BHS Stage 2 tips and hints

SaffronWelshDragon

SaffronWelshDragon

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Hi all,

So, I had a thread on here a couple of months ago, but I have now booked my S2 for early November. I've been doing, and plan to do, far more lungeing practice - really getting muscle memory going for looping and unlooping the lunge rope in that special BHS way so no twists. I feel much more confident about the whole thing as I've been plaiting for dressage as well as bandaging and they were my other two problem areas. I'm still struggling with getting the end of the bandage to finish in the correct place (outside of the leg), it seems very hit and miss as it really could finish anywhere!

My S2 book if going with me everywhere and I will start writing down problems, such as feeding, fittening etc. and answer my own questions. Are there any particular things I should look out for? I was petrified doing my S1 in Jan 2013, but as the day went on I relaxed quite a bit and didn't have any real problems. So, I'm after any advice on things to watch out for at S2. I'm doing the riding section as well, which doesn't really bother me too much as I'm happy jumping 2'6 and different horses are fine providing they're reasonably well behaved and don't try to kill me :D

Thanks all :)
 
When I did the stage 2 many many years ago the thing I had to concerntrate on was making sure my horse was on the right leg when doing the jumping course, so remembering to bring it back to trot for a couple of strides if it's on the wrong leg then back to canter on the right leg before the jump.

It was noted at the end that a lot of the riders stiffened up when riding outside as well.

Good luck I'm sure you will be great :)
 
My daughter did hers recently, fine with lunging but failed the jumping. Having our own forward going horses, she found the "safe" ones supplied by the exam centre were not that forward going, and she struggled to stay in balance. She had had some lessons at various BHS centres as well as at the college she attended, but on the day the horses proved an issue for her,
Can be argued she should be able to ride all types, but placid horses that weren't forward going were a challenge!
Have you had lessons at the centre where you're taking the exams?
 
Thank you both!

Foxy O - Yes I must remember to come back to trot after each jump, and to be dead centre on the approach. The riding around outside I haven't given much thought to actually. Do you literally just hack around outside the school in a group for a bit? I'm a confident hacker to so I just popped that to the back of my mind. I'm fairly happy as long as I know in advance what to expect I'll feel more comfortable.

Spottyappy - That's interesting, I have had quite a few group lessons on RS horses which included some jumping, but they all seemed to be quite forward going and very willing to jump. I haven't had any lessons at the venue I'm doing the exam at. It's Newton Hall in Suffolk which I've heard good things about. I'm planning to visit there anyway so I can have a look around and familiarise myself with the layout etc.
 
*whistles innocently* Technically this is 2'6 on a safe and experienced jumper... ;) I'd book a few jump lessons before your exam.

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Seconded on the jumping lessons - My friend has recently re-taken the jumping exam, sadly for her without success.
Horses range hugely from tearing your shoulders out heavy on the forehand to scary speed towards the jump followed by a dead stop after (?!).
Try arrange lessons in the venue where you are being tested if possible...?
 
I think if you hack regularly the riding outside bit shouldn't be an issue, I think most of the people I did the test with mainly just rode in schools, whilst I had mainly hacked and they said I seemed far more relaxed than the others outside
 
I helped someone prepare for their stage 2, and although the majority of the riding was in an indoor school, the jumping was in a field! Luckily although we had not done much jumping on grass we had done some, and a lot of schooling on grass so he was fine.

I suspect with the time of year you will be almost guaranteed at least an outdoor arena for jumping, so IMO your view that will be OK is a self fulfilling prophesy. Plus, the centres are judged on their quality of horses so when we walked the jumping course for the jumping it was obvious from the hoof marks that all the jumping horses had been out through their paces the day before.

I would agree to develop muscle memory with lungeing. Get that rein in and out without dropping it. Also to keep your current cool outlook. It *can* be fun to do an exam, it is riding horses after all :D:D:D

Also, on the day do not think that if you make one howler of a mistake that you have "failed", as IMO the examiners do recognise that horses will be horses, and nerves can do strange things......

I thoroughly recommend breakfast - even if you have to force it down, Going green is normal. Drink loads, as you will be in the loo a lot anyway.

Also, don't try to second guess everything. If you suspect there is an "exam way" that you don't know, then do it your way and tell the examiner that this is how you do it and why, with conviction.

Good luck, have breakfast, enjoy the very nerves that *could* stop you performing. :)



Edited to add - chill out about the bandage - it CAN finish anywhere, it is the knot that has to be on the outside!!!!! The strings should be long enough to make the knot be wherever you want it to be, and if it is a Velcro tab then if it is in the wrong place then tell then you would use a round of tape (as in electricians tape) to smooth it off.
 
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Thanks Foxy O, that's kind of what I was thinking. I was planning on the outdoorsy bit being a change to have a breather - though of course not actually forgetting that I'm in an exam LOL!

Red - Thanks for taking the time to type all the out! it's really interesting and useful. In terms of lungeing, I have been clipping the rope to a ring and going back and forth getting the rope in and out correctly. Taking up for lungeing etc. I'm going to be working on. Need to practice plaiting tails as that's something I never do and I understand there is a chance they'll ask for it.

At the moment I am looking at it like I get to ride a few different horses and pop around a small jumping course. That sounds pretty fun to me, I guarantee I won't be feeling the same way in a few weeks!!

I understand that confidence at looking / sounding like you know what you're doing counts for a lot, and of course SAFETY! There were quite a few younger ones in my S1 who were quite timid, but I can yap on for ages lol!

Currently trying to work out the logistics of getting to the centre for a lesson. Working full time can be a right pita! At the very least I will be up there to visit and have a good look around, meet the S2 horses which is what I did for my S1. I'll probably have to have some lessons at my local BHS centre, but I've had a few this year and RI was quite happy with my S2 riding ability.

Edit: Ah thanks for the bandaging tip! I've been using bandages with velcro, and it seems to be completely pot luck as to where they'll end!
 
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I would have done mine sooner but there aren't any dates nearby. Having said that perhaps waiting for spring isn't a bad idea!
 
Just thinking of a few more questions.

I visited the exam centre at the weekend, seems nice and friendly. The jumping is outdoors in a field, doesn't seem to be fenced in at all.

The thing that concerns me a little is the stables all seem very small compared to what I'm used to, and I have ponies in 12x14ft so loads of room. Assuming the tacking up etc. will be with horses, I'm concerned about the lack of room for manuvoer around the horse, let along if/when I need to skip out around him! Any thoughts?

I've been told that the horses are all pretty good, and happy to jump, but need to be told to do so as they will try it on. One apparently likes to the jumping, cross country style so I'll have to watch out for that!

I was reading in the syllabus that the horse will be brought out for lungeing tacked up apart from cavesson and sidereins. Bit confused as surely we'll be tacking up for lungeing seperately, so this would already have been covered?

Any more thoughts on any of this? Thanks so much for your help guys!
 
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SaffronWelshDragon said:
Just thinking of a few more questions.

I visited the exam centre at the weekend, seems nice and friendly. The jumping is outdoors in a field, doesn't seem to be fenced in at all.


Any more thoughts on any of this? Thanks so much for your help guys!
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Hi,

Wow, I was SO excited when you posted again, I presumed you had been and done it, and were reporting back.

With the time of year I am slightly surprised the SJ is outdoors, but they will have practised the horses. The thing to remember is that in an arena you are trained to make maximum use of the space, but in an open field you need to just pick your line. Remember to use outside aids, as there is no fence to hold you in.

As to the XC loving horse, just set a rhythm in your head, I usually sing a song in my head :D, then keep the same rhythm all the way round. Look for the fences, and ride the line between them. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
My yard (nowhere near you!) uses the outdoor for both the flat & jump (they have an olympic size indoor) - the jumping horses are the jumpers - no dressage horses in there and the flat horses are the dressage beasts, the jump horses know their job and can be the steady type or the speedy - they are not taken round the jump course the day before but worked how they normally would be and if there is a jump lesson that day then it is a coincidence. Just don't worry too much. :)
 
I am taking my Stage 2 on Thursday and my two biggest worries are feed (as the syllabus bears no resemblance to how I have ever fed horses) and tail plaiting (still not managed one).
 
tescoexpress said:
I am taking my Stage 2 on Thursday and my two biggest worries are feed (as the syllabus bears no resemblance to how I have ever fed horses) and tail plaiting (still not managed one).
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I agree about the feeding, I have never fed my ponies cereals, and only occasionally seen straight cereals in RL.

And the tail plaiting! I had a go this morning and was useless! Lots of practicing this week.

Good luck tescoexpress - do let me know how you got on, I'm sure you'll be fine.
 
tescoexpress said:
I am taking my Stage 2 on Thursday and my two biggest worries are feed (as the syllabus bears no resemblance to how I have ever fed horses) and tail plaiting (still not managed one).
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Shhhhhh,

IME the tail plaiting takes too long, and usually you do a couple of mane plaits :)

You *may* have to do one, but also maybe not :thumbup:
 
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I took my stage 2 ages ago so things may have changed, but my two lessons learnt were:

On the lunging - remember to check the horses equipment! Mine had just been lunged directly before me so I just set to, but the tester had loosened a stirrup to see if I picked up on it so ended up with stirrup flapping by horses side and had to stop and correct it.

On the jumping - I was used to 16hh+ TB types and was put on a 14hh pony, I was completely thrown off. Did manage a clear round but not a stylish one! If you're used to a particular type, would be worth trying to get some experience of different ones.
 
Mane and tail plaiting came up! Now a whole tail though, just had to start one off. Schoolboy error on the travel section - I thought a hock boot was a knee boot!
 
In my experience the section people most struggle with is lungeing. Practice practice practice, in the gloves that you will be wearing on the day (as this makes a difference!) and as someone has already said check equipment properly, secure stirrups etc.
Try and practice lungeing some very lazy horses, the one I got in my s2 was an absolute nightmare to get moving and I think that's much harder to deal with than the opposite lol! The examiners kept shouting over to me to whack it with the lunge whip lol.
Good luck :)
 
Red-1 said:
Opps, well it is a Back Knee Boot - of sorts!

When do you get your results?

Good luck!
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7-10 days. The only other faux pas were a front leg bandage went a little high and my plaiting (esp tail) was not perfect (mane ones had to be be with bands and I defy anyone to make them look neat). Stopped by 2 examiners for giving Stage 3 level answers and the third told me she learnt something from me (putting desiccant gel packets in with tack for long term storage to prevent mildew). During stable design I managed to slip in that I designed my own ones and in grassland management I rattled off the selective herbicide spray types and dosages/hectare that I use.
 
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