Axel preparing for jumping
Pandora & a happy young client!
Oliver and a client displaying some good flatwork
Mock exam day
Molly teaching a client 'feel'
Many bridles to clean!
Pandora - being appreciated
Ico - in-hand work
Training towards British Horse Society Qualifications
About the BHS
The British Horse Society is the UK's largest and most influential equestrian charity. Focusing on horse welfare, horse and rider safety, access and rights of way, training (register of instructors) and approving livery yards and riding schools, the BHS aims to provide our "benchmark" for equestrianism within the UK. BHS Examinations are internationally recognised qualifications. There are a number of BHS examinations and qualifications you could work for depending upon whether you have professional or recreational aspirations. BHS Stage Examinations are vocational exams designed for and aimed at, persons wishing to either pursue teaching as a career or who simply wish to explore the extent of their equestrian knowledge. The Stage 1 examination is the first qualification a candidate can achieve and the depth of knowledge and riding requirements progressively increases up to Stage 4. There are also Teaching qualifications that can be taken. Higher Level BHS qualifications are also available. To view the syllabi please visit the British Horse Society website.
Our Courses - Stages I & II, Horse Owner's Certificate (Levels 1 to 4)
Taken either on a residential basis over a relatively short period of time, or on a non-residential basis over a period of weeks/months, we intend to not only provide the instruction, practice & support in preparation for taking the exam (although this is by no means compulsory!), but also to offer you an opportunity throw yourself into the life of a busy equestrian yard! You will be encouraged to take part in all activities (after receiving appropriate instruction, lectures, demonstrations and practical sessions). Because spaces on these courses are limited, the training given will be thorough and plenty of time will be available to learn, practice and hopefully have fun at the same time.
Ridden instruction can also be included, but no guarantees can be offered as to whether our course time scales would be sufficient to bring you up to (& beyond) required standards - this will depend on your current riding abilities. The riding will be on our small range of nicely schooled, happy horses. Each of our horses have their own personality and “trade”, thus are able to offer our guests a range of skills to learn from them. None of our horses are suitable for very novice riders and do require riders to be correct in their position, technique and attitude.
Residential, Intensive Courses
The amount of time you spend with us is entirely your choice, but you should expect to spend around one week with us in order to cover the whole syllabus of the Stage I Horse Care and Knowledge section or the Horse Owner's Certificate Levels 1 and 2, and around two weeks for the entire syllabus of the Stage II Horse Care and Knowledge section, and the Horse Owner's Certificate Level 3. The nature of the course will be quite intensive, and you should expect to have to learn, do and master a lot in a relatively short space of time. Each day will comprise a total of more or less seven hours of activities.
The suggested time scales would enable us to give you the training for, and some time for you to practice, the practical aspects of the syllabus. A "mock exam" covering all the elements of the syllabus studied during your stay with us will be given on your last full day with us.
A typical schedule for each day would comprise...
8.30am: Briefing for the day, followed by 1.5 hour's theory, oral and practical session
10.00am: 1 hour's ridden instruction
11.15am: 1 hour's theory, oral and practical session
12.15am: 45 minutes practice session
1 to 2pm: Lunch break
2pm: 30 minutes practice/practical session
2.30pm: 1 hour's ridden instruction
3.30pm: 1 hour's practice/practical session
4.30pm: Finish
Your accommodation will be in our very comfortable and beautifully furnished self-catering Holiday Cottage. There are two bedrooms that can be arranged as twin bedrooms. Unless you book as a group, you may be required to share the cottage with other guests on this course. At present, spaces are limited to four people per course.
If this sounds like too much - you may consider our 'Pick & Mix' holidays, whereby you can determine which aspects of the syllabus you cover during your stay, and have more time for "R&R"!
Click here for Prices
Availability
These courses are currently freely available - see our Availability page for details of when we have vacancies.
Booking
To book your place on a residential course, please see our Booking page for details of how to book.
For more information on any of the above, please contact us.
Non-Residential, Weekly Courses
We run weekly BHS Horse Owner's Certificate courses over the Autumn/Winter/Spring periods of the year. The weekly sessions, usually held either on a Saturday or Sunday morning (one and a half to two hours per session), last for between seven to twelve weeks - depending on the level in question. Spaces are limited to between four and ten clients per course. The suggested time scales would enable us to give you the training for, and some time for you to practice, the practical aspects of the syllabus during the run of the course. An exam is held at the end of the course, the papers of which are moderated by the BHS.
The number of sessions you attend is entirely up to you. It is obligatory to be a member of the BHS if you intend to take the exam, but not if you don't! We at Gilfach see these courses as an invaluable educational tool that has the added benefit of bringing like-minded people together.
Availability
Please contact us.