Stage 3 exam?

sam-b

sam-b

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Has anyone done it without formal training and passed ? ( have worked with horses etc anyway and compete with success affiliated in all disciplines so am not a novice going in to it) any tips? Also any sample papers anywhere?
 
Yes - I sat Stage 1 when a student and didn't have the finances to pay for more exams. 8 years, a full time office job and a baby later I sat Stage 2, Stage 3 and the PTT over 6 weeks and passed them all so it is possible.

The bhs exam book series were useful and I bought their Vet manual & something else which said baby is now using to prepare for his Stage 1 & 2 this autumn. If you want me to look out the name of that very helpful book let me know - and good luck!
 
Yes, like measles I had a full time office job and did my 3 stages and PTT. I did book a few lessons at a BHS exam centre so I could ride different horses and do things the 'BHS' way!
 
Yes, I too took my stage 3 and PTT whilst working full time in an office. I borrowed as many other horses to ride as possible and once I had booked my exam I then had a few lessons at the exam centre so I had ridden some of their horses too.
Good luck!
 
I took my stg 3 when I was working in an office job, but I did go for a weeks intensive training at Huntley before I took it, as I wasn't doing much riding at the time and needed to get all my riding muscles in gear!

No sample papers (there are no written questions) but detailed syllabus is available from the BHS website. TBH I didn't rate the exam books, I think you are better off looking at the syllabus and working out which areas you are weak in (on the care side of things) and then reading up specifically on those areas.
 
Yes, I did mine when I was at Uni (studying Finance not horses) but I did go for a few lessons at the centre just to learn the BHS way. Things like how to ride and lead, I had been doing it for years but the way you do it in the real life when you don't want a large 4 year old bu**ering off on a windy day and the way they want you to do it! I needed someone to point out that and also for lunging, again there was my way and the BHS way.

But very possible - good luck.
 
Also ..top tip ...I went to watch a PTT exam before I did mine. That was very helpful, even better offer to be a guinea pig
 
There is no written paper and no ride and lead in the stage 3!

Make sure you are familier with the syllabus - freely available on the BHS website.

The Hazel Reed books are very useful.

You may not need any formal training but a lesson or two to ensure you are up to scratch and to give you a chance to ride different horses would be beneficial.

Lunging is definately one of the weakest areas for stage 3 candidates (in fact, more or less across the board). It is definately more than just spinning a horse round on a lunge line!

Also, if possible, have one or two sessions at the exam centre beforehand dong the practical sections if you do no other formal training. It will give you an idea of the sort of equipment you have to work with and to make sure there is nothing compltely new to you.
 
ruth83 said:
There is no written paper and no ride and lead in the stage 3!

Make sure you are familier with the syllabus - freely available on the BHS website.

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Well there certainly used to be both a written medical paper and a ride and lead, Perhaps a few of us are showing our age :eek:

Actually come to think of it my stage 3 was in 1992 :eek::eek:
 
Yes very possible - I did Stage III & IV and Horsemasters, AI and Grooms Dip while holding down a full time job and working in a BHS approved Riding School evenings and weekends.

Don't remember any written papers or ride & lead in Stage III but written vet paper in Horsemasters. All the rest was practical especially the Groms Dip

I took mine in the mid 70's
 
It's like the driving test - you do it according to the book on the day and then never again after that, but you do what you have to do to pass. Your competition record is totally irrelevant and if you go in for a BHS exam thinking that because you've got good competition results all will be well, it won't be.

Definitely go along to the exam centre and ride their horses and if you can get some training with an examiner or qualified trainer such as a BHSI beforehand, that will be money well spent.
 
I agree with the above comments, worth going for a few lessons so you get a feel for the "BHS Way" of doing things. Their web site has all the syllabus itinery so you know exactly what they are going to ask you and want to see. I did my Stage 3 in June and my PTT the year before whilst working full time. Its worth having some help with the PTT lectures from someone who has recently done it as they have recently changed and can appear confusing at first. Good Luck! :)
 
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