How long to go from beginner to BHS Stage 1 Ride level?

[katiesheeran]

Hi all,

A year ago I was 18 stone and wanted to start riding lessons. Obviously, no riding school could cater to me so I ended up losing 5 stone and decided to do my BHS Stage 1 and 2 Care (and lunge) to motivate myself and still spend time around horses. Now that I am 13 stone and able to start riding, I'm really curious on how long it would take me to achieve my Stage 1 ride. I believe this is being competent in walk, trot, canter and without stirrups. I will be taking 3 lessons a week and I am really dedicated to becoming a good rider (I am doing yoga/pilates in my spare time to help with flexibility and posture and attending the gym to help with fitness and stamina). Anyone know how quickly I can get to that level?

Thanks!

 

[Starzaan]

It really depends on the quality of your tuition, and how quickly you learn. I used to be a riding instructor full time and I'm afraid this really varies for everyone.
Something I would recommend to help speed things up though, is to go and watch as many lessons as you can. Ask your riding school if you can go and watch some intermediate and advanced lessons. I used to get my clients to do this when they were really serious about wanting to move up a group, and it is incredible how much you will learn just by watching. You can see what the instructor sees - you'll start to develop more of an eye, and really notice that in your riding as an increased awareness of what impact you have on the horse.

Well done and best of luck!

 

[ihatework]

^^^
What Starrzan said.

Huge congratulations on your weight loss, wishing you well with your journey to learn to ride

 

[norolim]

Congratulations on your achievement!

As others have said, it's very individual. Just to add my experience as someone who is learning, I've been having weekly lessons and a few hacks a month for about 9 months now and (I think) I am only just at the point where I could do most things in the Stage 1 Ride assessment criteria, with some bits that still need some practice. From what I can see, you also need the Ride Safe Award which I've done and found very useful.

Fitness and flexibility definitely helps. Enjoy ?

 

[Parrotperson]

everyone is an individual but defo get some lunge lessons because that's where you'll improve your position the most imho simple because you don't have to worry about what the horse is doing. No harm in giving yourself a target though.

Make sure your instructors let you know when they think you're ready too.

 

[vhf]

Very inspirational!
A suggestion to add to the above advice, since I can't better it! Find out if you can volunteer with a local riding club. They will give you jobs that fit with your level of knowledge. Attend activities, combine what you observe with what you see and hear and feel in lessons. Start to understand how different horses and riders perform in different circumstances. I am thinking more broadly than exams, but all the lessons in the world don't prepare you for what happens in the real world, which is when you really start learning. By volunteering you can learn a load of new stuff, be a really valuable person in your local horsey community and make some new friends with a shared passion. It may not be directly relevant to passing your exam but it certainly won't slow you down and will broaden your experience.

 

[I'm Dun]

Stage one is very basic. With three lessons a week it shouldnt take more than 6 months.

 

[TPO]

No idea about stage 1 but Starzaan's post sounds spot on.

Just wanted to say we'll done on the 5st! That's blinking brilliant

 

[Skib]

Stage one is very basic. With three lessons a week it shouldnt take more than 6 months.

Time limits are misleading

Stage 1 may be basic but doesnt it involve riding an unfamiliar horse (or two) and W T and C in open formation with other examinees round one? And canter without stirrups? Something I have not done in twenty or more years of riding though I have managed a flying change and must have hacked solo for hundreds of miles.

 

[I'm Dun]

Time limits are misleading

Stage 1 may be basic but doesnt it involve riding an unfamiliar horse (or two) and W T and C in open formation with other examinees round one? And canter without stirrups? Something I have not done in twenty or more years of riding though I have managed a flying change and must have hacked solo for hundreds of miles.

The poster specifically asked for time frames

No cantering without stirrups. Its very basic. The horses are very quiet riding school types. I've trained loads of people for BHS stages and if you can ride you can be tidied up and ready for stage 1 in a month. With no riding at all, depending on aptitude 3 months would probably be enough, but 6 is more realistic.

https://pathways.bhs.org.uk/career-pathways/coaching-pathway/complete-horsemanship-1/stage-1-ride/

 

[Wishfilly]

Time limits are misleading

Stage 1 may be basic but doesnt it involve riding an unfamiliar horse (or two) and W T and C in open formation with other examinees round one? And canter without stirrups? Something I have not done in twenty or more years of riding though I have managed a flying change and must have hacked solo for hundreds of miles.

I'm assuming the OP is going to take the Stage 1 at her own centre. So she will probably be riding familiar horses.

The current criteria is here, and it doesn't mention cantering without stirrups: https://pathways.bhs.org.uk/media/2026/stage-1-ride-qualification-structure-090919.pdf

I know it used to be included back in the day, but it's not a big ask really- a lot of people will learn to do it on the lunge, and then the trick is just to minimise the number of trot strides after cantering.

It also doesn't suggest you *have* to canter in open order- I think trot would be more common. As long as you're used to working in open order and have horses that aren't nappy, this shouldn't be a big deal.

With 3 lessons a week, I do think 6 months is doable- but in the end it all depends on the OP, their confidence, the quality of horses/tuition etc.

FWIW I go to pieces in practical exams, so need to be riding well above the level of the exam in order to pass BUT that's not the case for a lot of people.

 

[teapot]

Congrats on the weight loss!

I’ve seen people do it in less than three months with the right coaching/attitude. Make sure you’re being taught by someone who knows the latest exam system, not someone who thinks they do!

It’s w,t,c to back of the ride, basic school movements, w&t without stirrups, and ‘light seat’ work over poles in w&t. It’s about being safe, not the world’s best rider.

I’d also recommend you spend some time tacking up, grooming, even working through the Stage 1 care syllabus, but not doing the exam. It’ll give you the confidence to lead a horse properly, mount and dismount confidently etc. Stage 1 horses may be safe, but they’re still clever riding school horses who know more than you

While you sound like you’re doing the right things fitness wise, just be aware learning to ride hurts, so for the first few weeks don’t expect major progress/pain free rides! It’s about training your body and muscles as much as it is learning to ride.

The other thing to consider is while you have your 1 as your aim, perhaps look at the Challenge Awards as stepping stones to doing it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

No idea on the stage and timings but a huge well done on the weight loss. That really is impressive and must have been hard work!

 

[Bob notacob]

Ideally you want to do a stage 1 course at the exam centre you want to go to. The examiners want to see above all other things ,that you are safe on and around a horse suitable for a beginner. Being old and unable to maintain trotting without stirrups isnt a fail. We all get like that eventually. It is just a test of an independent seat ,no more than that. What would fail you is being unable to maintain correct spacing between your horse and others . Failing to take action eg not turning a circle if others are crowding your horse .This is all under the heading of safety. Doing a course is fun, you are with a bunch of people who are all in the same boat. I think anyone motivated enough to loose so much weight ,is not going to have a problem.PS I have taught the stable management side up to stage 4 .I did this voluntarily because it was such fun .The enthusiasm of the trainees is great and reminds us how we felt back in our early riding days. I have missed it so much over the last two years.

 

[Bob notacob]

Just to add an explanation , the examiners are independent of the test centre . The test centre will do its utmost to put the right riders on the right horses. For example a stage one candidate with a lot of solid experience will be given a slightly harder horse .Not as a test , but because they can deal with it (and it makes them look good) This helps because the rather limited supply of dopes on a rope can be spread further.

 

[teapot]

Just to add an explanation , the examiners are independent of the test centre . The test centre will do its utmost to put the right riders on the right horses. For example a stage one candidate with a lot of solid experience will be given a slightly harder horse .Not as a test , but because they can deal with it (and it makes them look good) This helps because the rather limited supply of dopes on a rope can be spread further.

I’d disagree with this these days - the assessors can and will allocate the horses, especially at centres where the candidates are ‘internal’, at all levels.

My exam experiences are pretty recent and not once have I had my horse allocated by centre staff, despite knowing them/been taught by them.

The BHS has cut down on things like that, and it’s no coincidence that all your sign off paperwork is checked before you even get near a horse. They know exactly who’s been trained and where ?

 

[Bob notacob]

I’d disagree with this these days - the assessors can and will allocate the horses, especially at centres where the candidates are ‘internal’, at all levels.

My exam experiences are pretty recent and not once have I had my horse allocated by centre staff, despite knowing them/been taught by them.

The BHS has cut down on things like that, and it’s no coincidence that all your sign off paperwork is checked before you even get near a horse. They know exactly who’s been trained and where ?

Yes ,its up to the assessors but they do talk to exam centre owners and tend to know the horses anyway. The exam centre will do its best to put the most suitable horses forward for the level of exam being taken .And we are talking here about stage 1.