stage 3

[nicepony]

has anyone done the bhs stage 3 exam????
i would love to know any tips, things you wish you had studied harder for???? did you find they had pet topics???? any suggestions are very welcome!!!

[joey_olop]

Ive done the training for it but not quite up to the standard need alot of practice with muscles as they go into that with alot of detail.

Also the riding section I ride like a jockey so I dont think they will take too kindly to that-passed stage 2 by the skin of me teeth cos of it

Good Luck

[skye06]

I sat the stage three in 2000. Found that the examiners were a lot stricter than in the stage two but very fair. Physiology a big need to know, as for riding also found that they really did expect a lot but if you can explain your actions then you are generally ok, eg the horse i rode in a double was really uncomfy so I let go of the second rein and just rode on the bridoon and passed because I could explain the horse was not happy. The jumping and x-country make sure of your rythm and stright approaches. Ask for clarification if you are not sure what you are being asked and you need to be quick in and around stable and doing tasks given to you. Be confident in your answers and be ready to discuss views with other candidates.

[eml]

They no longer expect Stage3 students to ride with a double...apparently it was generally very badly done and centres were not putting forward horses well schooled in double. Lots have also changed since I did it. Personally I regret the absence of the Minor Ailments paper and ride and lead,

However I think the general standard required particularly in riding is now considerably higher. I trained for exams just after the BHS had realigned them to national standards (late 1980's) when I was told that my riding was well up to the old Stage 4 level. Having seen the current Stage 4 standard I just wish I could have aspired to that!

When training I try not to put a candidate into Stage 2 who is not really working their horse forward to a contact as although it is not expected most candidates are capable of this and the weaker ones therefore look worse. Similarly at Stage 3 I try to produce a candidate with the ability to ride a variety of horses correctly and with experience of the stiff/spoilt as well as cooperative in all phases.

If you have ridden a wide variety of horses including some problem ones and competed regularly at all three disciplines you should cope.

The theory is not too demanding if you have done GCSE Biology or similar but just needs a lot of reading around the subject. Practical experience is essential but as the exam is aimed at people actually having worked with horses over some time and in different yards the practical only presents a problem if you are unpracticed.

[itchy]

I've done my Stage 3, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was easier than I was expecting it to be. Basically, if you do know what your doing, what your talking about (ie learnt the stable management side of it), your confident with the horses when riding, and do have the experience, it really does show and you'll walk it

[Siogfinsceal]

doing my care in autumn- very worried about the muscles my head hurts trying to learn them and I fin dthe feeding & fittening v hard. You dont have to ride in a double but you must know how to put one on correctly. I got the bhs stage 3 video and I found that helped me a bit to see what the exam is about

[nicepony]

thanks everyone......i think i really need to study and not play on the internet!

[summerguest]

Learn everything!
They don't need you to know everything in depth, just the basics.
Make sure you can do the practical stuff correctly and quickly!

Still strugling with the riding part....think luck has a part to play....which horses you get , who the examiner is etc!

Good luck!