Skip to content
back to home
  • Stage 2
  • Career Pathways

Foundation Coach

BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2) provides a foundation in equine care and management, lungeing, riding on the flat and over fences and the initial principles of teaching and coaching.

  • Last reviewed: 23rd July 2024
Foundation Coach In Complete Horsemanship Stage 2 Foundation Coach In Complete Horsemanship Stage 2

BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2)

This career certificate demonstrates you have the foundation skills to work in the industry as an assistant coach, groom or work rider with limited supervision.  

Who is this qualification for?

  • Anyone aspiring to have a leading equestrian coaching career
  • Anyone who enjoys inspiring others to be their best
  • Anyone aspiring to gain BHSQ Level 3 Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 3) and become a BHS Accredited Professional Coach

Entry requirements

Units

BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2) is awarded upon achievement of four compulsory units:

Qualification Guidelines

Unit 1: Stage 2 Care

On completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand the routine practices on a stable yard, your role, responsibilities and reporting lines 
  • Know how to care for horses on a day-to-day basis, recognising and assessing normal and abnormal behaviour and understanding when veterinary intervention may be required 
  • Be able to fit standard tack and travel equipment  
  • Be able to prepare horses for presentation 
  • Have a knowledge of feeding and an understanding of fitness, including the factors that will affect the amount of feed a horse will receive 
  • Understand basic anatomy, location of key organs and the function of the digestive system  

Read more about Unit 1: Stage 2 Care here.

Unit 2: Stage 2 Lunge

On completion of this unit, you will: 

  • Prepare a horse to lunge using tack which includes a bridle, cavesson, saddle, side reins and brushing boots 
  • Demonstrate safe lungeing 
  • Work the horse in its basic paces, showing consideration for the size of the circle   

Read more about Unit 2: Stage 2 Lunge here.

Unit 3: Stage 2 Ride

On completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand the need to respect other users while applying aids to work the horse
  • Be confident riding outside in an open space, jumping single fences and a small course of 75 centimetres
  • Be starting to evaluate your own riding and the way the horse goes both in flatwork and jumping

Read more about Unit 3: Stage 2 Ride here.

Unit 4: Stage 2 Coaching

You will show competencies to be able to work with novice riders both on the lunge and lead rein, showing an understanding of how basic early skills are established.

Unit 4: Stage 2 Coaching will assess your knowledge and understanding in delivering a lesson including both flatwork and jumping. Flatwork will show an understanding of working with small groups of riders in walk, trot and canter working on balance and riding position, which may include work both with and without stirrups.

Read more about Unit 4: Stage 2 Coaching.

Training for this qualification

All applicants are encouraged to undertake practical training at a BHS Approved Centre or with a BHS Accredited Professional Coach to ensure you are ready for your assessment.

Booking your assessment

To book your assessment, please find an upcoming assessment date near you and then contact the BHS Education team to book your place.

You can find out more information about booking your assessment here.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please complete our enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly. Alternatively you can call us on 02476 840508.

Re-sitting your assessment

If you have been unsuccessful on your first assessment, we encourage you to call us to book a re-sit.

Of course, we will also answer any questions you may have and provide you with feedback at this stage. You may have been successful against some, but not all of the assessment criteria, in which case we can just assess you on the sections on which you were not so strong.

Career pathway:

Coaching Pathway

1
  • Stage 1

Complete Horsemanship

Stage 1 Complete Horsemanship provides an industry recognised foundation of practical knowledge in riding, care and stable management to progress through any career pathway.

2
  • Stage 2

Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship

BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2) provides a foundation in equine care and management, lungeing, riding on the flat and over fences and the initial principles of teaching and coaching.

3
  • Stage 3

Coach in Complete Horsemanship

BHSQ Level 3 Coach in Complete Horsemanship demonstrates your ability to work in the industry as a coach.

4
  • Stage 4

Senior Eventing Coach

BHSQ Level 4 Senior Eventing Coach (Stage 4) celebrates your development in coaching both horses and riders in the equestrian industry with considerable knowledge of care and management, riding and coaching.