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  • Career Pathways

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.

  • Last reviewed: 1st September 2022
Foundation Groom With Riding Foundation Groom With Riding

BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom with Riding (Stage 2)

This career certificate ensures you have the foundation skills to work in the industry as an assistant groom and rider, competently caring for horses with limited supervision.

You will have a knowledge and understanding of all aspects of horse care and management, both within a stable yard and in a wider environment, to be able to care for and ride well-mannered horses. You will also be able to compliment a horse’s exercise by providing non-ridden exercise through lungeing.

You will be able to provide ridden exercise, under appropriate supervision, both on the flat and over show jumps up to 75cm.

Who is this certificate for?

  • Anyone who is looking to progress as a professional rider or work as an exercise rider for competition yards
  • Anyone looking to be a Foundation Groom and aspiring to become a Stage 3 Groom
  • Anyone aspiring to gain BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2)

Entry requirements

Units

Unit 1: Stage 2 Care

On completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand the routine practices on a stable yard, your role, responsibilities and reporting lines 
  • Know how to care for horses on a day-to-day basis, recognising and assessing normal and abnormal behaviour and understanding when veterinary intervention may be required 
  • Be able to fit standard tack and travel equipment  
  • Be able to prepare horses for presentation 
  • Have a knowledge of feeding and an understanding of fitness, including the factors that will affect the amount of feed a horse will receive 
  • Understand basic anatomy, location of key organs and the function of the digestive system  

Read more about Unit 1: Stage 2 Care here.

Unit 2: Stage 2 Lunge

On completion of this unit, you will: 

  • Prepare a horse to lunge using tack which includes a bridle, cavesson, saddle, side reins and brushing boots 
  • Demonstrate safe lungeing 
  • Work the horse in its basic paces, showing consideration for the size of the circle   

Read more about Unit 2: Stage 2 Lunge here.

Unit 3: Stage 2 Ride

On completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand the need to respect other users while applying aids to work the horse
  • Be confident riding outside in an open space, jumping single fences and a small course of 75 centimetres
  • Be starting to evaluate your own riding and the way the horse goes both in flatwork and jumping

Read more about Unit 3: Stage 2 Ride here.

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.