Unit 4

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.

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. Your feedback sheet will detail which learning outcomes you will need to resit. If you are unsuccessful in a ‘viva’ on the assessment day you will be required to retake the relevant learning outcome in its entirety with a BHS assessor. This can be via a video call.

Of course, we will also answer any questions you may have and provide you with feedback at this stage. 

• A minimum of 18 years
• BHS Stage 3 Ride (Dressage and Jumping) or BHSQ/BHS equivalent
• BHS Gold member – Membership discounts apply for students who are training for or taking BHS qualifications 

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

Download the qualification specification to review the learning outcomes in more detail. Please note, on the assessment criteria document, learning outcomes 9 and 10 are not applicable for this unit.

• Approximately four-hour criteria-based assessment

View our assessment fees.

Supporting you at every stage, your Skills Record allows you to record your achievements and progression through your career, with pre-assessment sign off criteria and coach endorsements required for career pathways.

The Skills Record for Stage 4 will be introduced from 1 September 2019. Assessments after this date will require Skills Record sign off by the relevant Accredited Professional. Should you be unable to complete this Skills Record prior to your assessment, please contact the office on 02476 840508 and we will arrange an additional video/conference call assessment.

A copy of the Skills Record can be downloaded here.

Pre-assessment criteria and trainer endorsement for this assessment include:

• Ready for assessment form completed - compulsory
• LO1 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory
• LO3 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory
• LO4 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory

Stage 4 Trainer Endorsement (via Skills Record)

You are asked to complete a Skills Record where your trainer confirms, for a range of learning outcomes listed above, you have achieved the standards required for the unit (Trainer Endorsement). The sign off of these learning outcomes is quality assured by the assessor through professional discussion (viva) with you on the assessment day.

You are required to provide a signed Skills Record at your assessment in order to continue to the viva. If a signed Skills Record is not presented you will not be assessed via viva on any Trainer Endorsed learning outcome within the Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing unit.

From 1 January 2020 if you do not have your Skills Record signed, you will not be able to undertake any part of the assessment.

The Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Eventing section within the Skills Record must be signed off by a BHS Accredited Professional who holds the Stage 5 Ride (Senior Equitation) with a BHS Teach or Ride Leader award who has undertaken BHS Stage 4 Trainer training. Please check with your trainer and if they need further support ask them to call the BHS on 02476 840508.

All applicants are encouraged to undertake practical training at a BHS Approved Centre or with an Accredited Professional Coach to ensure you are ready for your assessment.

Find your nearest training centre for Stage 4 Ride.

We recommend you read the Trainer Guidance available to download.