BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2) provides an in-depth foundation knowledge and understanding of equine care and management, lungeing, riding on the flat and over fences and the initial principles of teaching and coaching.
This career certificate demonstrates you have the foundation skills to work in the industry as an assistant coach, groom or work rider with limited supervision.
- Foundation Coach in an equestrian establishment
- Foundation Groom
- Work rider
- Assistant groom for a variety of disciplines
View our assessment fees.
- 17+ years (you can take Stage 2 Ride, Stage 2 Care and Stage 2 Lunge awards at 14 years)
- Anyone aspiring to have a leading equestrian coaching career
- Anyone aspiring to gain BHSQ Level 3 Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 3) and become a BHS Accredited Professional Coach
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 2 (Stage 2) qualifications will either be seeking employment in the industry or will already be employed and are seeking career advancement. 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.
Awards
You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:
- Know about the roles, rights and responsibilities of an assistant groom
- Be able to fit tack and boots on a horse
- Be able to prepare a horse to travel
- Know about horse behaviour
- Understand how to feed horses
- Know about basic horse anatomy
- Understand horse fitness
- Be able to maintain a horse’s health
- Be able to prepare a horse for presentation
- Understand how to care for a horses’ feet
- Understand the environment for keeping horses
You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:
- Understand lungeing a horse
- Understand equipment required for lungeing
- Be able to lunge a horse for exercise
You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:
- Understand how to ride a horse
- Be able to ride horses in an arena
- Be able to ride horses over show jumps
You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:
- Understand the role and responsibilities of a coach
- Understand rider needs
- Be able to coach safely
- Be able to demonstrate lesson management skills
- Be able to coach a lead rein lesson (20 min teaching +5 min discussion with assessor)
- Be able to coach a lunge lesson (30 min teaching + 5 min discussion with assessor)
- Be able to coach an integrated flatwork and jumping group lesson (45 min teaching+ 5 min discussion with assessor)
- Be able to coach a practical stable management lesson (15 min to deliver practical session + 5 min discussion with assessor)
- Be able to plan for professional development
Download the full qualification specification to review the learning outcomes in more detail.
Find an assessment near you and then contact the Education team to book.
Please ensure you book in plenty of time. The assessment will close for bookings two weeks prior to taking place.
We will always do our best to accommodate your preference for an assessment. However, the venue and date are not confirmed until payment is taken and you have received your written confirmation.
Re-sitting your assessment
If you have been unsuccessful on your first assessment, we encourage you to call us to book a re-sit.
Of course, we will also answer any questions you may have and provide you with feedback at this stage. You may have been successful against some, but not all of the assessment criteria, in which case we can just assess you on the sections on which you were not so strong.
All applicants are encouraged to undertake practical training at a BHS Approved Centre or with a BHS Accredited Professional Coach to ensure you are ready for your assessment.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please complete our enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you shortly. Alternatively you can call us on 02476 840508.