musings on BHS Stage 3 and above- are they do-able for ordinary people?

[charlie76]

As you know, I took and passed my BHSI Senior Coach exam in October last year. I am now about to take the riding part in the vain hope of passing and gaining my full BHSI. I have been thinking about the BHS system recently and I really don't want this to sound like sour grapes as its not but up until stage 3 I have found the people taking the exams have been typical riding school/hobby riders/workers. However, from Stage 4 upwards and esp in the BHSI exam, the other candidates have been people that have been lucky enough to have a privalidged( sp??) background. They have come through the pony club ranks and then competed with a string of horses in their various discaplines. Most of them have their own yards and one or two have sponsors. They are competing at a very high level and have some lovely horses to compete and ride with excellent trainers.

I , on the other hand, have come through the riding school route,I compete at a level I can afford to. I have had to train on 'ordinary' horses grabbing chances of riding/training as and when I can as I simple can't afford to train and ride with the best. I am a riding school 'person' and I find I am a little out of me depth when in the company of these people. I know I have the knowledge and the ability but funds mean I simply can't afford to train and compete at the same level.

I am very pro BHS exams but wonder whether past Stage 4 the exam structure could be split into general exams for the people working in the equestrian business in the riding school/livery yard sector and those that are competition riders. Hmm,
may be I am talking rubbish!
I know that the UKCC can be general or disapline specfic.

Just a musing.

 

[Littlelegs]

Although I grew up with horses my parents were neither horsey or remotely interested in what I did, never did pony club as it would have involved some form of parental input which wasn't an option. I got a working pupil placement at 18 on a competition yard, did stage 3 not long after. (did nvq 2&3 first). Then got a job as sole charge groom for a small private dressage yard with the deal I got on going training for stage 4. Did my ptt & hours & my ai there too. I was more into competing than teaching, but discovered by accident with the owners kids I was quite good at it, so worked towards my ai so I could get insured to teach other local kids & their friends as a bit of extra income. I've always been more interested in competition yards than riding schools for the opportunitys they gave me, so not experienced the system past bhs 4 or ai, but I do see how it could easily be split as you say.
I think if its split though you could get the rs side being looked down on compared to the competition side so they become a less impressive set of qualifications to have.
My main gripe with bhs exams is actually the 3 & the ai. Both are accepted as a reasonable level, but with both I've met quite a few people who only know the bhs syllabus off by heart with no other experiences. Hence the reason the crappy riding schools on paper can have equally qualified instructors as a good rs, which is very unfair imo both for the riders & good riding schools.

 

[touchstone]

It's a fair point, but at a higher level, even riding school types, I'd expect people would want to be taught by somebody who has been there and done it, so the competition element is probably fairly important in gaining experience. When you look at somewhere like the Yorkshire Riding Centre, they have the experience of competing at high levels and passing that knowledge on.

Splitting the two into competitive/non competitive trainers could just remove that expertise and make it seem even harder to achieve, I would think that the average BHSII/AI would be able to teach to the standards needed for an average school, but for people aiming for 'the best' they'd want someone with a proven track record.

I agree it is unfair when time and money are such a huge part of being able to gain experience, but I think that someone who is dedicated and talented can often work their way up with being offered rides etc and taking on working pupil roles.

I must admit I do know one BHSI who said he blagged his way through the exams making up all sorts of stuff It was years ago though.

Forgot to say, well done and good luck!

 

[Trot_On_Dressage]

This is a very interesting post, and something I can relate to you with.

I am myself an AI, and understand the hardships of trying to get some where in the horse industry when you haven't been blessed with having said privileges.

I think tho that this is a difficult one as surely to be at the level you are at ( a level that I can only dream of becoming ) a need to be from a competition background is a must to have the level of experience and knowledge required. I'm not sure how the exam structure could work in this case.

Unfortunately like most things in life money does make things happen and always is a benefit. Most (not all but they have had to have an enourmous amount of luck) comp riders do come from a privileged background.