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Senior Yard Manager with Riding

The qualification demonstrates a competence to take responsibility for a horse’s training, development and management.

  • Last reviewed: 1st September 2022
Senior Yard Manager With Riding Senior Yard Manager With Riding

BHSQ Level 4 Senior Yard Manager with Riding (Stage 4)

BHSQ Level 4 Senior Yard Manager with Riding (Stage 4) is for those with an established career in the equestrian industry.

A Senior Yard Manager and Rider will have the skills to train horses for equestrian competition work across the three eventing disciplines - this would include management of day-to-day activity and maintaining horse fitness. This provides an essential stepping stone to Performance Centre Manager with Riding, as well as an established component of a BHSQ Level 4 Senior Coach (Stage 4) qualification.

BHSQ Level 4 Senior Yard Manager with Riding (Stage 4) is an essential platform to a training role within the equine industry.

Who is this certificate for? 

  • Anyone wishing to establish a career as a rider and trainer 
  • Anyone aspiring to become a Stage 4 Senior Coach in Complete Horsemanship 
  • Anyone looking to work towards a senior role within an equestrian centre 
  • Anyone who enjoys eventing and wishes to compete and become a professional event rider  
  • Anyone who aspires to specialise in training horses for competition 

Entry requirements

Units

The BHSQ Level 4 Senior Yard Manager with Riding (Stage 4) (Senior Ride for Training Eventing Pathway) qualification is awarded upon completion of four compulsory units:

Unit 1: Stage 4 Senior Care

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

Read more about Unit 1: Stage 4 Senior Care here.

Unit 2: Stage 4 Senior Management

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

Read more about Unit 2: Stage 4 Senior Management here.

Unit 3: Stage 4 Senior Lunge

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

Read more about Unit 3: Stage 4 Senior Lunge here.

Unit 4: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing

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.  

Read more about Unit 4: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing.

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.

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:

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.