Stage 3 - Care | The British Horse Society

What's covered in the unit?

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

What will you be assessed on?

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:

Understand the roles, rights and responsibilities of a groom
Be able to use equipment for flatwork and jumping
Be able to use studs
Understand the use of bits
Understand the nutritional requirements of a horse
Understand how to improve a horse’s fitness
Understand horse anatomy and physiology
Be able to manage the health of a horse
Understand undesirable horse behaviour
Understand how to manage a turnout area
Be able to assess a horse’s conformation

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

How will you be assessed?

Up to Three-and-a-half-hours criteria-based assessment.

Entry requirements

A minimum age of 16 years
Stage 2 Care (Unit 2: Stage 2 Care)
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 
Skill: clipping – compulsory*

The above must be signed off by an Accredited Professional Coach who is a Stage 4 Coach in Complete Horsemanship or higher.

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 through which learners seek and obtain certification for their achievements. 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 3 (Stage 3) qualifications will either be seeking employment in the industry or will already be employed with a desire to progress their career by advancing their skills and knowledge. It is essential that 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.