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Open to all members of the BHS who have reached the age of 16 years and are keen to improve their knowledge of horses and riding.
Prerequisites:
- Horse Knowledge and Riding Stage 1
- BHS Riding & Road Safety Certificate (Riding Section)
The Riding and Care sections may be taken as separate tests.
Prerequisites:
- Horse Knowledge and Care, Stage 1 for Care Section
- Riding Stage 1 for Riding Section
Requirements - The candidate must understand the general management and requirements of horses for their health and well-being. Working under regular but not constant supervision, the candidate should be able to carry out the care of stabled and grass kept horses during all seasons of the year. He/she must have an understanding of how the horse adjusts his balance to carry a rider. The candidate must be capable of riding a quiet, experienced horse or pony in the countryside and on the public highway as well as in a manege or indoor school.
Candidates will be examined on the following:
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| HORSE KNOWLEDGE AND CARE |
All work required for Stage 1 should now be seen to be carried out to a higher standard of efficiency. In addition, candidates will be expected to show knowledge and practical ability on the following subjects:
- General - An increasing awareness of the needs of the horses in their care and the importance of cooperating and communicating with fellow workers.
- Horse Anatomy and Physiology - Thorough knowledge of the points of the horse and the horse's skeletal frame. The basic outline of the digestive system. The basic structure of the horse's foot and its function. The position of the main internal organs in the horse.
- Horse Health - Recognize when a horse is off color or is not sound and should not be worked. Treatment of minor wounds and basic nursing. When to call the verterinary surgeon. Understand the importance of regular worming, the inspection and care of the horse's teeth and keeping health records.
- Watering and Feeding - Know the advantages and disadvantages of different types of watering systems and the importance of water to the horse. Know a variety of common feed stuffs and their respective values. Have practical knowledge of how to prepare cooked cereals, sugar beet pulp and cubes and how to make a bran mash.
Understand the feeding of a horse in medium work and of special cases, e.g., young, old or sick horses, and horses and ponies at grass in all seasons and how to make up a simple feed chart. Understand the reasons for feeding soaked hay and hay alternatives, their preparation and feeding.
- Shoeing - The protection of the foot. The farrier's tools, shoeing procedures, how to take a shoe off.
- Saddlery - The basic principles of bitting. Daily cleaning and care of all saddlery. Fitting lungeing equipment, various types of boots, breast-plates and martingales. Inspecting horses for injury from ill-fitting saddles, bridles, boots, etc.
- Grooming - Strapping & quartering. Care of the horse after exercise.
- Fittening - How to relate condition, feeding and exercise to getting a horse fit for medium work. Awareness of the effect of metalled roads, hard ground or heavy going on the horse. Cooling off and care after work. Understanding the process of getting a horse up from grass and roughing off a fit horse.
- Lungeing - Lunge a quiet horse for exercise with due regard for safety. Lunge lines and lunge ropes will be available.
- Clothing - Uses and fitting of rugs and blankets. Bandaging for warmth, protection and simple veterinary purposes. Washing and storing of rugs and blankets.
- Traveling - Prepare a horse/pony for traveling. Knowledge of loading and unloading.
- Clipping and Trimming - The reasons for clipping and trimming. When to clip. How to clip. Assist with clipping. Knowledge of clipping machines in common use and the ability to care for them before, during and after clipping. Knowledge of circuit breakers to be used with electric clippers and grooming machines. Trimming with comb and scissors. When and which parts to trim and when not to trim. Pulling manes and tails. Plaiting manes and tails.
- Stable Design - Understand the basic requirements of size and safe construction of a stable and its fittings.
- Grassland Management - Basic knowledge of good pasture and its maintenance. Know plants which are poisonous to horses. Daily inspection of fields, gates, fencing, water. The routine picking up of droppings in small paddocks.
- General Knowledge - The Country Code, as it affects the rider. Safety measures and correct procedurs when riding on the public highway.
Know the correct procedures in the event of an accident and the principles to follow to avoid further injuries or damage.
Knowledge of the aims and structures of the British Horse Society and the benefits of membership.
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| RIDING |
Candidates who are considered to be below the standard may be asked to retire (leave the examination).
- Ability to maintain a correct balanced seat, independent of the reins, at walk, trot (sitting and rising) and canter.
- Riding without stirrups at walk, trot and canter.
- Cantering on a named leg (lead).
- Riding with reins in one hand at walk and trot.
- Ability to ride correct schooling figures at walk, trot and canter.
- Jumping fences up to .76 meters (2'6") and small ditches at trot and canter.
- Riding over undulating ground, up and down hill.
- Opening, holding and shutting gates. Responsibility, e.g., care of the gate, procedure if in company and security of fastening.
- Have some understanding of how the horse should move in a good form under the rider.
- Knowledge of the rules for riding in company, both in the riding school/manege and out of doors.
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Source: 1999 BHS Examinations Handbook.
© 1999-2001 by The British Horse Society. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. |
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Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4
Preliminary Teaching Test | Intermediate Teaching Test |
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