Stage 3

[claire0781]

Hello!!

I am currently preparing for my BHS Stage 3 exam and was just wondering of anyone had done it recently or could tell me if there is much difference between it and the Stage 2 (like the jump there is between 1 and 2!!)

Is there anything that people have noticed that the examiners are pretty hot on? And is there any way of getting the muscular system to stay in my head - I only seem to be able to remember it for about half and hour!!

Thank you

[eml]

I think the jump is about the same as 1 to 2.

The main emphasis in both the riding and the lunging is on working the horse correctly to improve its way of going as opposed to 'exercising' for 2. Horses are generally much fitter and sharper than those used for 2.

Jumping courses tend to be more technical and XC varies dramatically from centre to centre.

[Jenni]

im learning muscular systems for human anatomy. :o

The easiest way i have found is to learn 2 a day. break it down and just work on a couple every day.
Break the body down into parts. head, neck face -Back - forelegs - hindlegs and learn the muscles for those parts.
I was struggling to remember the muscles in the legs. But i have been saying the names over and locating them on my own body.

There is a wonderful book on amazon (i have the human and horsey) its a colouring anatomy book. It gives you all the body parts in clear diagrams and you colour them in. if you can photocopy the pages it is good for learning. I think it is about £3.50.

This is really sad but i think a lot of the names sound like harry potter spells :o Supraspinatus is my favourite:)

Also try to relate the muscle to the human skeleton might help too, they are called the same and in the same areas of the body generally so that may help you.

i have got all the muscles in the human body down now but trying to remember what each one does and how they do it is another matter. :eek:

[Jenni]

here is the link. if it works.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Horse-Anatomy-Coloring-Pictorial-Archive/dp/0486448134/sr=8-1/qid=1172167737/ref=sr_1_1/203-3415434-4338346?ie=UTF8&s=books

[nicepony]

hi i did my stage 3 last year. the day went really well actually. though 2 of my friends failed (and i thought they should have passed). and someone else was horrible lunging and passed?? one of my friends resat the exam about 2 weeks later and passed?
i used to write out Qs read up on everything and then try and answer the Qs......still used to get stumped even when i wrote the Qs! but must have worked eventually.
make sure you know all the ailments....
everyone fails on the lunging....
are you training somewhere?
act confident! say if you know something and someone else is struggling...but dont be rude about it....the examiner will get the idea that you know what you are talking about.
but if you dont know something say so
feel free to ask me more Qs

[claire0781]

Jenni - thanks for the advice - I have ordered the book from Amazon so hopefully it'll all stay in my head!! The Harry Potter theory sounds very good - I'll definately be giving that a go!

I'm training under my instructor as I just can't afford to do the course and I'm lucky because I get on very well with my instructor and she seems to be able to get the best out of me. She is always throwing questions at me - sometimes I actually think I'm doing the exam!!

Thanks for the advice about the lunging - its the bit I'm most worried about as I can't take the riding at the moment! Let me guess its a matter of practice, practice and a bit more practice?

How long did it take people to learn all the stuff? As I haven't booked the exam yet and was thinking of doing it around August September time thinking that my leg would be better by then (I have a cast on at the mo - hip to toe!!) and should have learnt everything inside out by then.

[summerguest]

I thought there was a big jump in the riding from stage 2 to 3, but then I have failed it twice, yet instructors say I ride at the level on lessons...so it can be luck of the draw on the day.
Debating whether to have another go!

With the theory....I drew a big horse with muscle areas marked and made little lables that I could put on the muscle areas. then check yourself with the book. and then repeat and repeat. Always test yourself never just look or read as you don't know if its actually sunk in. ( I passed the theory first time so it worked!)

[Charlie76]

When I did my 3 the show jumping was up to height at around 3ft 3 but the xc was way under height at around 2ft 6. I guess it depends on type of horses they have. If you go on the BHS website in the bookshop you can purchase the examinations hand book which contain all the questions they will ask you and also get the Stage 3 revision notes- I found these very helpful. There is a Stage 3 books by Hazel Reed- this is excellant for learning the anatomy side as it gives you hints and tips as to how to remember it.

The biggest jump is Stage 3-4!

[joey_olop]

I did my training for stage 3 but never did the exam-the theory knowledge was so difficult I couldnt get my brain around it :o

The riding wasnt a problem for me its the knowledge & care which I thought was a big jump.

One day I'll do it!!

[gandalf]

I found the care section no harder than stage 2. Funnily enough I failed the lunge section first time at stage 2 - then passed first time at stage 3 - must admit I lunged everything in sight before stage 3. I took the exams 8 weeks apart. I didn't think that i lunged that well in the exam - but I was OK. My friend who took both exams with me - passed stage 2 lunging first time - yet she failed at stage 3.

There is a fair step up in the riding section - and you need to be able to work a horse well. Remember to also be very aware of etiquette (sp?) - don't run into other riders - everyone is doing their own thing.

In some ways I think you are more confident by stage 3 - because you know how the exams run.

[emm]

Get some coloured chalk and draw the muscles on a real horse, preferably a well behaved laid back one. I have used this method many times and it really does help.