BHS Stage 1 Ride Tips

[equestrian7474]

Hi! Looking for a few tips for my stage 1 ride.

Is there anything I should really focus on? Anything people who have done the exam wish they could’ve done differently? Anything you weren’t expecting?

2 extra questions:
- bhs syllabus says no cantering without stirrups but y/o told me otherwise, is cantering without stirrups included? wouldn’t be a problem if so just wondering
- sequence of footfalls not on syllabus but heard a bit about it on here. are they asked about as they’re definitely my weak point

 

[I'm Dun]

No cantering without stirrups. Its a very basic test. They are looking for you to be neat and tidy position wise and not do anything stupid. They don't expect you to have any influence on the horses way of going, other than direction and speed. So just concentrate on keeping a correct position and following instructions.

If its not on the syllabus then it shouldn't be asked about.

 

[teapot]

Def no cantering without stirrups. Stage 1 is about being safe to ride a generic school horse in all three paces, ie can this employee exercise a horse for twenty minutes, not school, exercise.

Loads of good info here, including latest syllabus, and a useful vid https://pathways.bhs.org.uk/career-pathways/coaching-pathway/complete-horsemanship-1/stage-1-ride/

(Just to reassure you, some of those riders are well above the Stage 1 standard by experience/quals)

 

[Kaylum]

Go have some lessons at your test centre if possible so you know the layout and surface of the school and get to know the exam horses they use.

 

[Wishfilly]

Hi! Looking for a few tips for my stage 1 ride.

Is there anything I should really focus on? Anything people who have done the exam wish they could’ve done differently? Anything you weren’t expecting?

2 extra questions:
- bhs syllabus says no cantering without stirrups but y/o told me otherwise, is cantering without stirrups included? wouldn’t be a problem if so just wondering
- sequence of footfalls not on syllabus but heard a bit about it on here. are they asked about as they’re definitely my weak point

I did my stage one quite a few years ago, under the old system where you could do the six progressive riding tests and get stage one. The sixth (?) one asked for cantering without stirrups I believe, and possibly it was also on the old style stage one? So this may be why your yard owner thinks this is the case?

When I did my stage one and two under the old style, it didn't matter if something went wrong (e.g. incorrect canter strike off) as long as you sorted it quickly. But make sure you don't fail for something silly like taking your feet out of the stirrups at the wrong time etc.

I agree with going to have lessons at the assessment center if at all possible- this was my issue when doing stage 2 and anything past that- I'd have to travel for hours to get to the exam center, ride totally unfamiliar horses, and potentially cock up with a silly mistake because I was nervous, and one of the reasons I ultimately knocked the whole thing on the head.

But for stage one you will probably be fine.

 

[equestrian7474]

Go have some lessons at your test centre if possible so you know the layout and surface of the school and get to know the exam horses they use.

I think I’ve got a huge advantage there - I am a livery at the riding school I’m taking the assessment at and I have ridden all of their stage 1 horses countless of times and know them all like the back of my hand. As well as riding them myself I see them in lessons often so I can also take any advice that instructors are giving to other riders about the horse

 

[Littlebear]

It was a while ago now I did stage 1 but they 100% made us cover the footfalls, and I recall alot more questions about the aims and set up of the BHS itself than I was expecting.

 

[equestrian7474]

I recall alot more questions about the aims and set up of the BHS itself than I was expecting.

Do you remember what kind of things were covered on those? I didn’t know about anything like that coming up in the ride exam.

 

[teapot]

It was a while ago now I did stage 1 but they 100% made us cover the footfalls, and I recall alot more questions about the aims and set up of the BHS itself than I was expecting.

I was training people for the BHS Stage 1 & 2 less than 18 months ago and this wasn’t a subject area for the Stage 1 Ride or Care re BHS ethos/aims etc. If it not on the syllabus they will not ask it.

@equestrian7474 footfalls wise, you’re expected to know:

3.11 State the number of beats within the pace and the sequence of footfalls.

 

[fatponee]

I took my Stage 1 a couple of months ago.

My tips for the ride exam are;
Don't ask for an outline - you will be penalised. They literally only need to see that you can stop and start without falling off.
Only walk and trot without stirrups.
I was asked to describe the sequence of footfalls for walk, trot and canter. Got walk wrong as said it starts with a front foot but was corrected. Oops! I still passed.

Good luck and enjoy it.

 

[equestrian7474]

Thank you all for the advice, the exam doesn’t sound as near as daunting as I thought!!

 

[rabatsa]

It is the word EXAM that is daunting, not doing the thing itself.

 

[SantaVera]

just look confident ,mount correctly, emphasis on safety all the way through, if you are used to riding then it should be a doddle.