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
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Essential coaching support materials
Coach Handbook
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Introduction to... and Bronze awards
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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.
- Introduction to Horse Care
- Introduction to Riding
- Caring for your Horse
- Handling your Horse
- Knowing your Horse
- Lungeing your Horse
- Ride Fit
- Riding Flat
- Riding Jump
Some session plans refer to handouts you can use as an additional resource for participants.
- Bronze Caring session 3 - Bedding Handout
- Bronze Caring session 4 - Field Checks Handout
- Bronze Handling session 4 - Saddle Label Handout
- Bronze Handling session 5 - Bridle Handout
- Bronze Knowing ID and Anatomy Handout
- Bronze Knowing session 5 - Feeding Handout Rules of Feeding
- Bronze Lungeing session 1 - Handout
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
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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.
- Caring for your Horse
- Handling your Horse
- Knowing your Horse
- Lungeing your Horse
- Ride Fit
- Riding Flat
- Riding Jump
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
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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.
- Caring for your Horse
- Handling your Horse
- Knowing your Horse
- Lungeing your Horse
- Ride Fit Session Plans
- Riding Flat
- Riding Jump
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
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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.
- Caring for your Horse
- Handling your Horse
- Knowing your Horse
- Lungeing Your Horse
- Riding Fit
- Riding Flat
- Riding Jump
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
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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
- Coach PowerPoint presentation
- Session plans
- Grooming Kit - handout
- Points of the Horse - handout
- Checklist Guidance
Horse Knowledge Part 2
- Coach PowerPoint presentation
- Session plans
- Parts of the Bridle - handout
- Parts of the Saddle - handout
- Checklist Guidance
First Pony Guide
Mounted Games
Achievement Tracker for Silver Awards
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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.