Course Overview
Take your skills to the next level with this practical training course designed for riders working towards BHS Stage 3. Focusing on horse care, lunging and flat riding, the course develops the knowledge, skills and confidence expected at Stage 3 level, helping you refine your technique and prepare for assessment.
You have successfully completed your BHS Stage 2 qualifications and are ready to advance your skills to the next level.
You are looking to develop a deeper understanding of horse care, training and performance within a professional equestrian environment.
You would like to improve your flatwork riding skills and confidence when working horses independently.
You are aspiring to work within the equine industry or progress further along the BHS professional qualification pathway.
Building on the foundations of Stage 2, these training days will help you refine your horse care, lunging and riding skills while developing the knowledge, confidence and independence required at BHS Stage 3. You will work towards a higher standard of horse care, lunging and flat riding, with a strong emphasis on horse welfare, effectiveness and professional practice.
Throughout the course, you will:
- Develop a greater understanding of advanced horse care and stable management, including health, fitness, nutrition, conditioning and recognising factors that affect performance and wellbeing.
- Enhance your practical horse management skills, learning how to make informed decisions when caring for and managing horses in a variety of situations.
- Explore how lunging contributes to a horse’s education and training, using a range of techniques to improve way of going, responsiveness and overall performance.
- Practise lunging horses safely and effectively, including assessing movement, using side reins appropriately, improving transitions and adapting sessions to meet individual training needs.
- Further develop your flatwork riding, focusing on producing a balanced, effective position and riding with greater accuracy, feel and influence.
- Learn how to school horses more independently, improving rhythm, balance, suppleness and responsiveness through structured exercises.
- Gain confidence in evaluating horse performance and making suitable adjustments to improve training outcomes.
- Build the practical skills and professional knowledge expected of those working within the equine industry or progressing towards higher-level BHS qualifications.
Learners should have successfully achieved the relevant BHS Stage 2 Care, Lunge and Ride qualifications (or equivalent experience) and have a commitment to furthering their equestrian knowledge and practical skills.
Learners should be at least 19 years of age and will be expected to attend a riding assessment before commencing the course.
Note – To ensure the welfare of our horses, our equestrian centre operates a riding weight limit of 14 stone. All applicants can study a ride or non-ride option on all of our equine courses and therefore will not be denied a place.
Training is led by our BHS Senior Coach, offering professional tuition and industry expertise in a supportive learning environment.
You’ll require a correctly fitted riding hat that meets current safety standards.
Learners should wear appropriate riding and yard attire suitable for both practical and ridden sessions.
Please note that this course is designed to prepare learners for the BHS Stage 3 Care, Lunge & Flat Ride qualifications; however, this course does not include the formal assessments.
