BHSQ Level 4 Senior Dressage Coach (Stage 4)
This career certificate demonstrates your experience and skills to independently train and coach individuals and groups of riders, working with riders on their own horses or on centre horses, with sound practical business knowledge and the ability to take responsibility for an equestrian establishment or work as an effective freelance coach.
BHSQ Level 4 Senior Dressage Coach (Stage 4), will showcase appropriate coaching styles to develop riders and train horses to British Dressage Elementary.
Who is this qualification for?
- Anyone looking to advance their coaching career to coach at higher levels in one of the world-leading equestrian coaching pathways
- Anyone looking to take a senior role or management role within an equestrian business
- Anyone aspiring to become a Performance Dressage Coach (BHSI)
Entry requirements
- Minimum age of 18 years
- BHS Stage 3 Coach - Dressage Ride or BHSQ/BHS equivalent
- BHS Gold member – Membership discounts apply for students who are training for or taking BHS qualifications
Units
BHSQ Level 4 Senior Dressage Coach (Stage 4) is awarded upon achievement of four compulsory units plus one riding unit:
Unit 1: Stage 4 Senior Care
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On completion of the unit, you will:
- Be able to select, fit and evaluate a range of specialist tack
- Understand the principles of nutrition, fittening and horse physiology
- Demonstrate how to assess the conformation and health of horses
- Understand how to care for different groups of horses
- Understand the foaling process and the care of mares, foals and young stock
Unit 2: Stage 4 Senior Management
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On completion of the unit, you will:
- Understand the importance of customer care and how to apply this in your business
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills
- Understand the responsibilities of a yard manager, including managing staff, accounts and record keeping
- Understand how to manage a yard, including marketing, facilities and grassland management
Unit 3: Stage 4 Senior Lunge
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On completion of the unit, you will:
- Be able to identify the age, temperament and fitness of the horse you are working with and assess its way of going in all three paces
- Be able to show improvement in the horse’s way of going and be confident to alter and use equipment as needed including lungeing over poles
- Discuss the impact of the lunge work and suggest a progression plan for the horse
- Evaluate the use of training aids for lungeing
Unit 8: Stage 4 Senior Coaching Dressage
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On completion of the unit, you will be able to:
- Use your broad experience in the industry of teaching a wide variety of clients
- Coach a rider on the lunge to improve their position
- Coach individual, semi-private and group lessons on the flat and using ground poles
- Show an understanding of relevant coaching techniques and motivation for clients, and the ability to assess the horse and rider combination
- Show competence in these sessions coaching up to British Dressage Elementary Level
Read more about Unit 8: Stage 4 Senior Coaching Dressage here.
Additional units
Add one of the following riding units:
Unit 4: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing
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On completion of the unit, you will:
- Understand the training of horses from birth to riding away and further to competition at Elementary level
- Understand how to train horses to show jump to 1.10m and novice horse trials
- Be able to prepare for, ride and assess horses to develop their way of going, including:
- Inexperienced horses
- Trained horses up to Elementary level to develop their way of going
- Trained horses over a course of show jumps up to 1.10 metres/3 feet 7 inches
- Trained horses over a cross country course up to 1 metre/3 feet 3 inches
Unit 4: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing includes riding all phases of eventing; dressage, show jumping and cross country. We are pleased to offer dressage or show jumping only routes for those that are discipline specific riders and/or coaches.
Unit 5: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Dressage
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On completion of the unit, you will:
- Understand the training of horses from birth to riding away and further to competition
- Understand how to train horses for dressage from Intro to Elementary
- Be able to prepare for, ride and assess horses to develop their way of going, including:
- Inexperienced dressage horses
- Trained dressage horses in a double bridle
- Horses used to train others
Unit 5: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Dressage is designed for riders who want to focus on dressage and is included in the Dressage Pathway. We are pleased to also offer show jumping or complete/eventing routes for riders and coaches.
Read more about Unit 5: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Dressage.
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
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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.
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.
