Skip to content
back to home
  • Coaching (Dressage) Pathway
  • Career Pathways

Coach - Dressage Ride (Stage 3)

Demonstrate your ability to work in the industry as a dressage coach, inspiring others through your modern teaching methods with a sound knowledge base to support your coaching.

  • Last reviewed: 23rd July 2024
Coach In Complete Horsemanship Stage 3 Coach In Complete Horsemanship Stage 3

BHSQ Level 3 Coach - Dressage Ride (Stage 3)

This career certificate demonstrates you have the practical skills and knowledge to support others to develop and reach their goals. Working in a commercial establishment, club environment or as a freelance coach, a Stage 3 Coach supports the development of a horse’s way of going, is able to provide initial dressage guidance and flatwork coaching, and help riders work over grids, small courses and cross-country fences.

You will also have the ability and experience to independently ride a variety of horses on the flat and over fences as well as look after and turn out the horses in your care. Within your own riding you will be developing your ability and experience riding and schooling on the flat including lateral work.

As a Stage 3 Coach, you can join the largest professional equestrian coaching body as a BHS Accredited Professional Coach. You will also be able to apply for an Equestrian Passport from the International Group for Equestrian Qualifications (IGEQ), making it easier to work internationally.

Who is this qualification for?

  • Anyone who enjoys inspiring others to be their best
    Anyone looking to coach and train our next generation from entry level to professional competition riders
  • Anyone aspiring to become a freelance coach
  • Anyone looking to become a BHS Accredited Professional Coach  

Entry requirements

Units

BHSQ Level 3 Coach –Dressage Ride (Stage 3) is awarded upon achievement of four compulsory units:

Qualification Guidelines

Unit 1: Stage 3 Care

On completion of this unit, you will: 

  • Be assessed on your knowledge to manage day-to-day activity, care and welfare of horses under your responsibility, with an established awareness of current legislation for working within a stable yard environment
  • Show competence in understanding equine behaviour, physiology and measuring vital health signs 
  • Be assessed on recognising and treating common conditions and nutritional requirements of the horse, including assessment of condition and measurement of nutrition alongside fittening of the horse 
  • Be practically assessed on how to fit tack for both flatwork and jumping, in addition to the use of studs

Read more about Unit 1: Stage 3 Care here.

Unit 2: Stage 3 Lunge

On completion of this unit, you will: 

  • Be assessed on handling tack and equipment, which will include a bridle, saddle, side reins, cavesson, lunge line and whip 
  • Be able to assess the horse and discuss its way of going, suggesting and demonstrating exercises to help the horse reach its potential 
  • Apply aids that are suitable to the horse’s status and reactivity

Read more about Unit 2: Stage 3 Lunge here.

Unit 3: Stage 3 Ride Dressage

On completion of the unit, you will: 

  • Have an understanding of the Training Scale with flatwork and be able to apply this knowledge 
  • Be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the horse’s performance, evaluate its way of going and determine an approach to maintain this way of going. You will be assessed on your ability to deliver aids to benefit the horse while taking account of forward movement, rhythm, bend and a working outline 
  • Be able to complete a variety of dressage movements including leg yielding, turn about the forehand and an ability to lengthen and shorten the stride in all paces

Read more about Unit 3: Stage 3 Ride Dressage.

Unit 5: Stage 3 Coaching

On completion of the unit, you will: 

  • Be able to deliver a flat lesson that would be suitable for someone hoping to compete in a novice or prelim dressage competition 
  • Be able to coach two riders over simulated cross-country fences including some of the more technical fences of an 80 centimetre course 
  • Have the skills to teach the basics of dressage, showjumping and cross-country riding disciplines to novice competitive riders, Pony Club members and riding school clients.

Read more about Unit 5: Stage 3 Coaching here.

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.

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.

UCAS Tariff points

This qualification has been allocated a Tariff point value of 16.
Find out more about UCAS Tariff points 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.

Career pathway:

Coaching (Dressage) 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 - Dressage Ride

BHSQ Level 3 Coach - Dressage Ride (Stage 3) demonstrates your ability to work in the industry as a coach, inspiring others through your modern teaching methods with a sound knowledge base to support your coaching.

4
  • Stage 4

Senior Dressage Coach

BHSQ Level 4 Senior Dressage 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.