BHS Stage 2

[ponylover88]

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[Jenni]

Hi. im studying for mine just now. I bought the video that shows you a typical exam and it didnt look to difficult.
Have you got the syllabus from the BHS web site?

[lynz+ollie]

its not too bad, ive got my nvq 2 whihc is kind of equivilent over a longer time, but they are very picky and safety consious.

[ponylover88]

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[BlueSky]

I took (and passed) my Stage 2 in June. Loads of people told me that it was a massive step up from Stage 1, but to be honest I didn't really find that. The examiners seemed to ask me the same questions that I had been asked in my Stage 1. :confused:

I think the parts that seem to be most peoples' weaknesses are the feeding section, and the physiology/digestive & skeletal sections. They sometimes go into quite a lot of depth, so I would recommend reading up a lot on those if you want to take the Stage 2.

The riding section, again didn't seem much different from the Stage 1 - apart from the jumping of course. I suppose it depends on where you take your exam, but the horses I got for my exam were mostly typical riding school plods. :rolleyes:

[kayjayhorses]

I'm studying for my stage 2 as well, I think as long as you take in as much info from the book as possible and get a riding centre to check your riding skills are up to stage 2 standard you'll fly through it.

[ponylover88]

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[jumpthemoon]

Definately buy the Hazel Reed book. Have you done your riding and road safety yet? Are you doing Horse knowledge and riding or just the care section? Make sure you learn all the Anatomy and psysiology sections and feeding. This was what we were questioned on mostly.

[ponylover88]

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[jumpthemoon]

You'd need to learn the whole of the Hazel Reed book. If you get a copy of the sylabus (sp?) you'll be questioned on stuff from all the sections. The biggest fail in stage 2 is the lunging section. Its vital that you get taught how to lunge properly with side reins. I dont know how much experience you have or if you have your own horse so you might find it really easy. But i went to college to do mine and even people with years of experience with their own horses needed instruction on how to lunge safely. You also need to be able to tack up for lunging.

Also bandaging was another area where people inc. myself needed to brush up on.

We were questioned on the sizes and capacities of the digestive system. Suitable worming programme, alternative methods of forage, poisonous plants, fittening, the concentrate to roughage ratio's for horses at various levels of training and competition.

In the riding you need to be able to make 2 changes of rein with the reins and whip in one hand (we did figure of eights). canter without stirrups, make correct and accurate school movements, jump a course of jumps on the correct canter leads (we had two related distances in our course). Ride in an open space in light seat.

It looks alot when you look at the sylabbus (sp?) but i did mine at college and was taught to do things in the right way and order. Its alot more in depth than stage 1 and also the horses you get on the day and how nervous you are can make all the difference. I definately recommend doing it though, the information you learn is so valuable to people that are around horses. Also everyone was different, in that the sections i found hard, others found easy and visa versa. You may find most of the theory really easy but have one section that you just cant grasp. So long as you revise and use ya common sense you should be fine.

[Siogfinsceal]

does anyone know how strict they are on your position? ive my stage 1 and am riding 14 years but because of neck & shoulder problem when Im riding on the right rein I physically cant get my right shoulder to come back it v v anoying and im not sure if they would fail me for that? im good at dresage and the horses go well for me.

[Jenni]

if you have a medical condition you can get a letter form a doctor and give it to them.
I read somewhere about a girl who could not physically keep her toes forward due to a hip problme and they accepted a letter from her doctor.

[Siogfinsceal]

wow thansk a mil thats excellent I can have a chat to the chiropractor and see what they think. that would be great I meanI know I dont have a perfect position anyway but the shoulder thing really gets me down cos I just cant do anything about it!

[kayjayhorses]

The examiner mentioned in my stage 1 that if anyone has a medical condition that could affect the result of the exam and if you have a letter which shows that it cant be helped/changed like you cant change you position due to the condition then thats taken into consideration

Apparently she mentioned that 1 candidate had 1 leg shorter than the other which meant she needed to have her stirrups at different lengths, she failed as she had not mentioned this to them, had she done so it wouldn't have been a problem.

[Siogfinsceal]

oh no cos i have that problem as well! I ride with my right stirrup a hole shorter and I blame it on an injury years ago when a horse landed on my knee but to be honest i think im just crooked! ;-)

though the big problem I have is I cant tell if my stirrups are even. I will think they are and it will turn out the right is at least a hole shorter so in the exam are you allowed to ask someone? or can you put them at a length before you get up and check

[Lgd]

I found it fairly straight-forward BUT I was already riding and competing at a much higher standard than that required for the ridden part of the exam.

[milly molly]

When you apply for an exam when they send you your confirmation they send you a medical form to fill in, they then ask you to identify any 'conditions' which may impact your ability to take the exam. This must be sent to the BHS in advance (this has recently changed), it is no good any longer taking a letter/the form with you to the exam. If in any doubt I would give the BHS a ring to discuss.

[kayjayhorses]

I never had a medical letter when I applied for both my exams, which was this year. I know that because I'm diabetic and the BHS dont know that but I informed where I'll take my exams.

[milly molly]

That's odd as I received conformation of my stage 2 entry this week and they include a medical form which I have to return (If I need to)??

[Purple Hugs]

Pony lover.. does your local college do any of these courses? Or maybe slightly more afield.. if perhaps they did the riding and road safety?
A college near me (7 miles) does that and level 1-3 as evening classes.. might be worth a look around. :D
I'm looking at doing my level 1 but need to lose some weight first :o

[ponylover88]

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[ponylover88]

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[Jenni]

you will do fine in the exam. it will be over in no time.
i had lunatic boy racers running up and down beside me in mine and i muffled 'Thanks for slowing wanK£R' under my breath.
examiner heard me and said ' well at least you said thank you'
i was mortified!!

[raingodz]

Good luck for Wednesday, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Hows the jumping and lunging looking? Or are you having to wait until March for stage 2?

[ponylover88]

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[raingodz]

Riding + Road safety training is now over, exam is on wednesday. :eek:
How did it go?

[ponylover88]

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[raingodz]

Congratulations... On with level 2 then :D

[ponylover88]

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