Direct entry

We require that all Pony Club qualification certificates are signed by the assessor(s) and either the Area Representative or District Commissioner. You are not required to be an active member of the Pony Club. 

If you hold Irish Pony Club Tests please contact education@bhs.org.uk for further information on the direct entry route they provide

Download the guidance.

Pony Club Mucking Out Sign Off template

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Level 2 Apprenticeship Lunge and Ride Sign Off Template

Level 3 Apprenticeship Tack and Ride Sign Off Template

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Please note when booking we will require both the qualification and unit certificates. 

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Download the guidance 

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If you have not been issued your final Progressive Riding Test certificate, please ask your BHS Approved Centre to apply for this via the BHS Approvals Department on 02476 840809. 

Download the guidance

If you hold an IGEQ passport and would like to apply for direct entry to BHS assessments please fill in an initial interest form. We will then contact you if we require additional evidence, this may include; your CV and an endorsement from a BHS assessor.  

Alternatively, you may apply through Route 2 with a fee of £50.

You will need to decide which BHS qualification you would like to request entry to.

If you are not sure which level you want to enter at or if you have any other queries please fill in our initial interest form. We will contact you and discuss your options with you.

Submit the following evidence via the online application form.

• Your CV detailing your employment in the equestrian industry, experience and skills.
• A detailed reference from an industry professional such as an Accredited Professional Coach covering your care, lungeing, riding and coaching skills (as applicable).
• Copies of any equine qualification certificates that you may hold.
• Copies of any affiliated competition results (if applicable).
• £50 application fee. This is payable at the time of submission and is non-refundable.

The evidence you submit will be reviewed by the BHS Education Team. You’ll be contacted to discuss your application and progress to Step 3 of the application process.

You’ll be asked to provide an endorsement from a BHS assessor. The assessor endorsement will involve a spot check of specific skills (practical and/or ridden) to verify you’re at the required standard. Guidance will be given to you and the assessor regarding the skills required to be evidenced.

We can provide details of BHS assessors you can contact. The cost of the assessor endorsement will be arranged between yourself and the assessor.

Submit the following evidence via the online application form.

• Your CV via the relevant template below:

• BHSI (General) CV Template
• BHSI Eventing CV Template
• BHSI Dressage CV Template
• BHSI Show Jumping CV Template

You may also provide your own CV in addition to one of the templates above.

• Copies of any equine qualification certificates that you may hold.

• Copies of any affiliated competition results.

• A letter of recommendation from a BHSI assessor or an FBHS.

• £50 application fee. This is payable at the time of part one submission and is non-refundable.

You will also need to confirm you are actively training with a BHSI assessor or FBHS

If you’re considering this route please complete our initial enquiry form and we’ll get back to you to discuss your experience, what qualifications you want to achieve and the options available to you.

This route allows entry to and achievement of the Stage 2 Coaching unit but will not award achievement of the BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2) qualification.

We’ve created an Evidence Logbook specifically for this route. You will need to work with a coach to complete the logbook which will then be verified by a BHS assessor who will spot check topics that have been signed off.

The assessor verification is arranged by the applicant or their coach. We can provide details of BHS assessors you can contact. The cost of the assessor verification will be arranged between yourself and the assessor.

The Evidence Logbook will include:

• For Care units: Either demonstration of the skill or the learner can instruct an assistant to complete the skill/task to evidence the underpinning knowledge of safe practice.
• For Lunge unit: The learner can instruct an assistant to complete the skill/task to evidence the underpinning knowledge of safe practice.
• For Riding units: Observation of a horse and rider combination to identify elements as required in the syllabus (for example, correct trot diagonals and canter leads).

You can also submit historical reference/s or historical competition history. This would be relevant if you had worked or ridden at the level, but can no longer do so.

Who can sign off the Evidence Logbook?

• A BHS Accredited Professional Coach who is qualified to at least Stage 3 Care, Lunge and Ride.
• A coach within a BHS Approved Riding Centre who is qualified to at least Stage 3 Care, Lunge and Ride.
• An RDA Advanced Coach.
• If you train with a coach or employer who doesn’t fall in an above category, a family member or close friend, this will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Only a current BHS Assessor can sign the Assessor Verification at the back of the evidence log.

There is a £50 fee for your application which is payable when you submit your completed evidence logbook.

A successful direct entry application will grant you entry to a BHS assessment. It is important to note that direct entry does not award BHS or BHSQ qualifications, or units towards BHS or BHSQ qualifications that you have not taken. You will only be awarded a BHS or BHSQ qualification when you have achieved the required units of the qualification by passing the BHS assessments.

We recommend you read our Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Assessments can only be booked once your direct entry application has been accepted and places cannot be held whilst applications are being processed. You should also be familiar with our assessment booking terms and conditions, including booking timeframes and Skills Record requirements.

The cost to submit a direct entry application to the BHS is £50. However, there may be additional costs to you to complete your application.  You will need to pay a BHS assessor to provide an endorsement, the fee will need to be agreed between yourself and the assessor and will depend on the amount of evidence required.

Once the direct entry process is complete, we will confirm to you in writing the level of assessment you’ve been accepted entry into this will be valid for a period of five years, after which date, if you’ve not booked your BHS assessment, you’ll be required to resubmit your application to show that your prior learning and experience remains current and relevant.

Your evidence should detail how you meet the entry requirements (skills, knowledge and understanding) for the assessment/s you want to enter. For example, if you’re requesting entry to the Stage 3 Care assessment you must evidence you have the skills and knowledge covered at Stage 2 Care. Please refer to the entry requirements and syllabi of the relevant assessment/s for more information. This information can be found on the website page for each ‘Stage’ and within the qualification specifications.

If you’re applying to enter a care assessment, your evidence should demonstrate that you can work safely and efficiently around suitable horses. Your application should detail your horse care skills and knowledge to the required entry level. If you are applying to enter a lunge assessment you will need to provide evidence that you can lunge safely to the required entry level.

If you’re applying to enter a riding assessment your evidence should demonstrate your ability to ride on the flat and over fences to the required entry level. This will include riding a minimum of two different horses. Please note, to enter a dressage specific ride assessment at Stage 3 or above you must demonstrate that you’ve achieved a minimum of Stage 2 standard of jumping. The Ride Safe Silver Challenge award (or equivalent) is required to enter riding assessments up to and including Stage 4.

To enter a Coaching unit at Stage 2 or above, you must provide detailed evidence that you’ve covered the Stage 2 Care, Ride and Lunge as these are the entry requirements for Stage 2 Coaching. If you’re applying to enter Stage 3 Coach or above, evidence of your coaching skills must also be included. The Ride Safe Silver Challenge award (or equivalent) is required to enter coaching assessments up to and including Stage 4.

If you wish to apply for entry to any Riding, Riding Out or Coaching assessments up to and including Stage 4, you need to hold the BHS Ride Safe Silver Challenge Award (or BHS equivalent). If you can provide evidence that you’ve covered the breadth of the Ride Safe syllabus within your application you may be exempt from this. If your permanent home address is not in the UK or Republic of Ireland, you are exempt from Ride Safe.

Ideally you should provide a reference from an industry professional who knows you. This could be an employer, coach or colleague. If you are not able to provide a reference from an industry professional you know, you can arrange to have some training sessions with a BHS Accredited Professional Coach or at a BHS Approved Centre. The coach who works with you will be able to provide a reference based on what they have seen during the training sessions.

Guidance for coaches on writing references for direct entry applications

We encourage you to have an initial assessment or training with a BHS Assessor, BHS Accredited Professional Coach or at a BHS Approved Riding Centre. They will be able to provide you with guidance on the level you could enter at and any additional training required.

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Before applying, please make sure you understand the content and requirements of the assessment you are requesting direct entry into. Please refer to the qualification specification (syllabi).

If you haven’t taken BHS qualifications before, consider entering at a level where you are confident of your skills and knowledge. Assessments can be both physically and mentally challenging and you are likely to feel under pressure. We find many learners beginning at Stage 1 often feel more confident, relaxed and prepared for their BHS assessments as they progress and become familiar with the assessment environment.

Before sitting your BHS assessments, you will need to have a Skills Record signed off by a BHS Accredited Professional Coach or at a BHS Approved Centre.