Unit 2

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.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are delivering the Stage 4 Senior Management assessment via a group video call. Our video calls are pre-set dates.

Find an assessment date and then contact the BHS Education team to book.

Please ensure you book more than two weeks prior to the assessment date. 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. 

• BHS Stage 3 Care or BHSQ/BHS equivalent
• Minimum age of 18 years
• 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 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

Download the qualification specification to review the learning outcomes in more detail. 

• Approximately two-and-a-half-hour hour criteria-based assessment via video call
• we recommend you have an up-to-date web browser and have 10Mb download and 5Mb upload speed to work well. We recommend going to www.speedtest.net and running a quick test to understand how good your connection is. If you have poor connection on the day of the assessment the assessor may stop your assessment and you would risk losing your fee. 
• The video assessment will be led by a BHS Assessor with up to four candidates
• Upon booking your assessment you will be emailed instructions for how to join the video assessment
• On the morning of your assessment you will be emailed a case study no later than 8:30am by your assessor, you will then be required to join the video call at 10:00am for a group discussion (approx one hour). During the group discussion the assessor will inform you at what time you will need to re-join the call for your 1:1 assessment (1:1 assessment approx one hour).
• LO2 is assessed via an informal group debate/discussion. The current topics that you may be asked to discuss are:
  • Tethering horses: Should this activity be banned?
  • Turnout: Should horses live out 24/7 and only come in to be worked?
  • Rugs: Do all horses need them? 
  • Horse owners: Do they need a license?
• LO6, LO8 and LO10 will include a case study that the candidate will read on the day and asked questions in relation to the assessment criteria. An example case study can be downloaded here.

Video assessments only

For BHS Accredited Professionals: £112.50*

Non BHS Accredited Professionals: £150

*We are delighted to offer a 25% discount for assessment fees for any Accredited Professional. The price shown is with the discount applied. 

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 trainer 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
• LO2 Trainer or Employer Endorsement - compulsory
• LO3 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory
• LO4 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory
• LO5 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory
• LO7 Trainer Endorsement - compulsory
• LO9 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 Management 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 Management section within the Skills Record must be signed off by a BHS Accredited Professional who holds the Stage 5 Care (Stable Manager's) or Centre Manager qualification (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 training at a BHS Approved Centre or with a BHS Accredited Professional Coach to ensure you are ready for your assessment.

We encourage you to have training and mock assessments via video conferencing to be familiar with engaging and interacting with an audience virtually. It would also give you opportunity to test your internet speed and IT resources to ensure a smooth video call.

Find your nearest training centre for Stage 4 Management.

We recommend you read the Trainer Guidance available to download.