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  • Groom with Riding

Groom with Riding Pathway

The BHS Groom with Riding Pathway provides the practical riding skills and knowledge to support a rider or groom that has responsibility to care for, produce, train and exercise horses.

  • Last reviewed: 1st September 2022
M Trot 160 BHS WELLINGTON OCT18 22275 M Trot 160 BHS WELLINGTON OCT18 22275

We strongly believe that any professional in the industry requires a sound knowledge of horse care and stable management to supplement their career, whether a coach, groom, rider or trainer. Our Groom with Riding Pathway will help you develop a sympathetic riding style and ensure you put the welfare of the horse at the heart of your riding and training.

As you progress along this pathway you will gain a broad and detailed equestrian knowledge and practical ability, including management and handling horses, equine health, anatomy, physiology, feeding, fitness, saddlery, stable design, grassland management and the highest level of turnout.

You will develop your riding skills along this pathway as you progress from the basic riding skills at Stage 1 through to riding and training horses up to advanced medium dressage, over show jumps up to 1.20 metres and cross-country fences up to 1.10 metres. You will develop your empathy and feel for riding throughout this pathway, being able to assess and train horses, evaluating their quality and work and planning the horse’s development.

Following this career pathway up to Performance Centre Manager with Riding, you will be able to work as a rider and trainer of horses, taking responsibility for their training, development and care for competition. You will also be able to fulfil a senior strategic management position within an equestrian business, enhanced with a broad knowledge in all aspects of business management and horse care, including maintaining horse health, care of competition horses and the breeding and management of young horses.

Who is this pathway for?

  • Anyone who enjoys riding and wishes to compete as a professional rider
  • Anyone who aspires to train competition horses within any discipline
  • Grooms looking to enhance their riding skills and knowledge
  • Entry level and professional riders looking to advance their riding career in any discipline
  • Anyone looking to become a Coach in Complete Horsemanship – the only career path to progress to the BHS Fellowship

Career pathway:

Groom with riding 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 Groom with Riding

BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom with Riding (Stage 2) is for anyone looking to start their career as a groom and rider in the industry.

3
  • Stage 3

Groom with riding

BHSQ Level 3 Groom with Riding - Complete (Stage 3) is for those looking for a role as a professional rider offering employers the skills to care for, ride and train horses across all three disciplines at a basic level, with horse welfare at the heart of your riding.

4
  • Stage 4

Senior Yard Manager with Riding

BHSQ Level 4 Senior Yard Manager with Riding (Stage 4) is for those with an established career in the equestrian industry. The qualification demonstrates a competence to take responsibility for a horse’s training, development and management.

Next Steps

Performance Centre Manager with Riding

The Performance Centre Manager with Riding will allow you to fulfil a senior strategic management position within an equestrian business, such as an equine college or large equestrian centre.

Meet Maddy

Watch

Meet Maddy - a BHS Stage 1 Rider

Potential careers

With this pathway, you could potentially become a:

  • Work rider in a riding school
  • Work rider exercising horses within private yards
  • Horse trainer within a chosen discipline
  • Groom and rider for a professional rider
  • Professional competition rider

Dressage and Show Jumping Pathways

We understand that not all riders wish to pursue a professional riding career within all disciplines. Perhaps you would like to follow our jump or dressage specific routes?

Groom with Riding Pathway (Dressage)

BHS Groom with Riding Pathway (Dressage) will develop your flatwork and support a career as a dressage rider.

Find out more here.

Groom with Riding Pathway (Show Jumping)

BHS Groom with Riding Pathway (Show Jumping) will develop your jump work and support a career focussed on showjumping.

Find out more 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.