BHS stages

Kat

Kat

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I'm considering doing my stages, I hadn't really thought about it until my instructor asked me why I didn't do them.

I don't have my own horse, and have a non-horsey job.

She thinks that ridingwise I am at a level where I should be able to pass stage two without needing any extra training, which was a nice boost.

It has now got me thinking and I'm not sure what to do. My mum (not horsey) thought it was a great idea and pointed out that if I could qualify as a BHSAI it would be a good back up if anything went wrong with my current work, or if I wanted to go part time or even a source of additional income (a bit of freelancing at weekends). The lady I share my lessons with said the same.

My horsey DH said he didn't see the point as I don't work with horses and it would only be about showing off and would cost too much.

My instructor said that it was a good challenge to keep pushing yourself and having something to aim for. The YO said that lots of people that do stage one are just leisure riders and that it is a good bench mark so you can objectively tell someone the level you ride at and also that it is good to have the care element of you are thinking about getting your own.

So I'm not sure whether to give it a go or not. A bit of me agrees with my DH that it would mainly be about being able to show off (and put away that slight inferiority complex that never having had my own gives me, I'm still smarting from my Pony Club test D when the examiner's comments said something about good for a weekly rider) But another part of me thinks it is a potential income, and has a pipe dream about having a livery yard one day.

So what do people think? Any point doing the stages if you've got no immediate plans for a horsey career??

How have people who have done them got on??

Thanks for reading!
 
I have done stage 1 and always intended to do the next ones, just haven't gotten around to it yet. I did it as a confidence thing, I feel a bit better having passed and know that I do know something at least!

I don't think it's showing off at all, and agree with your YO. Teaching would be a good fall back option and they don't cost that much so why not - if you're afraid of showing off, just don't tell anyone.

And I found if you do it when you don't have a horse, it's some way of satisfying your need to do something horsey, otherwise I'd have gone mad!

I say go for it if it's what you want to do
 
Thanks for that Josie, my other arguement for doing it is that it would be a good refresher of stable management type things that can get pretty rusty when you are in a riding school.

On the other hand it does scare me that I could fail for not mucking out "properly" or something.........

I know that sort of stuff, I used to work for rides as a teenager, did my progressive tests and have had a couple of shares too but things change and you get into bad habits..... My YO said that it is like the driving test, years after passing your test you can still drive but could you still pass the test or would you fail for crossing your hands on the steering wheel or something.
 
I've done my BHS Stages 1 2 & 3 both care and riding but i was at college doing a diploma so college paid for them and provided additional training needed.
I've never needed them really as i had no intention of doing my PTT and teaching but looks good to add on a CV if going for an equine related job.
At the end of the day its a recognised qualification so if you've the time i'd do it and like you say its something to aim for!
ETA You'll definately learn alot and you'll have a really good knowledge, particularly the care side of things, re feeding, ailments etc so excellent if you ever do have your own horse
 
I've got stage 1, stage 2 and PTT and am looking to do my stage 3 to get my AI so I can teach during the weekends for extra money.

It's good to have! I did mine quite a few years ago when I wanted to work as a working pupil in an event yard and compete professionally as a back should something happen - however I ended up going to Uni, and now i'm back in the country am glad I did my stages and PTT because it's brought me back with horses again!

The choice is yours, but it's not a qualification to show off... it's an achievement and gives you a good stepping stone for the future.
 
Ive got my stage 1 in november and just started training for stage 2. I dont own a horse and have a non horsey job. Im doing them for the social side - meeting like minded people and to increase my knowledge. Yes they are expensive but I think its worth it. I want my own horse next year, saving my pennies, and I think that doing my stages will help me when it comes to having my own.
 
Go for it!

I passed stage 1 in Sept and am about to do R+RS and Stage 2, i am in a non-horsey job and dont own my own though I would like to do both one day!
I enjoyed learning bits I wasnt aware of and meeting new people.
They are definatley useful if you ever want to go into a horsey job or own one
 
Hmmmm so everyone is very positive about them then.....

Maybe my next question should be whether anyone wants to sell their BHS stages 1 & 2 book!?

Any tips or recommendations about the training, I'm reluctant to sign up to the whole course offered at our yard because I think the riding will be lower level than my current lessons, the horses and instructor will be the same, it is just the care, I would need to organise and again if I'm honest, I don't want to start from scratch!
 
Katt, I've got stage I and II books if you'd like to borrow them, just to take a look and see what the syllabus is like? I can post them this week but can't vouch for arrival date with this strike?!!

I think it is worth doing. It wouldn't be showing off at all but I think it is always beneficial to have something to aim for and yes, you may decide to take it forward and go for your AI someday.
 
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On the other hand it does scare me that I could fail for not mucking out "properly" or something.........

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I can only speak for my test, but I found that stage 1 is pretty simple, but you have to brush up on the BHS way of doing things as you may have picked up habits that they consider bad or wrong. I found the examiners extremely friendly and helpful and prompted me when I got stuck on a question:

e.g. Q. do young horses need a lot of energy? Answer (given by me) no because they are not in work. Examiner responded by saying yes but what about energy for growth, I replied, oh yes of course, so they will probably need quite a lot of energy. I wasn't even marked down on that section! For the record, I did know that, I was just so scared and nervous my brain froze!
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Good luck if you do decide to do them
 
Yes I'm thinking I will need to brush up on the care side, when I did my progressive tests it was all new zeland rugs and bran mash.......

I'm just reluctant to sign up for an expensive course with our yard (YO is an excellent business woman and is doing a good sales job on her special course already!) when it is more of a brush up that I need.

I think I'll have to have a look at the manual and see what sort of things you have to do and what questions there are likely to be and see whether I should do the course or just book a couple of sessions with my instructor doing care.

I am quite keen to do the course I think, I'm just hesitant about how useful it will be and whether it will be worth the money and whether I'm just keen because I'm flattered my instructor thinks I could do it.
 
With stage 1 I found i was able to learn from the books, I didnt feel the need to do a full course, stage 2 looks to be more in-depth but I am lucky enough to have access to knowledgeable people who are willing to tutor me.
Get the book, see how much you think you need to learn and just book one or two private lessons with your instructor to cover these areas, it will be much cheaper than doing the whole course!
Dont let yourself get pushed into spending lots of money with them if you dont need to!
 
That was what I was thinking Cavblacks, my instructor is great and she teaches the course anyway so I'm sure that a couple of private sessions would suffice, and I could buy the course manual or course companion to brush up on the other stuff. Then perhaps I could do the course for stage two to be on the safe side

What books do people recommend?
 
You might think you know how to do things but doing it the 'BHS way' is very different and a load of crap IMHO. A friend of mine at college doing her stages has been taught that you shouldn't use half halts and that if a horse starts bucking you should get off and a load of other rubbish.

I wouldn't go to someone for lessons on whether they were an AI or not, i would base it on what level they ride at and experience they have. Obviously for a riding school job though you need to be qualified for insurance etc so they would help with that.
 
You'll still need SOME training though otherwise you'd fail the stable management part (and possibly the riding) if you don't do it in the overly safety conscious manner that the BHS has at the moment. Also the stage 2 lunging tends to have the highest failure rate. You'll also need your R&RS too.

Katt is there any chance you could just have some tailored private training for what you need going over? Where are you based as someone on here might know of a good where to train yard (unless you're at one already)
 
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