BHSQ Level 4 Senior Yard Manager with Riding

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 4 qualifications will either be seeking employment at management level or will already be employed in the industry with a desire to progress their career by advancing their skill and knowledge. 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.

• Yard Manager
• Horse trainer within a chosen discipline
• Work rider preparing horses for dressage work up to elementary level
• Work rider preparing horses for showjumping and cross-country to a height of 1.05 metres

View our assessment fees.

• 18+ years
• Anyone wishing to establish a career as a rider and trainer
• Anyone aspiring to become a Stage 4 Senior Coach

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:

• Be able to use specialist tack in a safe and efficient manner
• Understand nutritional requirements of horses
• Understand the management of competition horses
• Be able to maintain a horse's physical wellbeing
• Understand the care of horses
• Understand the care of mares and youngstock
• Understand the care of older horses

Find out more about Stage 4 Senior Care here.

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:

• Understand the importance of customer care
• Be able to use interpersonal skills
• Be able to manage staff
  Understand requirements for self-employment
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of a yard manager
• Understand financial requirements for an equestrian business
• Understand record-keeping requirements for an equestrian business
• Understand different marketing opportunities
• Understand how to manage a yard
• Understand how to manage grassland

Find out more about Stage 4 Senior Management here.

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:

• Understand how to lunge competition horses
• Be able to lunge a competition horse to develop its way of going

Find out more about Stage 4 Senior Lunge here.

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:

• Understand the training of young horses
• Be able to ride safely
• Understand how to progress the training of a dressage horse
• Understand how to progress the training of a show jumping horse
• Be able to ride a trained horse in a double bridle with a view to developing its way of going
• Be able to ride an inexperienced dressage horse with a view to developing its way of going
• Be able to ride an experienced horse over show jumps up to 1.10m (3ft 7ins) with a view to developing its way of going
• Be able to ride a horse cross country over fences up to 1m (3ft 3ins) with a view to developing its way of going

Find out more about Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing here.

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.

Find your nearest BHS Approved Centre.

Find a BHS Accredited Professional Coach near you.