Senior Equitation | The British Horse Society

This qualification will only be delivered to learners that have started the qualification and need to complete. This will be reviewed regularly and an end-date to the qualification announced soon.

You will be required to assess, ride and jump several horses through all three disciplines, showing a practical knowledge of training from the ground, young and spoiled horses in addition to those at the levels stated below.

This award will consider your knowledge and practical experience in assessing unknown horses on the flat and over fences, your ability to asses and discuss with clarity the correctness of training, any problems, the horse’s outline and capability among others.

You will also lunge an unknown horse for development with empathy and authority. You will be asked to assess and evaluate the horse you are working with, recognising strengths and limitations in their performance.

What’s covered in this section?

During this assessment, you will:

Assess a horse as if for purchase showing ability to ride with empathy and effect
Be able to use the scales of training and the scale of marks as objective measurement criteria
Be able to plan ridden training sessions and develop skill levels in horses
Show clear understanding of the requirements of dressage riding up to and including advanced medium
Show clear understanding of the requirements of showjumping up to 1.15 metres
Show clear understanding of the requirements of cross-country riding up to 1.10 metres
Show clear understanding of discipline riding requirements for competition and assessment
Show ability to discuss development and future training 
Be able to use exercises to aid improvement of horses on the lunge
Show a clear understanding of systematic training of horses
Be assessed on your ability to plan development and future training for the horse

Entry requirements

A minimum age of 18 years
Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing (Unit 4) or BHS/BHQ equivalent
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.

What will you be assessed on?

Ride

You will be assessed on: 

Outside ridden assessment of one horse
Ride and assess two dressage horses
Ride and assess two jumping horses

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes: 

Show ability to work in a pressurised situation subject to time constraints
Show ability to interact with people of all ages and levels of ability
Show familiarity with current coaching ethos
Show clear ability to read and empathise with all equines
Show practical competence when handling horses and equipment
Show ability to maintain composure, focus and self-control at all times
Show ability to recognise their own limitations and remain receptive and perceptive
Show commitment to the welfare of the horse
Show clear understanding of the role of the BHS within the equestrian community
Show clear understanding of the links between coaching and competition
Show ability to self-reflect and evaluate performance

Download the full assessment criteria to review the learning outcomes in more detail (see pages 13 - 17).

Lunge 

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:

Show ability to lunge horses/ponies on the flat with empathy and authority
Show ability to assess and evaluate horses on the lunge
Show ability to use exercises to aid improvement of horses on the lunge
Recognise strengths and limitations in horse’s performance
Show clear understanding of systematic training of horses
Show ability to plan development and future training

Download the full assessment criteria to review the learning outcomes in more detail (see page 18).

How will you be assessed?

Up to a four-hour practical assessment with discussions.

Additional training information

Please note the following:

You cannot take Performance Coach (BHSI) assessments at a centre you currently work in or have worked in in the last 12 months.
You cannot take Performance Coach (BHSI) assessments at a centre that you have regularly trained at in the last six months- a maximum of one days trainings every two month is allowed (please note this has been relaxed to a maximum of one days training every month during the Covid period).

Ready to start training?

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