BHS Stages Care and Riding

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Epona97

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Hello all and I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas,

I have been considering doing my BHS Stage 1 for some time now, the only thing holding me back being a lack of funds! However, that is not a huge problem now and I hope that the new year will prove more fruitful than the previous one. My question to you is can I do my Stage 1 care and then move to Stage 2 care immediately, or do I have to do Stage 1 Care and Riding before moving onto Stage 2 altogether? I really appreciate your help and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year,
Epona97
 
You can complete the 'horse knowledge and care' side of the exams right up to Stage 4 and the Stable Managers exam without doing any of the riding qualifications (keep in mind that lunging forms part of some care exams).

Similarly you can do the riding only right up through the levels without doing the care (lunging and equitation theory is part of the Stage 4 riding).

To do the teaching you must complete the entire stage 2 but can then go up the teaching levels
 
Is there a reason you don't want to do riding? ...I am doing mine at the mo and been through stage 1,2 and the road safety so if u need anything just message x
 
If you pass your complete stage 1 care, you can progress on to your stage 2 care, then stage 3 care and then stage 4 care.

If you also do your stage 1 riding, you will need to have passed your Riding and Road Safety test to be able to do your stage 2 riding, and then progress to stage 3 and 4 riding.

If you're wanting to take your PTT then you need your complete stage 1, r&rs and stage 2 complete, unless you are applying for direct entry, which you need checking and clearing by HQ to do.

Bear in mind that if you split your exams down into doing the care at one time, and then riding at a later stage, it pushes the cost up considerably.

If you need any further info, drop me a PM.
 
The thing that completely shocked me about the BHS exams is that there is an uppervage limit of 65. Err Why , possibly we know more than the examiner.
 
Mike007 said:
The thing that completely shocked me about the BHS exams is that there is an uppervage limit of 65. Err Why , possibly we know more than the examiner.
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Well thats a good thing that I have all mine as I turn 63 today! I guess they are worried that we aren't agile enough to cope with the work and the lunging. Hopefully we do already know as much as or more than the examiners
 
I thinkn the examiners are worried that perhaps we might know a bit more than they bargained for,Happy birtday to you, happy birthday to you happy birthday dear Tnavas happy birthday to you.
 
Is there really a 65 year age limit for all BHS exams? Is that due to insurance problems at their centres?
I am quite surprised as I didnt start riding till I was 62 and some years later did the RRS course at our riding school. The instructor in charge refused to enter me for the exam itself due to my difficulties dismounting - she aimed for a 100% pass rate.
However, being interested in the obstacles for older people learning to ride, I wrote to the BHS and was told that physical limitations should not prevent one taking the RRS test and I was welcome to take it at another local centre. I never did take the test but I was over 65 at the time.
 
Mike007 said:
The thing that completely shocked me about the BHS exams is that there is an uppervage limit of 65. Err Why , possibly we know more than the examiner.
Click to expand...

Is that not discrimination against age? I am surprised that it is legal. I can see that candidates need to be to a level of fitness, but I have seen some teenagers far less fit and healthy. Gosh, one in the eye for the Olympic Dressage rider from Japan, who rode in an Olympic games in his 70s!!!

If they are so worried about fitness then surely it would be better to have a minimum level of fitness rather than a blanket ban? There have been many people riding BE, National Hunt, hunting etc well into their 60s and beyond.

A quick Google search and here is a 73 yo event rider... http://www.horsenation.com/2012/07/20/the-age-impaired-rider-to-old-for-that-never/

As for SJ, I seem to remember hearing that a 70plus rider is still bringing on horses to 2* standard. You only have to look at our top 10 ranked riders to see that a lot are knocking on 60.

Maybe someone from the BHS cold confirm if there is an age rule, and the reason behind it?
 
There's nothing on the BHS website about upper age limits for exams, and they are very clear about the lower age limits on the exams which have changed recently. Maybe they've recently removed upper age requirements too? I think individual exam centers can restrict the ages of candidates they will take though, especially if it's for insurance reasons. I imagine a lot of exam centers would have a maximum weight limit as well, although the BHS don't impose a weight limit.

They do say that all candidates must be fit enough to carry out yard work, including things like heavy lifting, removing twisted shoes etc, as well as be able to mount a horse from the ground and give a leg up in some exams. When you think about it, this excludes a lot of people from taking/passing the exams and I think if the examiner thinks you aren't fit enough, they can prevent you from doing certain activities.

The stage exams especially are practical exams, so they're not just about knowledge. You have to actually be physically capable of doing the things you are being examined on.
 
There are weight limits at some of the centres which are set by the individual centres based on the horses they have there to use for the exams, but no upper age limits afaik. Lower age limits due to H&S, but provided you're a full gold member and reach the prerequisites for the level you're entering, you can apply to sit the exams. Can double check this though and confirm for you Mike007..

The exams are all for equal opportunities! They're aimed to be as accessible to as many candidates as possible. Medical difficulties and disabilities are accounted for, provided sufficient medical evidence is received, and even if it isn't the examiners and centre are aware of the submission of a reasonable adjustment form.

With that in mind candidates must be able to fulfil the syllabus and meet certain standards safely, and if an examiner deems the candidate to be at risk to themselves, others and the horses, they can then be withdrawn from the exam.
 
hi everyone :) I took my bhs stage 1 exam in October 2014, only started riding in july 2013 so on the knowledge side, if i can do it, you sure can! lol. as for age limit I didn't know this but I guess it's just because centres wont do it past 65 for insurance reasons? luckly I have a long while until I am that age haha.

The stage 1 exam was actually really good, I was excited for it and just wanted to talk and speak of everything I knew all the time, which I heard was good anyway beter than being shy.

I have my riding and road safety exam in March and planning on taking my stage 2 in july sometime, if my coach says I am good enough. fingers crossed. I think you should go for it, let me us know how it goes if you do!! :)
 
Hello

We're happy to clarify that there's no upper age limit for our exams. As long as a candidate meets entry requirements and is over the minimum age, they're welcome to enter for an exam.

We do have a Reasonable Adjustment Policy for candidates with special requirements. This was recently reviewed and is available at http://www.bhs.org.uk/~/media/BHS/F...ustment Policy and Process October 2014.ashx.

As has been said, we don't impose a weight limit ourselves but weight limits are set by individual centres to account for the horses they have available.

darkmystic7 - we're pleased to hear you enjoyed Stage 1! Best of luck for your Stage 2 and also to Epona97 for starting their Stages journey :)
 
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