Stage 1 exam

[Blossom]

Hi all

I am going to be doing my Stage 1 exam not real soon or anything but I NEED to be ready LOL! If there is anyone out there that can tell me what books/videos they would recommend me to buy please can you do so ?

Also I am a bit worried about what I should be wearing as I was just looking at the BHS website and it says that that a shirt with a collar and tie should be worn and a v or crew neck jumper. Also do I HAVE to wear long boots or can I wear short joddie boots? I am totally confused as to what I have to wear. Perhaps those that have already done the exam can tell me what they wore? Also while I am on the subject do I NEED gloves too LOL. Geez I never realised I had soooo many questions. Most of it is probably me rambling on!

Thanks in advance
Blossom

[ros]

I think what they're looking for is that you appear neat and tidy and workmanlike - no jackets with millions of fancy pockets, jewellery or the like. Joddy boots should be fine as long as they're clean, of course.

Other tips we were given were don't stand with your hands in your pockets, and if you're asked to go into a box with a horse, check for droppings and pick them up before you do anything! (Get the gist?)

[muzzy]

So what do you need to know for the stage 1???
Cause I've always thought it was really hard but in our lesson on Sat there was a bloke who was gonna take it soon and he was a worse rider then me, and that's saying something!! I don't really think he was, er, that prepared with the theory either....It confussed me cause I'm no way good enough to take the exam -been riding less than a year- but yet I could trot a 20m circle on the right diagonal, and the bloke couldn't!:confused:
Thank you!:D

[Wally]

Definately gloves, you need them for leading in hand.

As for the dress look at the BHS website, it gives you a complete list of what you need. www.bhs.org.uk

Personally I think it is out dated and quite elitist to expect everyone to have all the gear. They do not allow chaps at all, they give the excuse that folk turn up in baggy loose ones which are dangerous, or ones with fringes. Cycle type hats are still not allowed dispite the man from Champion head gear giving them a speaking to as the cycle type hats they produce meet all current legislation.

Personally, the last thing I'd be looking for when entering a strange horse's box, is whether the horse had droppings in his stalbe, an eye to the horse if far more important than whether he has a poo in his stable!!

[heland]

I passed my Stage 1 Exam in November.

I wore cream jods, white shirt with collar, tie, long riding boots, riding hat, whip and I borrowed a hacking jacket. I took a smart fleece and a coat as it was raining but I didn't really get a chance to change.

The majority of people there wore the same, only a few looked a little untidy.

Yes you do need gloves. I wore my mountain horse ones and I also bought a pair of pink marigolds, which were in my pocket in case I had to poo pick:D

The books I bought were Stage 1 & 2 by Maxine Cave and the BHS Complete book of Stable Management. Most important book though The BHS Examiners Handbook..it has the questions and layout of your exams. Order through the BHS Site.

Good Luck

[heland]

Wally

Take it from me if there is a poo in the stable and you don't pick it up the examiner will write this down I'm afraid.:)

[ros]

Yes, I know, Wally, but we're talking about the BHS here, don't forget. We were being given tips on how to pass BHS exams - not how to handle horses!

[Mossy]

Hi
The spec says cycle type hats are not allowed, but that hats must adhere to the most recent recommended spec. As I have a hat which is cycle style and up to spec I asked for specific clarification. Champion ventilated hats are allowed and if anybody queries them refer them to Jeremy at the BHS. I have his written authority on my computer.
PS I am also of a stubborn persuasion who cannot be doing with unnecessary red tape. The BHS appears to be tied up with it- maybe it's all left over from all those red rosettes. :D

[heland]

Originally posted by ros
Yes, I know, Wally, but we're talking about the BHS here, don't forget. We were being given tips on how to pass BHS exams - not how to handle horses!

Oh Ros.......you make me giggle:D

[Missy Mops]

heland - Where did you take your exam at? I took mine yesterday at Wrea Green. Missy.

[heland]

I took mine at Myerscough College, Preston. The examiners were
nice, especially the theory examiner.

It was a long journey for me. I had to set off at 4.30am in the morning. When I go for Stage 2 I think I'll have to be a bit nearer home

When do you find out your results?

We we told our results at 2.00pm on the day. They've stopped all that now though, haven't they?

[Wally]

So, the horse is stod there looking off colour and you go in and pick up a poo first? Sorry this is not horse management, this is housekeeping!! Poos can wait, the first concern should be the horse.

If the BHS exams are not there to tell you how to handle and care for horses what's the point in passing them if all they are concerned with is how posh everything and everyone looks!
We have a lass who worked for us, she drove us both mad cleaning everything all the time, she wouldl sweep a yard and poo pick rather than keep the horses uppermost in her mind. Don't get me wrong, it's lovelly to have clean yards, but I'd be much more likely to employ someone who needs to be asked to sweep the yard and not have to ask them to feed, turn out and generally look to the horse first!

Mossy, it still states on the website that "cycle type" hats are not allowed in spite of your best efforts!!

[Tina J]

Wally, you have just summarised what I dislike most about the hidebound attitudes of the BHS. Candidates are taught to pass the exam, not to use common sense. Years ago I spent a lot of money and studied hard, intending to take stages 1 & 2 together and then to go on to take the higher level teaching exams. At the point at which I was ready to take the exams and applied for exam dates, I found out that they no longer allowed you to take two exams together - and taking them singly was extortionate in cost, and is even worse now. Then a livery yard whose owner I was riding for got in a recent BHS Assistant Instructor, who turned out to be a total pratt, with no common sense whatsoever - but she kept beautiful stables. Put me off the whole rigmarole.

That said, the people I know who have passed the higher level BHS exams (stage 4 and BHSI (SM)) do all have what I would call a high level of general horse skills. (As well as laying beautiful stables!)

I am a long term member of the BHS, and I think that some of the criticism is getting through, slowly. But by heck, its taking time. They no longer give exam results on the day because of examiners being given "verbal abuse" - I wonder how much of that is for failing students, or marking them down, for not picking up droppings straight away!

In terms of hats, there is a difference in shape between "cycle helmet types" and ventilated riding hats. The former are not allowed, the latter, if they have passed the correct British and European standards, are.

[Katharine]

I took a fold up hoof pick in my pocket - examiners were well impressed!!
I didn't have a hacking jacket (and still don't) for my stage 1 so I wore my black jacket. I was the only one not wearing a hacking jacket and felt a bit out of place but they do say it is allowed.
I wanted to wear my joddy boots coz I only have long rubber boots which are really horrible but my riding instructor said that everyone else would wear long boots. I didn't want to stand out too much because then they might notice my faults more!!!
About picking up poos when you first enter the stable - I was told to tie up the horse first and not to ever do anything when the horse is loose. Also, always ask for a bucket to pick the horses fett out into (girl in my exam didn't).
Good luck
Kat

[Em 1]

I'd also recommend the BHS stage one workbook. It covers all the areas you need to study and gives pages of questions. I'm finding it really useful as it makes you think in the right way for the exam.

[Hareer]

I took my stage one exam about 4 years ago and as well as recommending all the books above I also found Stage One - Riding and Stable Management by Hazel Reed v. good and easy reading.