BHS Study Hub
BHS Stage 1 & Stage 2 Care training, revision and assessment preparation
Preparing for your BHS Stage 1 Care or Stage 2 Care assessment?
Whether you’re starting your British Horse Society qualification journey, progressing to your next assessment or simply looking for a structured way to improve your horse care knowledge, you’ll find practical guidance and online training here to help.
Use the BHS Study Hub to understand what you need to know, what to expect from your assessment, how to approach your training and revision, and how to prepare your theory alongside your practical experience.
BHS Stage 1 Care
Build your knowledge and practical skills, and prepare for your Stage 1 Care Assessment
BHS Stage 2 Care
Develop your horse care and management knowledge and prepare for your Stage 2 Care assessment.
Get Ready for Your BHS Assessment
Understand
Clear information about BHS Stage 1 and Stage 2 Care assessments.
Prepare
Understand what you’ll need to know and how to prepare effectively.
Train & Revise
Structured guidance and online training to progress your learning.
Practical Training
Understand how your theory, practical experience and Skills Record fit together.
FAQs
Straightforward answers to common questions about BHS assessments.
BHS Stage 1 Care
What is BHS Stage 1 Care?
BHS Stage 1 Care is a foundation-level horse care qualification within the British Horse Society professional qualification pathway.
It is designed to develop and assess the fundamental knowledge and practical skills you need to carry out routine horse care tasks safely and effectively, while considering the welfare of the horse.
Stage 1 is a common starting point for people beginning their BHS professional qualification journey, including those interested in progressing towards careers as grooms, riders or coaches.
It can also provide a useful structured learning goal if you simply want to develop your horse care knowledge and practical skills.
What are the BHS Stage 1 qualifications?
The BHS currently offers three qualifications at Stage 1:
- BHS Stage 1 Care
- BHS Stage 1 Ride
- BHS Stage 1 Complete Horsemanship
The assessments you need will depend on the qualification and pathway you choose.
If you’re specifically looking to develop and demonstrate your horse care knowledge and practical skills, BHS Stage 1 Care is the relevant qualification.
What do you need to know for BHS Stage 1 Care?
The current BHS Stage 1 Care syllabus covers the fundamental knowledge and practical skills involved in caring for horses.
Your training and revision will include areas such as:
- responsibilities when working on an equestrian yard
- horse welfare and safe working practices
- maintaining a clean stable
- routine grooming
- horse health
- horse behaviour
- handling horses safely
- putting on and removing rugs
- basic points of the horse
- colours and markings
- tacking up and untacking
- cleaning and caring for tack
- basic feeding and watering
- routine horse care.
The syllabus also covers your responsibilities when working on an equestrian yard, including animal welfare, safeguarding, health and safety, diversity, equality and inclusion, data protection and reporting lines.
Always use the current BHS Stage 1 Care syllabus when planning your training and revision, as assessment requirements can change.
What happens in a BHS Stage 1 Care assessment?
BHS Stage 1 Care is a practical assessment.
You’ll work through practical activities and discussions with an assessor, demonstrating both your practical horse care skills and your underpinning knowledge.
Safety and horse welfare are important throughout.
Rather than preparing by simply memorising facts and answers, you need to understand what you’re doing, carry out practical tasks safely and be able to discuss your knowledge.
THEORY → REVISION → PRACTICAL TRAINING → EXPERIENCE
How should I prepare for BHS Stage 1 Care?
Start with the current syllabus.
Go through each learning outcome and consider:
- Do I understand this?
- Could I explain it in my own words?
- Can I carry out the practical skill safely?
- Could I answer questions about it while completing the task?
- Where do I still need more training or revision?
This gives you a much clearer starting point than simply opening a textbook and hoping you’re revising the right things.
From there, combine regular theory study with practical training and experience.
Practise retrieving information without constantly looking at your notes and get used to explaining why you’re doing something, rather than only remembering what you should do.
Can I study for BHS Stage 1 Care online?
Yes.
Online study can be a useful way to learn and revise the underpinning horse care knowledge required for BHS Stage 1 Care.
You can study around work, family and your other commitments, revisit topics whenever you need to and work through your learning at your own pace.
However, BHS Stage 1 Care is practically assessed, so online learning should be used alongside appropriate practical horse care training and experience.
Looking for a BHS Stage 1 online course?
The BHS Stage 1 Horse Care Programme gives you a structured way to work through the horse care knowledge you need for Stage 1 Care.
Rather than trying to piece your revision together from books, websites, videos and notes, you can work systematically through the relevant topics and return to individual areas whenever you need a refresher.
Where can I get practical training for BHS Stage 1?
Because Stage 1 Care is practically assessed, you’ll need appropriate opportunities to develop and practise your practical skills.
Depending on your circumstances, your practical preparation might include training through:
- a BHS Approved Riding Centre
- a BHS Accredited Professional Coach
- structured training courses
- suitable practical experience working with and caring for horses.
The British Horse Society provides current information about coaches, centres and training opportunities on its website.
Your online study can complement that practical training by helping you develop and revise the knowledge behind the skills you’re practising.
BHS Stage 2 Care
What is BHS Stage 2 Care?
Stage 2 Care builds on the fundamental horse care knowledge and practical skills developed at Stage 1.
At this level, you’ll be expected to demonstrate greater knowledge, understanding and practical competence while carrying out straightforward horse care tasks safely and maintaining horse welfare.
Stage 2 Care is an assessment used within several BHS Stage 2 qualifications.
What are the BHS Stage 2 qualifications?
The BHS currently offers five qualifications at Stage 2:
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Groom with Riding
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coaching Riders
- BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship
- BHS Stage 2 Ride Leader
Different combinations of Stage 2 assessments are required depending on the qualification you’re working towards.
These assessments include Stage 2 Care, Lunge, Ride, Coaching and Riding Out.
This BHS Study Hub and the BHS Stage 2 Horse Care & Management Programme focus specifically on preparing for Stage 2 Care.
What do you need to know for BHS Stage 2 Care?
The current BHS Stage 2 Care syllabus develops your knowledge and practical skills across areas including:
- the roles, rights and responsibilities of an Assistant Groom
- working safely and legally on an equestrian yard
- horse health and welfare
- horse behaviour
- routine horse care and management
- fitting tack
- fitting protective boots
- preparing horses to travel
- feeding horses
- foot care
- stabling and turnout
- plaiting and trimming
- maintaining the horse’s environment.
At Stage 2, you’re developing a greater depth of understanding.
It’s useful to move beyond simply remembering facts and focus on understanding why, when and how different horse care and management decisions are made.
What’s the difference between BHS Stage 1 Care and Stage 2 Care?
STAGE 1 – Build the foundations.
Fundamental knowledge and practical skills required to carry out routine horse care tasks safely.
STAGE 2 – Develop the foundations.
Greater knowledge, understanding and practical competence, with additional areas of horse care and management.
If you’re progressing from Stage 1 to Stage 2, don’t think of Stage 2 simply as a longer list of things to remember.
You’re developing your ability to understand and apply your horse care knowledge.
Do I need to complete BHS Stage 1 before Stage 2 Care?
The usual progression is from Stage 1 Care to Stage 2 Care.
However, the BHS also operates a Direct Entry process for people who already have appropriate equestrian qualifications, knowledge or significant experience.
Direct Entry allows eligible candidates to enter BHS assessments at Stage 2 or above without beginning at Stage 1.
You’ll need to provide suitable evidence of your existing learning and experience and meet the current BHS requirements.
If you think Direct Entry might apply to you, check your eligibility directly with the British Horse Society.
What is the BHS Skills Record for Stage 2?
Your BHS Skills Record is a log of your training and provides a way for the required practical skills to be signed off during your preparation.
The Skills Record is a compulsory part of Stage 2 assessment preparation and must be completed before you sit your assessment.
Don’t leave your Skills Record until the last minute.
Plan how and when you’ll complete the required practical training and get the relevant skills signed off alongside your theory study.
Can I study for BHS Stage 2 Care online?
Yes.
Online study can help you develop and revise the underpinning horse care and management knowledge required for Stage 2 Care.
It gives you a structured way to work through the syllabus, revisit areas you find more challenging and fit your revision around your other commitments.
As Stage 2 Care is practically assessed, online study should form one part of your wider preparation alongside practical training, experience and your Skills Record.
Looking for a BHS Stage 2 online course?
The BHS Stage 2 Horse Care & Management Programme provides structured online learning to help you develop and revise the underpinning knowledge required for your Stage 2 Care assessment.
Work through the programme at your own pace and use it alongside your practical training and Skills Record preparation.
BHS Stage 1 & Stage 2 Care FAQs
Is BHS Stage 1 Care a written exam?
No. BHS Stage 1 Care is practically assessed through practical activities and discussion with your assessor. You’ll need to demonstrate practical skills as well as your underpinning knowledge.
Is BHS Stage 2 Care a written exam?
Stage 2 Care is also assessed through practical activities and discussion. You’ll need to demonstrate practical competence and your underpinning knowledge and understanding.
Can I take BHS Stage 1 Care without Stage 1 Ride?
Yes. BHS Stage 1 Care is available as a qualification in its own right. Additional assessments apply if you want to follow a qualification pathway that includes riding.
Can I take Stage 2 Care separately from Stage 2 Ride and Lunge?
Yes. Stage 2 Care, Lunge and Ride can be taken together or booked separately. The assessments you ultimately need depend on the Stage 2 qualification you’re working towards.
Do I need a Skills Record for Stage 1 Care?
No. A Skills Record isn’t required for Stage 1 Care. Skills Records are compulsory for Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4 assessments.
Do I need a Skills Record for BHS Stage 2 Care?
Yes. Your Skills Record must be completed before you sit your Stage 2 assessment.
Can I go straight to BHS Stage 2?
Potentially. If you have suitable previous equestrian qualifications, knowledge or significant experience, you may be eligible to apply for Direct Entry. Check the current eligibility requirements with the BHS.
How difficult is BHS Stage 1 Care?
Stage 1 Care is a foundation-level qualification, but you’ll still need the required practical skills and underpinning knowledge.
How challenging you find it will depend on your existing experience. Using the current syllabus to identify gaps in your knowledge and practical skills gives you a clear idea of what you need to work on.
How difficult is BHS Stage 2 Care?
Stage 2 requires greater practical competence, knowledge and understanding than Stage 1.
Give yourself enough time for practical training, theory study and completion of your Skills Record.
Can I prepare for a BHS assessment if I don't own a horse?
You don’t need to own your own horse to study the theory.
However, because Stage 1 Care and Stage 2 Care involve practical assessment, you’ll need access to appropriate horses, facilities and practical training, ideally at a BHS Accredited Centre.
Where can I find official BHS assessment information?
The British Horse Society publishes the current qualification information, syllabuses, Skills Record requirements, Direct Entry guidance and assessment information on its website.
Always check the current official information when planning or booking your assessment.
Prepare for your BHS Stage 1 and Stage 2 Care assessments online
BHS Stage 1 Horse Care Programme
Preparing for BHS Stage 1 Care?
Work systematically through the fundamental horse care knowledge you need with structured online training you can complete at your own pace.
Use the programme alongside your practical training and experience as you prepare for your Stage 1 Care assessment.
BHS Stage 2 Horse Care & Management Programme
Preparing for BHS Stage 2 Care?
Develop and revise your underpinning horse care and management knowledge with structured online learning designed to complement your practical training and Skills Record preparation.
Important information
The Everyday Equestrian is an independent training provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or part of The British Horse Society (BHS).
The BHS Stage 1 Horse Care Programme and BHS Stage 2 Horse Care & Management Programme are independent online study programmes designed to support your learning and revision. They do not replace the practical training, experience, Skills Record or other requirements specified by the BHS.
BHS qualifications, assessment requirements, syllabuses and entry requirements can change. Always refer to the current information published by The British Horse Society when planning and booking your assessment.