About Stage 2
Stage 2 is for anyone looking to improve their horse skills and knowledge. It will give you the tools to complete straightforward tasks both in and out of the saddle, and the confidence to deal with simple problems that may arise. At the heart of it all will be your understanding of working safely, whilst also handling horses with respect and with their welfare in mind.
There are five qualifications at Stage 2. What you will learn and be assessed on depends on which Stage 2 qualification you choose.
Click on the links in the table below to read the qualification syllabus.
| Qualifications | Assessments to take | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom | Stage 2 Care | Stage 2 Lunge | |||
| BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom with Riding | Stage 2 Care | Stage 2 Lunge | Stage 2 Ride | ||
| BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coaching Riders | Stage 2 Coaching | ||||
| BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship | Stage 2 Care | Stage 2 Lunge | Stage 2 Ride | Stage 2 Coaching | |
| BHS Stage 2 Ride Leader | Stage 2 Care | Stage 2 Riding Out | |||
What will I have to do?
Stage 2 assessments are held at BHS Approved Riding Centres, with their facilities and horses. You will work through a series of practical activities and discussions under the guidance of our assessor. All you need to do is turn up prepared and ready to go. The safety and welfare of yourself, the horse and others is a priority. Safe practice will be at the forefront of your training and must be followed throughout your assessment.
Stage 2 Care
What's covered:
- The roles and responsibilities of working on a yard.
- Routine tasks such as putting on, checking and adjusting tack, boots, bandages and travel equipment.
- Normal behaviour in horses, how to recognise when a horse may become unsettled and what may cause this behaviour.
- How to weigh horses and what may influence their diet.
- Basic anatomy such as major bones and organs.
- Maintaining good health in horses including routine health. procedures, basic first aid, when to call a vet and common health problems.
- How to care for horse’s feet and recognising signs of lameness.
- Requirements for safe and comfortable environments for horses.
- How to plait and trim.
- Handling horses in a variety of situations including bathing and loading.
Stage 2 Lunge
What's covered:
- The reasons and benefits for lungeing.
- The tack and equipment required for lungeing and how to put it on.
- How to lunge a horse for exercise with appropriate technique and handling skills.
- How to lunge with the welfare and safety of yourself and the horse in mind.
- Reflecting on your skills and technique and reviewing how the horse is working.
Stage 2 Ride
What's covered:
- Begin to know about a horse’s way of going, how to describe what this means and how you can positively influence a horse’s reactions when riding.
- Understand how to communicate with the horse clearly and empathically.
- Ride in a balanced position whilst riding school figures and movements, riding with and without stirrups in walk, trot and canter and riding with the reins in one hand.
- Demonstrate how to ride safely and considerately, demonstrating correct use of aids and with awareness of how the horse is responding to you.
- Understand how to warm up and prepare for jumping.
- Jump a course of fences (up to 75 centimetres / 2 foot 6 inches).
- Reflect on your skills and technique after your riding session, reviewing how effective you were and the horse’s way of going.
Stage 2 Coaching
Stage 2 Coaching is the first step on your journey to becoming a successful coach.
What's covered:
- Understand the role and responsibilities of a coach and coaching principles.
- Plan, deliver and evaluate coaching lessons:
- A lead rein lesson (20 minutes coaching plus 5 minutes discussion with the assessor).
- A lunge lesson (30 minutes coaching plus 5 minutes discussion with the assessor).
- An integrated flatwork and jumping lesson (45 minutes coaching plus 5 minutes discussion with the assessor).
- A practical stable management lesson (15 minutes coaching plus 5 minutes discussion with the assessor).
- Deliver coaching lessons for beginner to novice riders.
- Coach safely with the welfare and safety of all involved, including the horse.
- Develop techniques to be able to progress the riding skills of participants, adapting your coaching when required.
- Be able to reflect on your coaching techniques and how to develop your skills.
Stage 2 Riding Out
Stage 2 Riding Out will support your career in equine tourism, or within a riding or trekking centre where riding outside of an arena will be part of the role. This is the first step to gaining the skills and confidence to take out short rides supporting the customers and horses as you do.
What's covered:
- Know the roles and responsibilities of a Ride Leader.
- Assess riders, check tack and equipment, assist riders with mounting and provide basic instruction in preparation for riding out.
- Ride in walk, trot and canter.
- Ride as part of a group in an open space.
- Ride and lead a horse and rider.
- Escort a group of riders including riding on and off the road.
- Evaluate own performance.
How to get started
We can help you to find lots of different training opportunities depending on how you like to learn.
1. Practical training
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- Finding a coach or course through a BHS Approved Riding Centre means you will have the chance to work with and handle lots of different types of horses. This is a great way to gain experience first-hand. Most of our BHS Approved Riding Centres will hold the assessments so you can train for and then take your assessment at the centre you’re familiar with.
- Some centres run courses over a set number of weeks, often with the assessment at the end. You can also arrange tailored training at our centres if you want more flexibility with times and dates.
Find your nearest course.
Find your nearest BHS Approved Riding Centre. - If you have your own horse you can train with a BHS Accredited Professional Coach who could visit your yard. They will help to prepare you for your assessment by building your knowledge and skills. Find an Accredited Professional Coach.
- We also have a dedicated Facebook group for people requesting or advertising training for BHS assessments.
Join the BHS Training Hub.
2. Self-study
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There are also options to ‘top up’ your training with some home-learning. Our ‘Complete Horsemanship Volume 2’ is the essential guide for Stage 2 and ‘Riding Out’ is our companion for Stage 2 Riding Out. We also have our ‘Stage 2 Workbook’ and plenty of other books for you to read if you want to support your practical training. View our recommended reading for Stage 2.
We have a series of ‘How to…’ videos which covers some of the skills you will be learning about. View our video library.
We also have lots of helpful advice on horse care and welfare to top up your knowledge.
3. How to book your assessment
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Stage 2 Care, Lunge and Ride can be taken on the same assessment day. However, you have the options to take separately if you prefer. Stage 2 Coaching will be held over one assessment day. If you’re working towards our Stage 2 Ride Leader qualification, then the Stage 2 Care and Stage 2 Riding Out can be taken on the same assessment day.
Booking your assessment is quick and easy. View our available assessment dates here and call us on 02476 840508 (during office hours) or alternatively, book your assessment online. Remember to have your BHS Membership number and a credit or debit card to hand for payment. If you’re under 18, we need parent or carer consent to book the assessment.
4. Entry requirements
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- Entry requirements for Stage 2 Care and Lunge - Stage 1 Care or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 14 years old on the day of the assessment.
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Entry requirements for Stage 2 Ride - Stage 1 Ride or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 14 years old on the day of the assessment.
- Entry requirements for Stage 2 Coaching - Stage 2 Care, Lunge and Ride or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 17 years old on the day of the assessment.
- Entry requirements for Stage 2 Riding Out - Stage 1 Complete Horsemanship or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 16 years old on the day of the assessment. For assessments from 1 January 2025 you must be at least 18 years old on the day of the assessment.
Additional entry requirements for BHS Stage 2:
- Gold Membership. International Students to be International Full or International E-Members.
- Skills Record. The completion of your Skills Record is not required to book your assessment but must be completed before you take your assessment. Further information regarding the Skills Record is below.
Assessment fees
Stage 2 Care assessment
Stage 2 Lunge assessment
Stage 2 Ride assessment
Stage 2 Care, Lunge and Ride assessment
(same day assessment)
Stage 2 Coaching assessment
Stage 2 Riding Out assessment
We’re here to support you
We are delighted to offer our Career Transition Fund for those working towards Stage 2 assessments.
There may be other funding available to you too.
If you feel you would like additional support at an assessment please follow our Access Arrangements guidance.
If you need a bit more guidance or you’re not sure where to start, our friendly team will be happy to help. Simply get in touch by phone (02476 840508) or use our enquiry form.
What will I get from Stage 2 qualifications?
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Stage 2 qualifications are an endorsement of your skills and knowledge at this level. It will provide assurance to an employer that you can work safely with horses across a range of tasks.
Stage 2 qualifications can lead to many different career opportunities working with horses such as assistant groom or assistant coach in a variety of settings, yards and riding schools. Our Ride Leader qualifications will allow you to work within a riding school or trekking centre facility.
Stage 2 is also a way to progress to Stage 3. Develop your career even further with our Stage 3 qualifications.
There are also many transferable skills you will develop whilst taking BHS qualifications that will support you in many other areas of your life.
Full qualification syllabus
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Information about the assessment day
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All BHS assessments are involve practical tasks and discussion with the assessor.
The Stage 2 Care, Lunge and Ride assessments can all be taken on the same day or if you prefer can be booked for separate occasions. If all units are taken on the same day the Care, Lunge and Ride is a
full day assessment (approximately, 8.30am-5pm). Short breaks in-between sections, and a lunch break of 45 minutes will be allocated throughout the day.
The Stage 2 Coaching assessment will be held on a separate day to the Care, Lunge and Ride. This is a half day assessment (approximately four hours from start to finish). Some short breaks in-between sections will be allocated throughout the day.
The Stage 2 Riding Out assessment is a half day assessment (ap proximately four hours from start to finish). Short breaks in-between will be allocated throughout the day. If you are also completing the
Stage 2 Care assessment on the same day, your assessment will be a full day assessment, with a lunch break of 30 minutes included.
If you are not taking any assessment in full, you may be required to be at the assessment centre for longer than the time allocated for that activity. Your activity or unit may not follow straight away after the assessment welcome and introduction. You may be required to wait for your section to begin.
To find out more about how your assessment may be delivered, take a look at our example assessment timings.
Skills Record
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The Skills record is designed to support you as you train for your Stage 2 assessments. You will need to have this signed off by an Accredited Professional Coach (APC) or at a BHS Approved Riding Centre before you take your assessment.
Find out more about the skills record.
Other information you need to know
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Our qualifications are delivered to the highest standards possible. We have policies and procedures that we follow before, during and after the assessment. This makes sure that our assessments are fair and offer you the best quality and service we can provide. We encourage you (or your parent or carer) to be familiar with our policies and our assessment terms and conditions. These explain what you can expect from us and what we expect from you as a candidate at a BHS assessment.
BHS assessment terms and conditions
Your experience and satisfaction are very important to us. If you wish to give us feedback we welcome you to contact us.
BHSQ
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BHS Qualifications (BHSQ) is an awarding organisation recognised and regulated by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, SQA Accreditation in Scotland, Qualifications Wales (QW) and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland. BHSQ works in partnership with a variety of organisations to develop and award qualifications for the equestrian industry. This makes sure BHSQ qualifications are fit for purpose for the sector.
As the awarding organisation, BHSQ is responsible for the processes which learners undertake to obtain certification. BHSQ is responsible for verifying that assessment practice in approved centres is conducted systematically, effectively, securely and to national standards specified within the qualification.
The British Horse Society (BHS) is approved as a centre to deliver qualifications regulated by BHSQ. BHSQ and the BHS developed these qualifications in line with feedback received from extensive industry consultation.
Learners taking BHSQ Level 2 (Stage 2) qualifications will either be seeking employment in the industry or employed and seeking career advancement. It is essential these qualifications meet the needs of employers and learners. To satisfy these requirements, the qualifications have been developed in collaboration with employers, colleges, coaches, students, and expert groups.
BHSQ awards and regulates the following Stage 2 qualifications:
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom (Stage 2)
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom with Riding (Stage 2)
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coaching Riders (Stage 2)
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2)
Next step - Stage 3
Do what you love. Work with horses and gain professional qualifications at the same time.
