Background

The British Horse Society examination system has an international reputation within the Equine industry. BHS examinations are vocational examinations designed for and aimed at, persons wishing to either pursue teaching as a career or who simply wish to explore the extent of their equestrian knowledge.

Training for BHS examinations is currently available from Stage 1 to Stage 3 Horse Knowledge and Care and Stage 1 to Stage 3 Riding as well as BHS Preliminary Teaching Test. All of the stages can be taken separately but to achieve the complete qualification, candidates must pass all sections of the examination. For further information on the BHS please visit www.bhs.org.uk

Courses on offer

CAFRE offer a range of practical intensive courses for the following exams:

• BHS Stages 1, 2 & 3 Horse Knowledge and Care
• BHS Stages 1, 2 & 3 Intensive Riding
• Instructional Techniques (Preliminary Teaching Test)

Target audience

Anyone 16 years or over working or hoping to work in the equine industry.

Course content

The courses are designed to allow progressive learning. So subjects covered at Stage 1 level are expanded upon and dealt with in more depth in stage 2, stage 3 etc…Please see the BHS syllabuses for each Stage to see exactly what is covered at each level. A brief outline on the content of each course is as follows:

BHS Horse Knowledge and Care

• BHS Stage 1 Horse Knowledge and Care

  Anatomy and Physiology, Equine Behaviour, The Stabled Horse, The Grass Kept Horse, Saddlery, Foot Shoeing and Lameness, Watering and Feeding, Horse Health, Health and Safety.

• BHS Stage 2 Horse Knowledge and Care

  The digestive and Skeletal systems, Horse Psychology, Horse Health, Equine Nutrition, Horse Management, Saddlery, Shoeing, Fittening the Horse, Stable Design and Pasture Management, Health and Safety, Lungeing.

• BHS Stage 3 Horse Knowledge and Care

  The Muscular, circulatory and respiratory systems, Structure of the lower leg, Horse Health, Conformation (static and dynamic), Feeding and Nutrition, Fittening and Competition, Saddlery, Corrective Shoeing, Yearly Pasture Management, Health and Safety, Lungeing.

BHS Riding Courses

• BHS Stage 1 Riding

  Leading in hand, correct basic position in walk, trot and canter, working without stirrups in walk and trot, trotting in the light balanced jumping seat over ground poles, correct use of the aids, riding school movements

• BHS Stage 2 Riding

  Riding with an independent seat showing depth and security of position, maintaining rhythm and balance through different school movements, walk, trot and canter without stirrups, riding in open order, jumping a grid and a course of fences showing correct balance, rhythm and tempo, riding outdoors over undulating ground.

• BHS Stage 3 Riding

  Correct and effective position, principles of training, turns on/ about the forehand, leg-yielding, rein back, lengthening and shortening, riding without stirrups with reins in one or both hands, jumping a course of fences (1m) and cross country (90cm), riding at competitions.

BHS Teaching Courses

• Preliminary Teaching Test Preparatory Course

  Introduction to Teaching, Approaches to Learning, Basic Safety, Rider Position and Application of Aids, Use of Poles and Jumping Technique, Recognition of Common Faults and Their Correction, School Movements, The Private Lesson, The Class Lesson, The Lecture.

Assessments

Students are assessed on day 1 of all riding courses and may be asked to leave the course if they are not at a suitable standard. Students have the option of taking a mock exam on the final day of the course, which will be run under realistic conditions

Do students gain a qualification?

No. Students must apply to directly to the British Horse Society to take the examinations. They will however receive a feedback form from course tutors and attendance will be recorded on a database to ensure they are included in future training, if requested.

Next course dates

Dates for autumn programmes will be agreed in early September.

ALL BRITISH HORSE SOCIETY COURSES ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

Equine Short Course Application form (PDF file - 97.5KB)