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Assessor Hub

Below are the relevant documents you need to deliver BHS assessments.

  • Last reviewed: 23rd June 2026

Extreme heat protocol for assessments

Given the extreme heat forecast for parts of the UK this week, we have been liaising with centres to check that they are still happy for assessments to proceed from a horse and human welfare point of view. We have chosen not to make a blanket decision, as the forecast across the country is quite varied, however, some centres have decided not to proceed with assessments scheduled for this week and our team will inform you if this is the case where you may be booked to attend. Other centres have chosen to adjust the timings of the day and again, you will be informed if this affects you.

If you are assessing at an “in-house” or devolved assessment, please liaise with the centre directly to consider postponing assessments or adjust timings to ensure that riding/lungeing activities take place in the coolest parts of the day.

In all cases, where assessments proceed in hot weather, please work with the centre to ensure that hydration breaks are accommodated and if you ever feel like horse or human welfare is likely to be compromised, our advice is always to stop. Please bear in mind that some candidates, particularly those who are neurodivergent, may not pick up on their own cues that they are thirsty of becoming too hot so please do remind candidates regularly about the need to drink and find shade if possible.

Thank you as always for taking on board this advice and prioritising welfare.

Hot Weather Advice for Organisers of BHS/BRC Activities:

With red weather warnings for extreme heat in place in some parts of the country, we would like to remind organisers that it is their responsibility to assess the risks associated with the weather conditions and take appropriate action. Please review your risk assessment and consider whether it remains safe for the activity to proceed. In particular, consider:

  • The local forecast and conditions at your venue.
  • The type, duration and intensity of the activity.
  • The facilities available, including shade, water and cooling areas.
  • The welfare of both horses and people.

Organisers should be particularly cautious where a red weather warning has been issued for their area. The welfare of horses and people must remain the overriding consideration. If, having assessed the risks, you are not satisfied that the activity can be delivered safely, it should be postponed or cancelled. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to adjust timings to cooler parts of the day, shorten activities, increase rest breaks, provide additional control measures, or postpone or cancel the activity altogether. The appropriate course of action will depend on the specific activity, location, weather conditions and facilities available. Organisers should ensure their decisions are based on the risks present at their particular event or activity. Please continue to monitor weather forecasts closely in the lead-up to your activity, and throughout the day, and be prepared to adapt your plans should conditions change.

Should you have any queries please contact the Education Team.

Policies

Please ensure you are familiar with our current policies and guidance documents. We are currently reviewing our policies and procedures and therefore not all of our policies are listed below.

If you are looking for a policy or guidance not listed, please contact the Education Team. If you have any queries about how these policies affect your role as an assessor, please contact the Education Team.

Some of these policies are restricted access. Please do not share.

Assessor Guidance
Assessor Updates

Summary of email communications and updates sent from the Education Team

 

Stage 4 Coaching units syllabus updates - live from 1 January 2026

In each coaching unit, the semi-private coaching session will be an individual (private) coaching session. These changes have been made with consultation from assessment centres.

Please find below support documents for Stage 4 Coaching units. These revisions will be live from 1 January 2026. Do not share these documents.

Stage 1 and Stage 3 syllabus updates - live from 1 March 2025

Please find below support documents for Stage 1 and Stage 3 Ride Jump. These revisions will be live from 1 March 2025. Do not share these documents and videos.

Stage 1 Care and Ride

Stage 3 Ride Jump

Assessor Training

Evening sessions with Julian (Microsoft Teams)

Please check back for updates.

2026 Face to face Assessor Training

Date for your diary!

Please note, this day is compulsory for assessors to attend. If you're unable to make it, please email jenny.wall@bhs.org.uk as soon as possible. Timings and further information will follow in due course.

The annual Coaches Convention will be held the day before at Wellington on 9th November. More information on the convention will follow in the APC E-News.

2025 Face to face Assessor Training

Assessor training was held on 16 October 2025. Video recordings are available of the main sessions:

  • Bystander training and difficult conversation with The Third Culture
  • Assessing in a complex world – neurodiversity awareness and supporting learners with practical assessments with Access Sport.

To watch the videos you will be required to enter the password Workforce2025! Do not share the recordings or the password.

View the training.

 

2024 Face to face Assessor Training

Assessor Training was held on 26 September 2024. Video recordings to all sessions are now available. Please use password Aintr332024 to view. Do not share the recordings or password. View the training.

 

GDPR (Data Protection) for Assessors

View the guidance.

 

Evening online sessions

Julian Campbell will be hosting some evening sessions via Teams.

Covering a range of topics these sessions are an opportunity for assessors to gain clarification or simply engage in discussion with fellow assessors. As well as the main topic, Julian will also be discussing examples of feedback that we receive from candidates, which we think you will find very useful.

Please note they are not mandatory to attend, however your support of these sessions is very much appreciated. Each session will be allocated 1 CPD point for APCs.

 

Previous Training

Education Team Contact Numbers

Tracy Casstles | 07876 652007

Michele Carman | 07966 251964

Julian Campbell | 07971 059264

Jenny Wall | 02476 840485

Laura Hood | 02476 840483, 07783 888259

Operations Team

033 numbers are charged at standard UK rate from mobiles and landlines, and are included as part of inclusive minutes on most tariff plans.

Odile Webber, 0333 013 9466

Olivia Finch, 0333 103 9315

Georgia Evans, 0333 103 9464

Fran Blundell, 0333 103 9465

Joanne Thompson, 0333 103 9711

Megen Long, 0333 103 9472

Tracey Vethakkan, 0333 103 9471

Emily Carr, 0333 103 9468

Amy Wrightson, 0333 103 9474

Amie Foster, 0333 103 9462

Vanessa Williams, 0333 103 9463

Ellen McKeaveney, 0333 103 9467

 

Email

Any member of the BHS Education Team can be emailed by first name.surname@bhs.org.uk

Qualification Specifications (Syllabus)
Centre Guidance
Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be asked to complete an Assessor Endorsement or Assessor Verification for a learner that is applying for direct entry to BHS Assessment via Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning. 

Assessor Information - Direct Entry RPEL 04.2023

Assessments

Ride Safe

The Ride Safe assessment is now delivered under our Challenge Awards model. We now accept the Ride Safe Silver Challenge Award to support candidates progressing through the Ride assessments. You can deliver this award if you're listed as a Challenge Awards Trainer. 

Stage 1 (Care and Ride)

We've developed our assessment model which allows our Stage 1 Care and Stage 1 Ride assessments to be delivered at a BHS Approved Riding School. This will be organised by the centre (and the centre will contact you), or BHS. 

We also organise Stage 1 assessments.

Submitting results - online forms

Candidate Observation Sheets - Word documents

For assessments delivered on or after 1 March 2025

Stage 2 (Care, Lunge, Ride and Coaching)

Stage 2 Care, Lunge and Ride and Coaching assessments are held at BHS Assessment centres and organised by BHS. 

Submitting results - online forms

Observation Sheets - Word documents

Stage 3 (Care, Lunge, Ride and Coaching)

Stage 3 Care, Lunge and Ride and Coaching assessments are held at BHS Assessment centres and organised by BHS. 

Submitting results - online forms

Candidate Observation Sheets - Word documents

Stage 4 Care, Lunge and Ride

Stage 4 Care, Lunge and Ride assessments are held at BHS Assessment centres and organised by BHS. 

Submitting results - online forms

At the time of closing the assessment, all assessors will be emailed a link which will take you directly to the relevant assessment folder. Or it can be accessed within the Stage 4 Assessment Results Hub

Here is the link for the Stage 4 Post Assessment Form required to be completed for each candidate.

Candidate Observation Sheets - Word documents

Stage 4 Management

Stage 4  Senior Management

We've developed our assessment model for Stage 4 Senior Management to allow candidates to be assessed via video call. The assessment will be arranged by BHS. The candidate must book their assessment through BHS. You can only assess these if you've been selected in the assessor 'sort'. 

Contacting candidates

Email templates for contacting the candidate before the assessment.

Submitting results - online forms

At the time of closing the assessment, all assessors will be emailed a link which will take you directly to the relevant assessment folder. Or it can be accessed within the Stage 4 Assessment Results Hub

Here's the link for the Stage 4 Post Assessment Form required to be completed for each candidate.

Candidate Observation Sheet - Word document

Stage 4 Coaching

The Stage 4 Coaching assessments are centrally organised by the BHS. You can only assess these if you have been selected in the assessor 'sort'. 

Submitting results - online forms

At the time of closing the assessment, all assessors will be emailed a link which will take you directly to the relevant assessment folder. Or it can be accessed within the Stage 4 Assessment Results Hub

Here is the link for the Stage 4 Post Assessment Form required to be completed for each candidate.

Candidate Observation Sheets - Word documents

BHSI

The BHSI assessments are centrally organised by BHS. You can only assess these if you have been selected in the assessor 'sort'. 

Observation sheets

Coaching - General

Coaching - Dressage

Coaching - Eventing

Coaching - Show Jumping

Riding - General

Riding - Dressage

Riding - Eventing

Riding - Show Jumping

Working Horses from the Ground

Stable Managers

Business Management

Performance Care And Management

Submitting results - online forms

New syllabus 

Performance units (old syllabus)

Unit 2: Literature Review, Unit 3: Business Management Skills and Unit 4: Business Management Presentation 

Ride Leader

Riding Out assessments are held at BHS Assessment centres and organised by BHS. 

Submitting results - online form

Candidate Observation Sheets - Word documents