Got my stage 1 exam date

[raingodz]

I got my stage 1 exam date through the post today :eek: It is on May 4th (StarWars day!).

I now need to learn everything :eek:

[teabiscuit]

good luck raingodz, you'll be fine :D

[JOJOBA]

I so need to get around to doing that. I WILL do it this year, I should have done it ages ago, some of my friends are getting ready for their PTT this year :rolleyes:
Good luck, hopefully we'll both get it and we can celebrate :D

xxx

[raingodz]

Thanks both :)

JOJOJBA, I think you'll be fine if you did it, but I'll keep you updated as to how I get on, Yup I hope we would both pass, a stage 1 passing party sounds like a good excuse for the next Sheffield NR meet :D

I did do the stage 1 course about a year ago and I think it was too soon (had only been taking lessons for 6 months), so the YO was not too complimentry and I ended up looseing my confidance a bit :( I was not too good at cantering 20m circles which is needed in the stage 1 test.

But now I feel I am riding much better now, plus I work at my RS so doing lots of grooming and other things that are needed in the exam.

[JOJOBA]

I should be fine, I spoke to my YO and she said the riding would be no problem and the theory is all stuff I have known at one point or another ;) but need to remember! I want to do my ptt now though, I dont want to pay lots of money to do stage one and two first! That's the problem really, its just so expensive :eek:

ETA - in a way you have the advantage because you're newer to it and will be doing it correctly! What might trip me up is doing things the very correct way, as opposed to the way Ive been doing it for years :o. When I did my C Test years ago it felt very unnatural to do everything the BHS way, remembering to tie up the horse when you groom etc, and groom in the correct order. It's all stuff I know though, I'll just have to be good on the day ;)

xxx

[raingodz]

I dont want to pay lots of money to do stage one and two first! That's the problem really, its just so expensive :eek:

This is why I have taken so long to getting round to it, if it was cheaper I would have tried it with out worrying too much about needing to re-take if I failed

ETA - in a way you have the advantage because you're newer to it and will be doing it correctly! It's all stuff I know though, I'll just have to be good on the day ;)

I'm sure youd do fine :) Have you got the Hazel Reed Stage 1 book? it seems to cover everything, if I pass I'll let you have my copy after the exam.

[cvb]

I did my stage exams as part of an AI course, and until stage 4 you can do the exams at the same place you train - so you know all the exam horses quite well....

my mother went for her stage 1 years ago - and went for a few lessons at the exam centre before hand. But it really depends on the luck of the draw what horse you get - the horses for stage 1 are often a bit rough and ready despite the fact they should be appropriate for stage 1 riders ! (I think it is because they won't get asked for e.g. lateral work, so tend to be horses that can't do stuff like that... IMHO).

Anyway - mum passed her stable management but failed the riding - and that does not make her a "bad" rider at all. She's pretty competent - just not very confident and now has a bad back to cope with as well.

I think it is a bit like school exams - at the time they are the most important thing and a massively big deal. But they don't really give any true indication of what you will be like at work.

Good luck with learning "everything" ;)

[raingodz]

I did my stage exams as part of an AI course, and until stage 4 you can do the exams at the same place you train - so you know all the exam horses quite well....

The place I did my stage 1 course was not an exam centre, so now I know where I am going I might get a couple of lessons there just so I can get used to their school.

I think it is a bit like school exams
I hope not too much like school exams, I only passed 4 O levels :(

[cvb]

I hope not too much like school exams, I only passed 4 O levels :(

and did that make you a worse person ?? I think not ! :cool:

[raingodz]

I hope not too much like school exams, I only passed 4 O levels :(

and did that make you a worse person ?? I think not ! :cool:
OK, valid point :o

[joey_olop]

Good luck-treat the riding like a lesson cos it is pretty much :)

[raingodz]

Thanks :)

I'll have to put my Stage 1 project plan together tonight...