Groom with Riding - Dressage (Stage 3) | The British Horse Society

Groom with Riding - Dressage

BHSQ Level 3 Groom with Riding - Dressage (Stage 3) is for those looking for a role as a professional groom and rider offering employers the skills to care for a number of horses to the highest standards and the ability to ride and train horses at a basic dressage level, with horse welfare at the heart of your riding.

BHSQ Level 3 Groom with Riding - Dressage (Stage 3)

This certificate provides the first opportunity within our Career Pathway to choose a discipline specific route for your riding. Celebrating your skills as a competent flatwork rider and trainer in the industry, a BHS Stage 3 dressage rider will have the skills and knowledge to independently ride a variety of horses on the flat as well as to look after and turn out the horses in your care.

Employment as a work rider will allow you to work in a school environment as directed by a trainer, or to ride independently to enhance the role as a groom by assisting with the fitness and training of horses in their preparation for dressage competition.

Who is this certificate for?

Anyone looking to progress as an independent dressage rider and trainer
Anyone looking to specialise in dressage and become a Stage 3 dressage rider

Entry requirements

A minimum age of 16 years
BHS/BHSQ Stage 2 Care (Unit 2: Stage 2 Care); BHS/BHSQ Stage 2 Lunge (Unit 2: Stage 2 Lunge) and BHS/BHSQ Stage 2 Ride (Unit 2: Stage 2 Ride)
BHS Gold member – Membership discounts apply for learners who are training for or taking BHS qualifications

Units

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

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

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

Training for this assessment

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.