Ever taken a BHS exam?

[Saddlebags]

I've got my BHS Stage 1 on the 1st June and would like to hear from anyone who has taken this exam and can tell a bit about what it was like? I am being told that I am very ready for this exam but there is always an element of doubt in your mind!!! I have been riding for nearly 8 years and looking after horses and working around them for about 4 1/2 years. Just need a little reassurance!:confused:

[Edited by Saddlebags on 28th Apr 2001 at 10:40 PM]

[Wally]

Yes, sadly I have to admit to having take the BHS exams. When I took mine I felt the examiners hadn't even scratched the surface of any knowledge possesed by any of the candidates. Stage one should not be any problem if, as you say, you have been riding 8 years and have 4 1/2 years stable management experience. But they do tend to ask open ended question which generalise wildly. If you do get one of these questions like, "how much would you feed a 13.2hh riding school pony?" there are 100's of questions you should ask the examiner before giving your answer!

[Saddlebags]

Thanks for your reply Wally.
That question, "how much would you feed a 13.2hh riding school pony?" seems to be one thing people mention to me that they have been asked in their exams. A very ambiguous question to say the least!!! At the moment I see the BHS route a valuable one in my chosen career (I am training to be a riding instructor, and although I have not taken my stage one yet I am told I am working well above that level - we'll see what the examiners say!!!), but from the tone of your message it sounds like I may change my mind!!! Are they really that bad, I mean obviously they can't test you on everything you're supposed to know all in one day? Anyway any more help and advice that you can give would be gratefully recieved.:)

[Wally]

I just get so cross with the BHS for being so dogmatic about everything. They don't seem to allow for techniques that differ from their published methods. They don't do enough horse psychology, and tend to hold too much store on how a candidate is dressed and how clean the horses are. They never seem to think it is more important for a horse to be happy and relaxed, which means 24/7 turnout, they are stuck in a rut of traditional thinking which advocates stabling a horse, having everything for the convenience of man, not the horse, then making no ammends for the state of the poor horse's mind because of this way of management.

Yes the Stage 1,2,3 and 4 do stand you in good stead for employment, but study loads of different riding techniques, study animal psychology, you will get far better results from your horses and riders form mixing and matching classical riding methods, with the best of Roger Mugford, Pat Parreli and Monty Roberts. The BHS leave big gaps in important places!!

[Saddlebags]

I completely agree with what you're saying. Have you ever seen Monty Roberts at a demo? I went about three years ago and it was the most amazing thing that I have probably seen in my life. I always try and adapt his methods to my handling of horses. I'm going to a bit of research about the other two tho, don't know anything about them (yet!!). By the way if that question that you mentioned came up in the exam do you think that it would be OK to ask the examiner further questions to get more info? Thanks for your help Wally.:)

[Wally]

I did, when they asked me a silly question to which there was no one answer I asked him to clarify his question, ie. the feeding question.... you need to know more about the temparament of the 13.2 school pony, is it a 13.2 Arab type with brains and fizz or a 13.2 lazy, brain dead cob? is it stabled or out at grass, how many hours work, any history of laminitus, the list could go on forever! You need to be able to justify your answer!

How do you remove a shoe? there are a number of perfectly legitimate ways, you need to demonstrate you are familiar with lots of ways. But the BHS don't always allow for this and want their way only!

The horse I was given to lunge was obviously tired out, he'd been on the go all day with students, when I got him I felt I was doing the horse an injustice by lungeing him AGAIN so I told them I was not prepeared to lunge this horse and asked them for another less knackered one! He wasn't just lazy he really had had enough, I felt so sorry for him. Maybe I'm just too soft!

[Serita]

Alhough I agree with much of what the others say, I do have a different viewpoint (hello Wally et al.!). The BHS exams are limited in what they can test, however it is only a benchmark in your equestrian career. The Stage One is probably the scariest BHS exam you can take because you have no preconceived ideas of what is required of you. Ask your Centre to give you a mock Stage One exam in the next couple of weeks.
Of course the examiners cannot plumb the depths of your knowledge in just a few short hours, but you have to make sure you get your point of view across - if you are asked to be quiet you are doing well!
In any industry, there has to be an indication of someones level of expertise - this is what the BHS exam system attempts to do. When all is said and done, experience is the most important qualification. But how does the freelance instructor let the general public know they have reached a minimum standard in horse management and instruction (although I think this should be called coaching)?
Good luck with your Stage One and try and enjoy it!

[Sue]

Hi Sarah

Told you I would reply!! As I have said to you before you could do this exam with your eyes closed, you are operating at a much higher level already. You never know - when you go for your stage 1 they may say "here you can have your stage 2 as well!!"

As the others say - good luck and certainly ask them as many questions as you like in order to give them your answer.

[Saddlebags]

Thanks everyone for your replies I will try to remember everything you have told me in the exam!!! Sue - I know you tell me every tuesday that I could do it with my eyes shut but we will soon see!!!:) Thanks for the good luck serita and sue and I will let you know how I get on. Anything else you can think of let me know. Serita - what level have you got up to in your teaching?

[sandrider]

Hi Saddlebags

Just wanted to say thanks for your email and good luck with your exam.

[Emarmite]

Hi Sarah,

Good luck with your exam on the 1st. I have seen you ride and you have absolutely nothing to worry about. If you can jump Ivy the way you do you can handle pretty much everything.

I have three friends who all took their BHS stage 1 in January, and all three passed their theory and riding. They took their exam at bold heath. Although they said the horses were a bit fresh, they said it was fine. One of the girls did not answer quite a few of the theory questions but still passed. I think the examiners, although a bit po faced are quite flexible.

good luck


Beverley

[Saddlebags]

Thanx Bev - oh, and by the way, the way I jump Ivy is purely luck. I am going to fall off soon, I started with nine lives and have had 5 near falls so only four more and I'm on the floor!!!! Thanx for your encouragement.Sarah.:)

[Serita]

Sorry I haven't replied earlier Saddlebags. I am a BHS PT plus Stage 3 Care. Ie. I have passed my Stage 2 Riding and Care and the Preliminary Teaching Test. I also have the Stage 3 Horse Management and Care Certificate(Grooms Certificate). I am also a Riding and Road Safety Test Examiner and Trainer. Due to knee problems I have never managed to pass the Stage 3 Riding exam - yes, it does bug me! But I have been a manager of a large training centre with 60 horses and trained a number of riders to Stage 3/4 level, as well as competition riders

As I said before, exams are important, but you also need good references and experience. Before anybody thinks I was born on horseback, I would just like to let you know I didn't start 'professional' riding until my mid 20's (I passed my Stage 1 when I was 25).

My 'Instructor' (my mentor) has always said you can either teach or you can ride. You certainly can not be excellent at both. I do think that as you get older you have to decide on your priorities, but hey! go and fulfill your dreams as far as you can go!
Good luck for June 1 - I think we'll all be thinking of you because many of us have been there.

[Serita]

Oops - what I didn't say was that I am 100% confident that you will pass. Don't forget that the examiners want to hear about your experiences with feeding etc. Don't tell them stories but tell them what you have learnt in various circumstances. The Stage 1 is a very basic exam - as you get older everyone goes into greater depth than is necessary!

[Saddlebags]

Thanx Serita, you have added a little bit to my confidence level (trust me, that can be difficult!!!). I am looking forward to the day when I will hopefully have my PTT like you, in however many years, but for the moment I just want to get the first step done!!!! I'll let you know how I get on. Thanx again. :)

[Jessie]

Saddlebags - good luck in your Stage 1.

Why not contact the Centre where you are taking the exam and ask if you could join one of their lessons, with other candidates (which they are almost certain to have working at their Centre) either clients or their own students.

A class lesson with a qualified instructor on the type of horse that is likely to be used in a Stage 1 exam, would bring you valuable confidence and also get you used to the surroundings.

I've worked at an exam centre for some years, and we regularly have candidates coming for lessons to familiarise themselves before exams. Obviously the Centre cannot say which horse you will be allocated, but they have experience of the type required for whichever exam you are taking.

Also, just a little thought to carry with you - examiners are human beings, trust me, I know several. They want you to succeed and freely admit to me that they are disappointed at having to fail anyone. They will make allowances for any nerves on the day, certainly at Stage 1 level.

Another thing, I can remember "Serita" taking her Stage One and she was nervous too....Mind you, she was a lot younger then..... :-)

Good luck to anyone in upcoming exams, I'm sure you'll all do well. Try to be confident (without being pushy, speak up when it's your turn and do your best on the horse you are allocated. With Stage 1 horses it can mean they are somewhat laid-back on occasion!

[Saddlebags]

Thanx for the advice Jessie. I would go to the test centre before the exam but I am working and it is a fair distance for me to go (I would have to get a lift off someone as I can't drive yet!!). I will definately try to do that next time I take an exam. See you soon. Saddlebags :)

[qwerty]

How good do you have to be to take the level 1? What do they test?

[belle]

Another ay to be at the same level as the stage 1 is to do an NVQ1. This is what I have done, and as I passed mine, I have got automatic entry to the stage 2 without having taken stage 1 at all! Also, at my college we had a mock stage 1 and 2 day, which was brilliant even though most of us failed!

[qwerty]

What exactly do they test you on with NVQ's and BHS's?

[Mossy]

Hi Serita
Why can you "either teach or ride"? I would have thought that you need to be able to ride to a standard well above that which you are teaching to see why your students are having difficulties. Everybody is entitled to their opinion but that comment is rather too much of the "those who can do, those who can't teach" for my peace of mind. When I waas doing my teaching qualifications, not riding, knowledge of the subject was an important part of my assessments, as was the ability to put it over and empathise with my student's difficulties.

[Saddlebags]

Belle, I have nearly completed my NVQ level 1, but I am also due to retake my Stage one riding on the 6th August. I am using both systems at once!! What level are you up to now?:p

Qwerty - the stage 1/NVQ level 1 is just the basic understanding of horse care and riding. For a copy of the syllabi for the BHS stages go to www.bhs.org.uk They are the organisers of the exams so can give you any advice you need. To take the stage exams you must be a member of the BHS.:D

Mossy - I agree with you point of view about Seritas comment, I think if you are going to pass knowledge onto others successfully you have to be able practice what you preach.

Got my Riding and Road Safety tomorrow (oh help!!!) so got to go!!!

[qwerty]

I just thought everyone should know that if you click on saddlebags link to the BHS, it will come up worng because of the full stop at the end!:)

[Sue]

It should work OK now!!!

[qwerty]

Yep!

[Saddlebags]

I always do that full stop thing!!! I will try not to in future!!

Qwerty where abouts in Lancashire do you live? I live in Warrington, Cheshire do you know it?

[Sue]

Hi Sarah

Just a quick 'Good Luck' for when you re-take your riding exam, hope all goes well this time. See you soon
Sue

[Serita]

Hello everybody,
Sorry I haven't replied for a while, I've been renovating so the computer has been unplugged!
What I mean by saying you can either 'teach or ride' is that some people have a natural affinity with horses and have that 'feel' when they are riding. 'Feel' is not something that can be taught - it comes with experience and also that something extra special that riders have. I have recently taught a young girl (age 6 or so) who sits on a pony and can ride it instinctively, even though she has never been around horses before - she is what I call 'a natural'.
Yes, of course you have to ride to a certain standard before you can 'teach'. Equally some people have a natural ability to teach, whilst others don't have that empathy with other people. I have worked incredibly hard at my riding, but I didn't have to work that hard at my teaching - I am freelance now and have a wide client base!! However, although I can coax a reluctant horse around a XC course, I certainly don't have the 'knack' that some other riders have. If you have had experience of situations, you can teach well, even if you haven't competed at Hickstead!!
Hope this clarifies what I meant.