be showing and I didn't want to put them on wrongly just for the sake of it.
Try and enjoy it, how many other opportunities can you think of for dressing up and doing everything in the really old school way, I think it's kind of fun!
 
I did mine too many years ago to remember, but my daughter did hers a couple in August and passed. She said they did as some funny questions, in the way they phrased them. She took it at a rs she didn't attend- but we booked a private lesson a couple of weeks before, so we could have a look round and get a feel for the place. This helped her confidence as she turned up at least knowing what the lay out etc was like. I had also done the same when I took mine.
She also said that she tied a horse up,and the examiner said it was still tied too long. She shortened the rope, but the actual bale twine was too long. She pointed it out to the examiner, who did not reply, so she felt she had at least made him aware she knew the string was too long.She maybe could have suggested that he find out if she could cut it, but she didn't think to ask.
She also said they had alot of food stuffsto identify. She knew hers, but noone knew one of the feeds- which turned out to be bran. The poor girl that had it, had to admit to not knowing, but the examiner then asked the rest of the group, and he was shocked that noone knew it.So, make sure you are familiar with all different types of hard feed, even if they are not frequently used on your yard.

Good luck
 
Good luck :D I did mine last November, can't believe its nearly been a year...

- Don't groom with your gloves on
- One of my examiners tried to make me doubt my answers (Are you sure this is what you would do etc) don't let them try to make you doubt your answers if you know you're right!
- If you make a little mistake it isn't the end of world :) (I forgot how to weigh a haynet :rolleyes:)
 
If you're going to keep your gloves on when doing up the girth - make sure that they fit well on the finger tip!! I got mine caught in the buckle and it took me ages to free myself, and everyone was looking at me as if I was an idiot.

Also, make sure you know about how to work out how much feed to give a horse. One of my questions was "What would you feed a 16hh hunter in medium work in winter? It weighs 500kg." I can't remembe the formula off the top of my head.
 
Stage one is very easy. They asked us what colour a grey horse was, some stupid girl said white, I don't know if she passed!
The main area to concentrate on is feeding, weights of feed and hay etc.
they put me on a stupidly big horse which bolted with me, but because I brought it back to walk calmly and gave it a pat before carrying on they didn't bat an eyelid. Your be fine, be confident and speak up to answer group questions.
 
Thanks for all the stories and tips, i'm glad that i've got the prep day tomorrow, i can never work out how long it will take to drive somewere when the M25's involved!:rolleyes:
I will let you know what the centre is like and how the exam goes, how long does it take to get results or do you find out on the day, with the riding and road safety they told us on the day?
 
Swift00 said:
Thanks for all the stories and tips, i'm glad that i've got the prep day tomorrow, i can never work out how long it will take to drive somewere when the M25's involved!:rolleyes:
I will let you know what the centre is like and how the exam goes, how long does it take to get results or do you find out on the day, with the riding and road safety they told us on the day?
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Results are normally in 7-10 days :) But I got mine in just under a week :)
 
Well the prep day went well, found the yard eventully after the sat nav got us lost:rolleyes: we went through practical, theory and then went through a mock riding section, i'm certainly feeling more confident now i know where it is and the layout of the yard etc. the instructor went through feeding, which i was really pleased about, just got to remember it now!
 
ElphabaFae said:
Good luck :D I did mine last November, can't believe its nearly been a year...

- One of my examiners tried to make me doubt my answers (Are you sure this is what you would do etc) don't let them try to make you doubt your answers if you know you're right!
- If you make a little mistake it isn't the end of world :) (I forgot how to weigh a haynet :rolleyes:)
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As an examiner for Pony Club if I say "are you sure?" - it usually means that you aren't right and I'm giving you the chance to have a think and correct your answer. Be honest and admit if you don't. Just freshly back from a day long examiner refresher course - this was a comment made by the person taking the course.

Interesting about the bran - we've noticed that a lot here in NZ - people don't feed bran like they did in the past and so don't often see it.

As far as the exam goes - HAVE FUN!! enjoy the day, the examiners can be nervous too and bear in mind we do really hate failing people.

Gloves and girth - if string gloves then take off the one doing the pulling up - nothing worse than getting the pin of the girth caught in your glove - and yes I've done it!! Tuck the glove you've taken off under your opposite knee or between your teeth.

Best of luck to you and Jemima_P - do let us know how you get on
 
Thanks for all the tips everyone! I'm sure it will all be over before we know it.
Beth and Jemima, the yard was really friendly, and the horses all seemed to be very well schooled/responsive (at least the ones i saw/rode!)
Got an early start to get there tomorrow, just doing some last bits of revision, before getting a good nights sleep!
 
Today actually went really well, the worst of my nerves disappeared once we got off the M25!
I actually enjoyed the day, it all went well, all the examiners were really nice, the horses were fantastic, (although i did loose my light seat position over one set of poles, hopefully not detrimental).
Just got to wait for results now!
 
Swift00 said:
Today actually went really well, the worst of my nerves disappeared once we got off the M25!
I actually enjoyed the day, it all went well, all the examiners were really nice, the horses were fantastic, (although i did loose my light seat position over one set of poles, hopefully not detrimental).
Just got to wait for results now!
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Who were your examiners?
 
As Promised

Mrs Julie Biggs - Chief Assessor
Mrs M J Luesley - Practical Oral and 1/2 theory
Mr G Andrews - Riding and 1/2 theory
Mrs Brasted-Watts - Practical

All were really nice, and friendly:D
 
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