Getting Started With BHS Ireland
If you have never been involved with the British Horse society, getting started may seem daunting.
The BHS are not just about qualifications, they are an international equestrian charity. You can find out more here - BHS Pathways
Why BHS? The BHS provides a professional structure to allow anyone to qualify as a rider, groom or coach. This achieved by following the BHS Development pathways and taking assessments to achieve your goals.
BHS qualifications are internationally recognised. There are situations in Ireland where having BHS qualifications are a major asset. If you would like to teach in a riding school for example, you will need at the minimum, you BHS Stage 2 coaching.
So, if you are new and want to get started on your BHS Ireland journey - what next?
1) Join BHS Ireland.
BHS offers two memberships in Ireland - BHS Supporter Membership and BHS Pathway Membership. If you wish to take assessments (exams), you will need BHS Pathway membership which costs £82 per year for adults and £61 for juniors.
You can learn more and join BHS Ireland here - BHS Ireland Membership
2) Organise a BHS Journey Consultation.
The first step on the BHS qualification ladder is the Stage 1 exam. This involves riding horses in a group setting on the flat and over trotting poles. This also involves a care (stable management) exam which comprises of practical and theory (discussion) aspects.
When someone asks me about getting started, I always recommend an journey consultation with me so that I can gauge their current level against the required standard for the BHS Stage 1. A journey consultation for stage 1 lasts two hours and involves an hour of riding and an hour of stable management. After the consultation I can advise as to how much (if any) training is needed to attain the standard needed to pass stage 1.
*If you already have some of your BHS exams, you can book a journey consultation to help you decide which pathway to follow next and to gauge how your skills and knowledge measure up to the next level.
3) Book your Stage 1
Once someone has had a Stage 1 consultation they will know if they are ready to take their exam as soon as possible, or if they need to give themselves a few months to upskill. To find forthcoming assessment dates for Ireland, click the link below and scroll down to the “International Assessment Dates” section where you will see “Republic of Ireland”.
You don’t have to take your assessment in Ireland, you can travel to the UK if you wish to.
4) Time to prepare
This will involve a mixture of training (if needed) and self study. If you need training I can provide this for you at my premises or at yours. If you have group at your yard who would like to train together towards Stage 1, this is a very enjoyable way to train.
Self study can be done with BHS training manuals and with practice using BHS methods when riding and handling horses. The BHS give specific methods to use when doing all common tasks with horses. This is all about doing things safely and correctly and the more you incorporate doing things “the BHS way” into your daily routine, the more naturally this will come to you in an exam situation.
5) Taking your exam
Its normal to be a bit nervous before your first exam but don’t worry, BHS Assessors don’t bite! The BHS Stage 1 assessment is a great way to get a feel and understanding for what equestrian exams are like. You won’t get your results on the day but they will be sent to you within approx 7-10 days.