What to do if you have not completed a BHS qualification
BHS qualifications are regularly reviewed and updated, as a result the content of our qualifications will change slightly over time. If you started a BHS qualification on a syllabus which has now been updated, you may be required to 'top up' your skills and knowledge against the current qualification specification, or provide evidence to confirm your skills and knowledge are current. This may include an additional assessment and/or a BHS Assessor reference.
BHS Stage 2, 3 and 4 qualifications are awarded by British Horse Society Qualifications (BHSQ).
The process to ‘top up’ and evidence your currency is only required if you want to achieve a BHSQ qualification. The process is not required if you want to progress to the next level/Stage. For further information please refer to the guidance documents provided below.
If you are part way through your BHSI and wish to complete this, please contact us to discuss your options.
If you have started Stage 2, 3 or 4 over ten years ago but did not achieve the complete qualification (Care, Ride or PTT/ITT) you will be required to start the qualification again.
Guidance documents
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Why do I need to do this?
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All qualifications undergo a regular review to make sure they remain fit for purpose. Vocational qualifications, such as the BHS qualifications, evolve to make sure that relevant, current skills and knowledge are assessed so those that gain the qualification are prepared for employment in the current industry. This means that the content of the qualification will change over time.
The BHS Stage 2, 3 and 4 qualifications are listed on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which means they are officially 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. They are awarded by British Horse Society Qualifications (BHSQ).
It is a regulatory requirement to make sure that when a qualification is awarded it reflects the knowledge and skills within the current syllabus. If you have achieved an older version of a unit or qualification and are using this in part to achieve a current BHSQ qualification, you may be required to evidence any gaps identified and provide evidence to show that your skills and knowledge are current.
Frequently asked questions
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I didn't complete my qualification because I did not want to jump. What options are now available to me?
There are dressage routes available for riding at both Stage 3 and Stage 4. Stage 2 Ride will continue to be a combined ride unit which includes both flatwork and jumping to give a foundation level of riding skills on the flat and over fences. This could now be all the jumping you will be required to do if jumping isn’t your thing!
After achieving Stage 2 Ride you can then continue along our riding assessments with dressage only. Discipline specific (Dressage/Show Jumping/Eventing) coaching units are available from Stage 4 depending on your focus.
If you are unable to undertake some or all of the practical elements within the BHS Care, Lunge or Riding assessments but would like to achieve a BHS qualification, we can offer a route to gain entry to Stage 2 Coaching. More information about this route can be found on the direct entry page of this website.
Costs
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The cost to complete your qualification will depend on the amount of evidence you need to submit and whether you need to take additional BHS assessments.
If you are required to submit a reference from a BHS assessor, you will need to agree the fee for this with the assessor and this will vary depending on the amount of evidence required. If you need contact details for assessors in your area, please contact us.
If you are required to have a Skills Record signed as part of your evidence, you may need to pay an Accredited Professional Coach or BHS Approved Centre for their time to complete this.
You may be required to attend an online assessment or to submit video evidence for assessment to ‘top up’ your qualification. Please contact us to arrange this. Online assessments and assessment of video evidence will be charged at £25.
Skills Record
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If you are required to sit an assessment to ‘top up’ and achieve a BHSQ qualification you will be required complete the relevant sections of the Skills Record before your assessment. The Skills Record has been introduced to help support you whilst you are training towards BHS qualifications and make sure that you are fully prepared for your assessments. You will need to have your Skills Record signed off by an Accredited Professional Coach or at a BHS Approved Riding Centre.
You may be required to have sections of a Skills Record signed off if providing evidence to confirm your skills and knowledge are current.
There is a Skills Record for Stages 1-3 and a Skills Record for Stage 4. Skills Records are available to download, or you can purchase your copy for £5 from our online shop.
Find out more about the Skills Record.
Direct entry
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If you have gained experience in the industry since starting your BHS qualifications and would like to gain entry to a higher-level BHS qualification, you can apply for direct entry. Please see our direct entry guidance for more information.
Training for BHS qualifications
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Find out more about how to train for BHS qualifications.