Following on an earlier thread, How would you change the BHS exam system?

[charlimouse]

In the other thread many people have said the exams are outdated/not relevant/wrong people pass etc. There is also a general slating of the BHS AI. So i'm throwing the question back to you, if you were in charge of the BHS exam system, how would you change it?

IMO the BHSAI it too easy to achieve, hence BHSAI's get slated. The new portfolio is a joke and not relevant. I would like to see the 500hours re-introduced, at least then an AI will have 500 hours on the job experiance! The other change I would bring in would be to require the AI candidate to ride at a higher level than Stage 3 in their chosen discipline. All candidates must pass the Stage 3 riding (jumping aswell!) and care. IMO if you are not capable of jumping a 3'3" SJ and 3' XC course you shouldn't be an AI (unless there is a medical condition, in which case special dispensation should be sought). Once the Stage 3 is achieved the candidate then chooses either Dressage, SJ or eventing to specialise in.

If the candidate chooses eventing the candidates BE record is taken into consideration. IMO a candidate should have atleast 3 clear XC rounds and reasonable dressage and SJ at BE Novice level to get the BHSAI (eventing).

If the candidate chooses dressage again the BD record would be taken into account. The candidate should have results above 65% at BD Elementary to get the BHSAI (dressage).

If the candidate chooses SJ the BS record is taken into account. The candidate should have 3 clear rounds at Newcomers to gain the BHSAI (SJ).

Now I am fully aware not everybody has access to affilliated competition, or the horsepower required to compete to the required level. In this case the candidate would need to be assessed by a BHS assessor (who must not have ANY connection to the candidate) to ensure they are at the required level for their chosen discipline.

IMO this would make AI's far more respectable, and it would also be easier for people to see what discipline an instructor specialises in, so would make it easier to choose a suitable one.

So I throw the question to you, If in charge of the BHS exam department what changes would you impliment??????

 

[Orangehorse]

As I mentioned in my reply to the other BHS Exams thread, I think all candidates should have to take part and prepare a horse in a different discipline altogether and find out what it involves. In the USA there was an instructor's college, where they had the right horses available obviously, and every candidate had to take part in a 3 day event, show jumping to a high level, an endurance ride and they also had to do western (being the USA). Driving is also another useful thing to learn.

 

[Kokopelli]

What annoys me is that I went down the pony club route so I could eventually do my AI and after passing my B test I have to do my stage 3 whereas half the stuff in the stage 3 is covered by the B test so I'm pretty much going to be taking the same exam again which is a right pain :/

I think it also seems to be really subjective on how you pass! I was told by soo many people that its not the horse its the rider but its funny how its only the people on the big flashy horses who passed? Luckily I borrowed one of these big flashy horses

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Um, I'm gonna be a bit controversial here, and not a little tongue in cheek (sorry if I offend ...); but IMO do the following:-

- Scrap the BHS exams totally coz they're just not a good standard of whether someone can ride or not or whether they're competent to care for a horse; most professional yards have to insist on BHS qualifications for insurance etc purposes but they known damn well these people can't ride for toffee

- Go more for the apprentice scheme like the racing yards have always done for years where people work themselves up from the bottom and if they can't cut the mustard then they get the hell out of it

- If it is thought desirable to keep BHS exams; then put everyone on either a cheeky pony or a stubborn cob coz either beastie is a brilliant test of whether someone can actually handle a difference of opinion with a horse and come out on the winning side

 

[charlimouse]

I think it also seems to be really subjective on how you pass! I was told by soo many people that its not the horse its the rider but its funny how its only the people on the big flashy horses who passed? Luckily I borrowed one of these big flashy horses

So what would you do to make it less subjective? It is very easy to say they should change it, but often unless you come up with a proposal nothing gets changed!

Sorry to be picky, but I get annoyed when people say 'they should change X' but when you actually ask them what they should do to change it they have no idea! I want ideas, if you go the the BHS with a genuine propsal they would take it far more seriously than a rant!

 

[galaxy]

I always think these things should be reviewed. Personally I agree to scrap the portfolio thing and go back to hours.....

The problem with getting comp results is as you say Charlimouse, not everyone has the horsepower... and if you then fall back onto assessment, isn't that kind of what we've already got?

I also do think that clients when looking for an instructor can look at ads, do some research. Find out what experience or type of instructor they want.

Koko, the prob is there is quite a diff between the PC and BHS exams. The PC exams are much more open to the examiners discretion whether you pass/fail. There's no check box system like in the BHS with precise criterias. Also it's only when you get to B that you actually swop horse, so you only ride 2 horses in the whole procedure.... So not necessarily as thorough an assessment of your riding ability (esp as people take their schoolmasters to PC exams) Does that make sense? I'm not for one minute putting down the PC exams. Both systems have flaws.

 

[Kokopelli]

Koko, the prob is there is quite a diff between the PC and BHS exams. The PC exams are much more open to the examiners discretion whether you pass/fail. There's no check box system like in the BHS with precise criterias. Also it's only when you get to B that you actually swop horse, so you only ride 2 horses in the whole procedure.... So not necessarily as thorough an assessment of your riding ability (esp as people take their schoolmasters to PC exams) Does that make sense? I'm not for one minute putting down the PC exams. Both systems have flaws.

Theres hardly and difference between B test and Stage 3 in the riding, its so frustrating, I know the lower level PC exams can't be compared to BHS exams but B test is marked very similarly to the BHS exams.

The problem with all riding exams is what makes a good rider? Someone who isn't pretty but gets the job done or someone who looks good? I think until this problem is fixed riding exams are a grey area as there is rarely black an white passes. There is no quick fix to exams, but I really think that riders need to be judged more on themselves not the horses.

I also think that if the B test can be used instead of Stage 1 and 2 then it should be changed slightly so it could be equivalent to a Stage 3 so people aren't re-doing the same material if this makes much sense?

 

[charlimouse]

Interesting how 53 people have commented complaining about the BHS, yet when asking people for ways to improve the system it hardly get any replies ? Is this because people actually don't know how the system should be improved?

I am of the opinion not to go aroud saying how badly run/organised something is, unless you can come up with ideas how to improve it ..............