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Stage 4 - Senior Lunge

To achieve Unit 3: Stage 4 Senior Lunge you will need to demonstrate your skills lungeing a fit competition horse to develop and improve its way of going. 

  • Last reviewed: 22nd March 2023
Good Lunge Technique Good Lunge Technique

What's covered in the unit?

This unit will show your ability to assess and evaluate a horse’s way of going and develop a plan of progression for the horse.

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
What will you be assessed on?
  • Understand how to lunge competition horses 
  • Be able to lunge a competition horse to develop its way of going 

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

How will you be assessed?

Up to one-hour criteria-based assessment, including discussions.

Entry requirements
Re-sitting your assessment

If you have been unsuccessful on your first assessment, we encourage you to call us to book a re-sit. Your feedback sheet will detail which learning outcomes you will need to resit. If you are unsuccessful in a ‘viva’ on the assessment day you will be required to retake the relevant learning outcome in its entirety with a BHS assessor. This can be via a video call.

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 trainer endorsements required for career pathways.

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

  • Ready for assessment form completed - compulsory 
  • LO1 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory 

Stage 4 Trainer Endorsement (via Skills Record) 

You are asked to complete a Skills Record where your trainer confirms, for a range of learning outcomes listed above, you have achieved the standards required for the unit (Trainer Endorsement). The sign off of these learning outcomes is quality assured by the assessor through professional discussion (viva) with you on the assessment day. 

Your Skills Record must be signed off by the relevant Accredited Professional to complete your assessment. 

The Stage 4 Senior Lunge section within the Skills Record must be signed off by a BHS Accredited Professional who holds the Performance Lunge section or Performance Ride qualification (or Senior Equitation) with a BHS Coaching or Ride Leader award who has undertaken BHS Stage 4 Trainer training. Please check with your trainer and if they need further support ask them to call the BHS on 02476 840508.

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 4 qualifications will either be seeking employment at management level or will already be employed in the industry with a desire to progress their career by advancing their skill 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. 

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