Stage 3

• We encourage you to find training from a suitably qualified person.
• Some BHS Approved Centres run courses over a set number of weeks, often with the assessment at the end. Find your nearest course.
• You can also contact a BHS Approved Centre directly if we don’t have a course listed on our website or if you want to find training that’s a bit more flexible or on a one-to-one basis. Find a BHS Approved Centre near you.
• If you have your own horse or horses you could also train with a BHS Accredited Professional Coach who could visit your yard. They will help to prepare you for your assessments and build up your knowledge and skills. Find an Accredited Professional Coach.
• We also have a dedicated closed Facebook group for people requesting or advertising training for BHS assessments. Join the Facebook group.

There are also options to ‘top up’ your training with some home-learning. 

For our Care, Lunge, Ride and Coaching assessments, our ‘BHS Complete Horsemanship Volume 3’ is our essential guide. If you’re working towards our Riding Out assessment, our ‘BHS Riding Out’ will support your preparation. Visit our online shop.

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.

Stage 3 Care, Lunge and Ride can be taken on the same assessment day. However, you have options to take them separately if you prefer. Stage 3 Coaching will be held over one assessment day. Stage 3 Riding Out and Stage 3 Care can also be taken on the same assessment day.

Booking your assessment is quick and easy. View our assessment dates 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.

• Entry requirements for Stage 3 Care and Lunge · Stage 2 Care and lunge or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 16 years old on the day of the assessment.

• Entry requirements for Stage 3 Ride Dressage and Ride Jump · Stage 2 Ride or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 16 years old on the day of the assessment.

• Entry requirements for Stage 3 Coaching · Stage 2 Coaching or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 18 years old on the day of the assessment.
  
  
• Entry requirements for Stage 3 Riding Out - Stage 2 Riding Out or equivalent via direct entry. You must be at least 18 years old on the day of the assessment.

Additional entry requirements for BHS Stage 3:

•  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.

Do you dream of working with horses? The Stage 3 qualifications can lead to just that, opening the door to many different career opportunities such as groom or coach in a variety of settings, yards and riding schools. Prefer to be out and about? Our Trail Leader qualifications will allow you to work within a riding school or trekking centre facility.

By completing your Stage 3 qualifications, you will provide endorsement of your skills and knowledge at this level to any prospective employer, showing that not only can you work safely and independently, but that you are committed to your own professional development.

BHSQ regulated qualifications have been allocated UCAS tariff points.

Want to keep going? Stage 3 is also a stepping stone to Stage 4 where you can continue to improve your skills, knowledge and your career even further.

If you want further detail, you can download the full qualification specification including the syllabi for BHSQ qualifications here. Download the Riding Out syllabus here. Your trainer will be able to explain anything you’re unsure of and work through the syllabus with you in preparation for your assessment.

All BHS assessments are involve practical tasks and discussion with the assessor.

The Stage 3 Care, Lunge, Ride Dressage and Ride Jump 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, Ride Dressage and Ride Jump is a full day assessment (approximately, 8.30am-5.15pm). Short breaks in-between sections, and a lunch break of 30 minutes will be allocated throughout the day.

The Stage 3 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 3 Riding Out assessment is a half day assessment (approximately four hours from start to finish). Short breaks in-between will be allocated throughout the day. If you are also completing the Stage 3 Care assessment on the same day, your assessment will be a full day, 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.

The Skills record is designed to support you as you train for your Stage 3 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.

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 assessments policies

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.

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 3 (Stage 3) qualifications will either be seeking employment in the industry or will already be employed with a desire to progress their career by advancing their skills and knowledge. 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 3 qualifications:

• BHSQ Level 3 Groom (Stage 3)
• BHSQ Level 3 Groom with Riding - Complete (Stage 3)
• BHSQ Level 3 Groom with Riding - Dressage (Stage 3)
• BHSQ Level 3 Groom with Riding - Jump (Stage 3)
• BHSQ Level 3 Coaching Riders (Stage 3)
• BHSQ Level 3 Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 3)
• BHSQ Level 3 Coach – Dressage Ride (Stage 3)
• BHSQ Level 3 Coach – Jump Ride (Stage 3)