Debating to quit ANA for BHS stages ?

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staceyn

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many may know if they have read other posts i am struggling with some illnesses which mean i can no longer work ect and only can manage a hour a day in the morning and night. I currently study the pre entry for vet nursing online through myerscough which is going to cost me £1000. I only want to do equine vet nursing and realisticly i dont ever think i will be able to work again so pointless waste of money, time and no garuntee of getting into the only 1 equine training practice near me for another 2 years of full time study which is not possible.

I have decided small animals is not my thing and if i ever did get better i would only work with horses wether it be freelance or as a yard person ect.

I have looked into the stages and they are very reasonable in price and no time limit. They have said i can study in my own time with my own 2 horses.

Just wanted to know how hard/easy are each of the stages?
would i struggle? they have said i wouldnt have to do the riding side and can just do the care side as i cant ride i would be too exhausted.

Anyone done them / doing them. i have had horses for many years mainly youngstock and problem horses i used to work for various yard but worried about all my knowledge will have bad habits and not the bhs way of doing things.

Any help would be much appreciated many thanks :):)
 
I can't help you on the stages front but do know that the competition for equine nursing jobs let alone trainee positions is very competitive. I think you are right to be looking elsewhere. From what I gather BHS is very much learn and regurgitate their methods to pass but very doable. Best thing to do would be getting hold of a second hand bhs manual and read that for starters.
 
From my limited knowledge from looking into them myself, you can do most of the studying from home. You would need to go to a centre to take the exams, and for a few lessons to make sure you do things there way, which in some cases is rather odd. The riding and care sections can be taken seperatly, which would help with the exhaustion side of things.
 
I looked into them and having been at an equine college that runs a few modules that run like the stage exams (riding) I have far too many bad habits to change and I cant be bothered really. I feel my riding is fine, I have competed BSJA for years at various levels yet I dont get 'good' BHS marks. Its all over petty things like if the rein loop goes over or under the right rein, who cares? I like the idea but I think it is quite dated

I do think if you want to do them though you should look into it :D
Also if youre experienced could you not look into doing some coaching exams? I would like to do my BSJA ones either this year or next. Might be worth looking into :)
 
badgermyers said:
I looked into them and having been at an equine college that runs a few modules that run like the stage exams (riding) I have far too many bad habits to change and I cant be bothered really. I feel my riding is fine, I have competed BSJA for years at various levels yet I dont get 'good' BHS marks. Its all over petty things like if the rein loop goes over or under the right rein, who cares? I like the idea but I think it is quite dated

I do think if you want to do them though you should look into it :D
Also if youre experienced could you not look into doing some coaching exams? I would like to do my BSJA ones either this year or next. Might be worth looking into :)
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great! i have never heard of coaching exams i thought to coach or teach anything you have to go through your stages? Interesting one !. I think also my fella wants to learn so i would be more motivated as we could go through it together when we are at the yard we have lessons 2x a month for riding well he does i do 5 min at the end cant help myself :). We are also looking into natural horsemanship lessons 2x a month. obviously we have 2 yearlings so could only do the care side anyway we are down 2x a day everyday its diy on a private yard only me and him so have the time and space to do as we wish with them.

With regards to my future if i got the chance to have one i would either work on yards or run my own yard doing natural horsemanship ect.. and more of the theraputic side of things as it has helped me a great deal to cope with my illness and would love to let other people who are ill ect or learning problems to be soothed by them :) sounds crazy i know but i want to give back to the horses they are the ones who have kept me strong :D
 
I was a working pupil for a comp yard that did nvqs. (mainly cos it made financial sense for owner) I did my nvq 2&3 pretty much soon as exam dates came up then went straight to bhs 3, then did the 4 with next employer (private dressage yard), and my ai. Tbh, except for doing stuff the bhs way (wearing hats to tack up etc) I found everything up to the 4 very easy because I was above that level before I did them, so it was money for old rope really. And after fantastic training from next employer the 4 wasn't difficult. The hardest thing I found was sticking to bhs ways in exams, rather than the actual criteria. If its care you're doing only, get the manuals & get a rough idea what level you're at. A stable management course for the relevant stage might help too so you do it bhs way. But the one thing I will say is I did mine at a well known equestrian centre. And for the nvqs & 3 it was glaringly obvious who had studied at rs & colleges & who came from working yards. I'm not saying the ones from rs &ecs weren't to standard but the ones I saw from working yards all breezed through & were above the standard required.
 
Yeah the coaching exams seem more useful to me, I want to coach, I have my own yard and compete a lot BSJA.

The BHS exams arnt much use to me and I do things very much my way, not the BHS way. In my uni riding exam which is in the middle of stage 3 and 4 I came out with 67%, one of the higher marks. I got marked down for wearing ear rings and having my rein loop over the rein and not under it! I find it all a bit petty but if you enjoy it then it all helps. Just not me.

You can do coaching exams through the UKCC and the BSJA. If you enjoy helping people and giving something back it may be good to you.

As for NH, I have no idea I have never really looked into any of it.

I think my friends dad has the same illness as you, he can do a few hours in the day but becomes exhausted and has to rest for the rest of the day.

Hope it improves soon
 
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