Stage 2 - Coaching | The British Horse Society

What’s covered in the unit?

Unit 4: Stage 2 Coaching is the first step on your journey to becoming a successful coach being able to work with riders of varying ages.

Unit 4: Stage 2 Coaching will assess your knowledge and understanding in delivering a lesson including both flatwork and jumping. Flatwork will show an understanding of working with small groups of riders in walk, trot and canter working on balance and riding position, which may include work both with and without stirrups.

You will be able to progress flatwork to jumping as an integrated lesson, working over ground poles, a single fence, double or related distance.

You will also be assessed in delivering practical stable management sessions covering routine activities such as putting on a bridle, rug or grooming. You will understand coaching principles, how riders progress, how to introduce new subject matter and how to deal with problems.

What will you be assessed on?

Understanding the role and responsibilities of a coach
Understanding rider needs
Being able to coach safely
Demonstrating lesson management skills
Being able to coach a lead rein lesson (20 min teaching +5 min discussion with assessor)
Being able to coach a lunge lesson (30 min teaching + 5 min discussion with assessor)
Being able to coach an integrated flatwork and jumping group lesson (45 min teaching+ 5 min discussion with assessor)
Being able to coach a practical stable management lesson (15 min to deliver practical session + 5 min discussion with assessor)
Being able to plan for professional development

To review the learning outcomes in more detail: download the qualification specification.

How will you be assessed?

Up to four-hours criteria-based assessment.

Entry Requirements

A minimum age of 17 years
Stage 2 Ride, Stage 2 Care and Stage 2 Lunge
BHS Gold member ship – Membership discounts apply for learners who are training for or taking BHS qualifications 
International students should be either International Full or International E-Members.

Skills Record

Supporting you at every stage, your Skills Record allows you to record your achievements and progression through your career, with pre-assessment sign off criteria and coach endorsements required for career pathways.

Pre-assessment criteria and coach endorsement for this assessment include:

Ready for assessment form completed – compulsory
Seven session plans completed – compulsory
A completed risk assessment for the stable management and group sessions

Three Lesson Plans*:

Integrated flat and jump lesson
Lunge lesson
Lead rein lesson

Four practical stable management sessions plans*:

Putting on and removing a bridle
Putting on and removing a rug
Putting on and removing brushing boots
Putting on and removing a saddle

The above must be approved by a BHS Accredited Professional Coach or Coaches in a BHS Approved Centre.

You can download templates for risk assessments and session plans from our Skills Record information page.

Awarding body

BHS Qualifications (BHSQ) is an awarding organisation recognised and regulated by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, SQA Accreditation in Scotland, Qualifications Wales (QW) and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland. BHSQ works in partnership with a variety of organisations to develop and award qualifications for the equestrian industry. This ensures BHSQ qualifications are fit for purpose for the sector.

As the awarding organisation, BHSQ is responsible for the processes which learners undertake to obtain certification. BHSQ is responsible for verifying that assessment practice in approved centres is conducted systematically, effectively, securely and to national standards specified within the qualification.

The British Horse Society (BHS) is approved as a centre to deliver qualifications regulated by BHSQ. BHSQ and the BHS developed these qualifications in line with feedback received from extensive industry consultation.

Learners taking BHSQ Level 2 (Stage 2) qualifications will either be seeking employment in the industry or employed and seeking career advancement. It is essential these qualifications meet the needs of employers and learners. To satisfy these requirements, the qualifications have been developed in collaboration with employers, colleges, coaches, students, and expert groups.

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