lucysearle81
Active Member
Has anyone got any tips they can give me for the Stage 1 exam? I've read the Syllabus so I know what is expected of me, but any personal experiences or views about the exam day (good or bad) would be great. Thanks. 
Has Aanyone taken their BHS Stage 1 recently?
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Mare Stare
Well-Known Member
I did it a few years ago. The BHS DVD is very good for showing you what happens on the day.
It's mostly health and safety. You've got to remember little things like bending your knees when you pick up a heavy object, tying the horse up to groom him and remembering to stay on the outside of the horse and bring the horse to walk when you turn him when trotting for inspection.
They'll also ask you if a horse's shoes are in good order (nearly always are because, after all, you'll be at a BHS run exam centre - they won't have any examples of poorly kept horses!) and if a saddle is fit for use.
The one thing that caught me out was when I was asked how much feed to give a 16hh middleweight hunter in hard work in the middle of winter. You have to know the formula (still can't remember it!) and you are expected to know what would be suitable to feed it. So make sure you revise that bit before you go!
It's mostly health and safety. You've got to remember little things like bending your knees when you pick up a heavy object, tying the horse up to groom him and remembering to stay on the outside of the horse and bring the horse to walk when you turn him when trotting for inspection.
They'll also ask you if a horse's shoes are in good order (nearly always are because, after all, you'll be at a BHS run exam centre - they won't have any examples of poorly kept horses!) and if a saddle is fit for use.
The one thing that caught me out was when I was asked how much feed to give a 16hh middleweight hunter in hard work in the middle of winter. You have to know the formula (still can't remember it!) and you are expected to know what would be suitable to feed it. So make sure you revise that bit before you go!
measles
Well-Known Member
I sat my stages many moons ago but 16yo son sat his stage 1 a few months ago. Anything particular you would like me to ask him?
Marydoll
Well-Known Member
Did them a good few years ago, but i can remember is try to be confident and workmanlike in dealing with the horses and tasks given, dont over think things and tidy up as you go, of something doesnt fit, or is wrong identify it to the examiner, dont try to make it fit the horse or the situation.
Eg. As part of 1 you identify and put on various rugs, i had to pick a cooler from a pile of rugs, there was 1 cooler that was about pony sized, the horse was 16.2.
There was no way it was gonnae fit, but it eas the correct rug, she marked as correct rug identified and because she'd seen me put on others, left it at that.
Treat the horse as you would any strange horse from a safety perspective, even if you know it.
Eg. As part of 1 you identify and put on various rugs, i had to pick a cooler from a pile of rugs, there was 1 cooler that was about pony sized, the horse was 16.2.
There was no way it was gonnae fit, but it eas the correct rug, she marked as correct rug identified and because she'd seen me put on others, left it at that.
Treat the horse as you would any strange horse from a safety perspective, even if you know it.
lucysearle81
Active Member
Thank you for your words of advice everyone! I'm going to definitely be doing lot's of studying from the books and DVD as well as try and get as much experience at my riding school as I can. Hoping to start a stage 1 course soon as well which should be a massive help. There is one really stupid thing that I am worried about though................having to mount from the ground! As I have pretty much always ridden at riding schools I have always mounted from the block (I think the last time I mounted from the ground I was like 12 years old!) I have asked a few people who said that when they took a stage 1 course at college they had to practise mounting from the ground as well as the block although I can see in the syllabus mounting from the ground is a supporting element not a compulsory one. Has anyone had to mount from the ground in the exam? I know it should be the least of my worries, but it is something I know I am going to find really difficult. Any words of wisdom would be great. Thanks