B.H.S. Advancement Courses

Week.

Topic

Core lesson content.

1

Introduction and  ride assessment

·        Correct procedure for mounting and dismounting, checking of tack and adjusting stirrups and girth while mounted.
 Rules of the school and riding as a ride.
 Assessment of riders in walk, trot and canter.
 Trotting horses up and standing for inspection.

2

Rider position.

·        Discussing correct rider position with and without stirrups.
 Focusing on consistency of position throughout executing transitions and school movements.

3

Rider aids

·        Application of correct aids for transitions turns and circles.
 Trotting diagonals.
 Recognition of correct and incorrect canter leads.

4

Importance of preparation

·        Encouraging riders to ‘think ahead to get ahead’
  Importance of planning and preparing and positioning of upper body with and without stirrups.

5

Transitions

·        Discussion of how the quality of a transition can have an effect on the quality of a pace.
 Emphasis on executing direct and progressive transitions.

6

Accuracy, rhythm and tempo

·        Discussion of the importance of rider accuracy.
 Work without stirrups.

7

Developing rider balance

·        Focusing on particular exercises aimed at further establishing  rider balance with and without stirrups

8

Light seat position

·        Discussion of the importance of light seat position.
  Riding in light seat position in walk and trot.

9

Light seat position over poles

·         Focusing on rider’s ability to travel over poles in a light seat position.
  Accuracy in travelling towards and away from poles and maintaining consistent rhythm throughout

10

Riding two horses in one session

·         Focusing on rider’s ability to be consistent and have the ability to adapt to riding more than one horse within a 
  session.

11

Re-cap of all riding topics covered

·         Opportunity for riders to request particular exercises they wish to work on.
  Riding two horses in one session.

12

Mock test

Week

Unit

Assessment criteria covered

Theory

Practical

1         

1

1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4

2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5

Health and safety
How to work in an efficient manner

Application of health and safety practices whilst working around horses, correct lifting.

2

1

3.1,3.2,3.3,

4.1,4.2

Reasons for grooming
Items of the grooming kit
Grooming procedure
Identification of current state of the shoe

Grooming

3

1

5.1,5.2,

6.1,6.2,6.3

8.6

Tail bandages
Different types of rugs and rugs

Application of a tail bandage
Putting rugs on and taking rugs off in a safe manner
Correct fitting of rugs

4

1

7.1,7.2,7.3,7.4,7.5

8.1,8.2,8.3,8.4,8.5

Parts of the saddle and bridle, including martingales.

Fit and safety of tack.

Tacking up
Identifying quality of tack
Tack cleaning

5

1

Unit one revision

Mock exam.

6

2

1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,

2.1,2.2,

3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4

6.1,6.2

7.1

Re-cap of safe and efficient
practice around horses
Mucking/skipping out a stable, tools and equipment
Disposal of stable waste
Bedding types and systems

Mucking out and bedding down
Filling, typing up and weighing hay nets

7

2

4.1,4.2,4.3,

5.1,5.2,5.3

Points of the horse
Handling horses for treatment and inspection Colours and markings.

Practical identification of colours and markings
Trotting up horses,

8

2

Unit two revision

Mock exam

Week

Unit

Assessment criteria covered

Theory and practical combined.

9

3

1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5,1.6

2.4,2.5

Suitable clothing and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Importance of physical fitness
Fire precautions
Highway code
Role of the BHS
Horse psychology

10

3

2.1,2.2,2.3

3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4

Signs of good and ill health
Importance of reporting an unwell horse
Morning and evening yard inspections
Field checks
Turning out horses and bringing in from pasture
Horse sick pasture and preventative measures

11

3

4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4,4.5

Rules of feeding and watering
Recognition of feedstuffs and its quality
Daily feeding regimes for grass and stable kept horses.
Methods of feeding and watering .

12

3

Unit three revision and mock exam.

Week.

Topic

Core lesson content.

1

Introduction and  ride assessment

·       Correct procedure for mounting and dismounting, checking of tack and adjusting stirrups and girth while mounted.
Rules of the school, riding as a ride and introduction to riding in open order.
Assessment of riders in walk, trot and canter.
Introduction to the Scales of Training and horses way of going (this topic will be related to and developed on a weekly basis) 

2

Rider position and aids

·       Differentiate between what is expected out of a Stage two rider, opposed to a Stage One rider.
Discussing correct rider position with and without stirrups.
Focusing on consistency of position throughout executing transitions and school movements.
Application of correct aids for transitions turns and circles. 

3

Importance of  planning and preparation

·       Encouraging riders to ‘think ahead to get ahead’ and ride in an open order format in a productive manner.
Importance of planning and preparing and positioning of upper body with and without stirrups.

4

Developing rider balance

·       Focusing on particular exercises aimed at further establishing rider balance with and without stirrups.
Riding with reins in one hand.

5

Riding two horses in one session

·       Focussing on rider’s ability to be consistent and have the ability to adapt to riding more than one horse within a session.

6

Riding two horses in one session

·       Riders will ride two different horses with and without stirrups.
 If possible each rider will be allocated with horses they did not ride the week previous.

7

Introduction to jumping

·       Light seat position, riding over poles.
 Jumping single fences

8

Linking single fences

·        Focusing on the five stages of the jump.
 Riding correct lines when linking one fence to another.
 Checking for correct canter leads.
 Importance of rhythm and balance.

9

Jumping double fences and those at a related distance.

·        Brief discussion on jump distances and the importance of striding out distances while walking the course.
 Working on being consistent over fences at a related distance aiming for the same amount of strides each time.

10

Riding and walking a course of jumps.

·       Discuss the importance of walking a course prior to riding over it.
Riding the course in sections.
Jumping the full course of fences.

11

Riding a course of fences on two horses.

·       Course set up will be different to the previous week.
Discussion of how the warm up period should be designed prior to jumping the course.

12

Re-cap of all riding topics covered (flat)

·       Opportunity for riders to request particular exercises they wish to work on.

13

Re-cap of all riding topics covered (jump)

·         Opportunity for riders to request particular exercises they wish to work on.

14

Mock test

·         Flat and jumping integrated (flat one horse, jump another).

Week

Unit

Assessment criteria covered

Theory

Practical

1         

1a

1.1,1.2,1.3

2.1,2.2

3.1,3.2

4.1

5.1,5.2,5.3

Health and safety
How to work in an efficient manner
Accident procedures
Grooming methods
Plating up

Application of health and safety practices whilst working around horses
Grooming methods
Plaiting mane and tails

2

1a

6.1,6.2

7.1,7.2,7.3,7.4

Travelling equipment
Correct storage of equipment

Preparing a horse to travel
Identification of fit of equipment used

3

1b

1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4

2.1,

3.1,3.2

4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4,4.5,4.6

5.1

Fitting and maintenance of different items of tack
Health and safety legalisation

Application of tacking up equipment and boots.

4

Unit 1 a and b revision

Unit 1a and b Mock exam.

5

2a

1.1,

3.1

4.1,4.2,4.3

Predominantly theory based

Horses skeleton
Location of internal organs                                                Digestive system
Importance of forage

6

2a

2.1,2.2,2.3

5.1,5.2,5.3,5.4,5.5

6.1,6.2,6.3

7.1

Recognition and treatment of minor wounds           When to call a vet
T,P,R, signs of good and bad health.                              Horses health and unsoundness.
Anatomy of horses foot                                                      Principles of sick nursing.    

7

2a and b

(8.1

9.1.9.2)- Unit 2a.

1.1,1.2,1.3

2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4

3.1,.3.2,.3.

Worming programmes and sign of infestation           Health records
Reasons for clipping                                                               Different types of clip
Assembling of clippers and maintenance                     Pulling of manes and tails.

8

2b

4.1,4.2,.4.3,4.4

5.1,5.2,5.3,5.4,6.1

Trimming horses                                                                      Reasons for shoeing and procedures.
Pulling manes and tails                                                         Recognising a well shod foot          
Farriers tools
Removing of a shoe in an emergency

9

Unit 2a and b Revision

Unit 2 a and b Mock Exam

10

3a

1.1,1.2,1.3,

2.1,2.2,

3.1,3.2,3.3

4.1,4.2

Theory based

Rules of feeding and watering                                             Preparation of feedstuffs and forage
Application of knowledge of feeding

11

3a

5.1,5.2,

6.1,6.2,6.3,6.4,6.5

7.1,7.2

8.1

Feed charts                                                                                   Principles of fittening
Bringing a horse up from grass  and roughing off                                         
Care of the horse after work

12

3b

1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5

2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4

Stable design, construction fixtures and fittings          Drainage and ventilation
Behaviour and welfare of a stabled horse

13

3b

3.1,3.2,3.3,

4.1,4.2

Behaviour and welfare of a grass kept horse                  Pasture quality and maintenance
Poisonous plants                                             
Catching difficult horses from pasture

14

Unit 4a and b Revision      
Unit 4a and b Mock Exam

Week

Topic and learning outcomes

Core lesson content.

1

Theory lesson

3.1, 3.3,4.1

Equipment required for lunging for both horse and handler.

Purpose of lunging.

Health and safety legislation in relation to lunging horses.

2

Practical session

1.3, 1.6

Tacking a horse up for lunging.

Checking equipment for suitability and safety

3

Theory session

3.2,3.5,3.4,1.1

Lunging procedure.

How to detect and deal with any problems that are experiences whilst lunging.

How external factors can influence the lunging process

Checking safety of the lunging area.

4

Practical session

Tacking up for lunging and lunging demonstration

5

Practical session

Introduction to lunging.

Lunging each other to establish body positioning, use of the voice in a correct tone and handling of the lunge line in a safe manner.

6-12

Practical session

Lunging a horse for exercise.

13

Theory re-cap session

14

Mock test