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Challenge Awards Resources

Our Challenge Awards are a recreational offering that you can use in your everyday riding or stable management lessons. We have a range of resources available to help you deliver these programmes.

  • Last reviewed: 27th June 2025
First Pony Guide First Pony Guide

The Challenge Awards are suitable for someone just starting out or a more experienced rider or horse owner. 

Our Challenge Awards are designed for your clients to develop hands-on, practical skills and get stuck in with the day-to-day tasks. 

Please visit our Challenge Awards FAQ page to find out more details. You can find answers to some of the questions we’re often asked, covering information about the awards, training and the participants and how you can get involved.

Information sessions

We recommend all BHS Accredited Professionals and Approved Centre coaches attend a virtual information and Q&A session before you get started with any of our recreational awards (Pony Stars, Horse Explorers and Challenge Awards). You will learn more about each product and how they can benefit your business.

The session, held via Microsoft Teams video call, last no longer than one hour and will provide all you need to know before you get you started.

Book a session

Essential coaching support materials

Coach Handbook
Introduction to... and Bronze awards

Resources to help you plan, deliver and assess the Introduction to... and bronze core awards

Session plans offer ideas for content and activities. While they provide a great starting point for your planning, we encourage you to adapt them to perfectly suit your participants, facilities, the time of year, and the horses available.

Some session plans refer to handouts you can use as an additional resource for participants.

We've included a variety of practical group tasks that can be completed on the yard. These are ideal for encouraging participants to work together as a team. You'll also find suggestions for discussions and debates to explore topics and scenarios in more detail.

Checklist guidance notes provide clear indications of the level expected for 'sign off,' helping you avoid over-assessing.

Silver awards

Resources to help you plan, deliver and assess the silver core awards.

We have a dedicated resource page specifically for the Ride Safe Awards. Please go here for all your Ride Safe resources.

Session plans offer ideas for content and activities. While they provide a great starting point for your planning, we encourage you to adapt them to perfectly suit your participants, facilities, the time of year, and the horses available.

We've included a variety of practical group tasks that can be completed on the yard. These are ideal for encouraging participants to work together as a team. You'll also find suggestions for discussions and debates to explore topics and scenarios in more detail.

Checklist guidance notes provide clear indications of the level expected for 'sign off,' helping you avoid over-assessing.

 

Please update us on your participants achievements on the Silver Challenge Awards by completing this short online form. This is particularly important if your participants wish to progress to BHS Stage 2, or are completing Ride Safe as part of BHS Stage 1 Ride.

Gold awards

Resources to help you plan, deliver and assess the gold core awards

Session plans offer ideas for content and activities. While they provide a great starting point for your planning, we encourage you to adapt them to perfectly suit your participants, facilities, the time of year, and the horses available.

Some session plans refer to handouts you can use as an additional resource for participants.

We've included a variety of practical group tasks that can be completed on the yard. These are ideal for encouraging participants to work together as a team. You'll also find suggestions for discussions and debates to explore topics and scenarios in more detail.

Checklist guidance notes provide clear indications of the level expected for 'sign off,' helping you avoid over-assessing.

Platinum awards

Resources to help you plan, deliver and assess the platinum core awards

Session plans offer ideas for content and activities. While they provide a great starting point for your planning, we encourage you to adapt them to perfectly suit your participants, facilities, the time of year, and the horses available.

We've included a variety of practical group tasks that can be completed on the yard. These are ideal for encouraging participants to work together as a team. You'll also find suggestions for discussions and debates to explore topics and scenarios in more detail.

Checklist guidance notes provide clear indications of the level expected for 'sign off,' helping you avoid over-assessing.

Stand-alone awards

Resources to help you plan, deliver and assess the stand-alone awards

Session plans, handouts and presentations offer ideas for content and activities. While they provide a great starting point for your planning, we encourage you to adapt them to perfectly suit your participants, facilities, the time of year, and the horses available.

Checklist guidance notes provide clear indications of the level expected for 'sign off,' helping you avoid over-assessing.

Horse Health

Horse Knowledge Part 1

Breeding
Achievement Tracker for Silver Awards

Please update us on your participants achievements on the Silver Challenge Awards by completing this short online form. This is particularly important if your participants wish to progress to BHS Stage 2, or are completing Ride Safe as part of BHS Stage 1 Ride.

Buy your participant resource packs

All challenge awards resources (booklets, certificates and enamel pin badges) can be purchased on our exclusive shop page for APCs and Approved Centres. Please do not share this link with your clients or members of the public.

Get your pack here
woman caring for the horse