Stage 3 Riding Out

Find an assessment near you and then contact the Equine Excellence team to book.

Alternatively, you can download our booking form and send your payment via post. Please ensure your form reaches us more than two weeks prior to the assessment date, so we can process your booking. 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.

• Any Stage 2 Ride Leader looking to enhance their skills, knowledge and understanding of equine tourism to progress their career
• Anyone aspiring to become a centre manager and run a commercial equestrian business in the future

• A minimum age of 18 years
• BHS Stage 2 Ride Leader

The following certificates are co-requisites and are required to be completed and up to date to be awarded the Stage 3 Riding Out:

• Stage 3 Care can be completed on the day of the Ride Leader assessment
• BHS Equine Specific First Aid or First Aid at Work (three or four day course) or international equivalent
• BEF Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop or international equivalent

You will be assessed on the following learning outcomes:

• Know the roles and responsibilities of a Stage 3 Trail Leader
• Be able to plan an extended ride with a duration of more than four hours
• Lead a ride with a dismounted break
• Be able to prepare a group of riders for an extended ride
• Be able to train an escort to ride and lead another rider
• Be able to train others to escort a ride
• Be able to assess a horse's suitability for trekking
• Evaluate own performance

Download the full assessment criteria to review the learning outcomes in more detail.

• Four hour criteria based assessment

£210 (UK assessments only) 

Fees for overseas assessments, (including Republic of Ireland), can be obtained by contacting the BHS Education Team on 02476 840508.

The following certificates are co-requisites and are required to be completed and up to date to be awarded the Stage 3 Riding Out (which may incur an additional cost):

• Stage 3 Care can be completed on the day of the Ride Leader assessment
• BHS Equine Specific First Aid or First Aid at Work (three or four day course) or international equivalent
• BEF Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop or international equivalent

Stage 3 Riding Out will only require the Stage 3 Care skills record sign off until 1 September 2019, after this date, the Riding Out specific skills record will be added. The coach endorsements that are part of the Stage 3 Riding Out award will be covered by a professional discussion on the assessment day until 1 September 2019.

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

Find your nearest training centre for Stage 3 Riding Out