Course Content
The courses vary and are tailored to the level they are aimed at. Courses are subject to change but set courses will follow the outline below. Courses can be tailored to requirement on an individual basis. The course content provides the theory base for some of the practical elements such as clipping and plaiting, for example. Courses with Dr Jo Winfield FBHS may vary in the schedule below.
BHS Stage 1 Care
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Week 1- What to expect on the exam day. Parts of the grooming kit and method, safety around the yard, types of rugs and fitting.
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Week 2- Types of tack and fitting, checking for safety and care of tack and equipment.
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Week 3- Mucking out theory, types of bedding and tools, muck disposal, bedding systems and associated cost.
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Week 4- The foot and shoeing, breeds, coat colours and markings, points of the horse.
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Week 5- Feeding and watering, rules of feeding, feed types, calculating a basic ration.
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Week 6- Horse health, good and bad signs, reporting a record keeping.
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Week 7- Horse behaviour, grassland care, catching in and turning out.
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Week 8- Health and safety, accident procedure, the roles of the BHS. Safety on the roads.
BHS Stage 2 Care
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Week 1- What to expect on the exam day. Tack and Equipment- fitting, different types of boots.
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Week 2- Transportation types, loading procedure and different equipment.
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Week 3- Roles and Responsibilities of a groom including legal requirements, what is the role of an assistant groom? Also shoeing horses, what are the tools, how do we remove a shoe?
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Week 4- The horse's behaviour, what is normal? Also stable and field design.
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Week 5- Feeding horses, calculation of feeds, how to weigh a horse
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Week 6- Anatomy of the horse, digestive system, where are the main internal organs? Identify the horse's skeleton.
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Week 7- Horse Fitness- fitness programmes, signs of a fit or unfit horse, plaiting horses- what methods can be used?
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Week 8- Horse health, what are the signs? Routine Health Procedures and Signs of lameness and wound care, ill health and when to call a vet
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BHS Stage 3 Care
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Week 1- What to expect on the exam day. Tacking up for different disciplines, fit of the double bridle and boots/bandages. Use of different bits and studding up a horse.
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Week 2- Feeding horses, ration calculation, routines, feeding for health, condition/fat scoring.
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Week 3- Horse fitness, fitness programmes, assessing a horse's fitness, aftercare from strenuous work.
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Week 4- Clipping horses, types of clip, safety, methods used, reasons for clipping.
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Week 5- Anatomy and Physiology, the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system. Tendons and Ligaments of the lower limb.
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Week 6- Horse Health, record keeping, health care professionals, different health conditions, bio-security.
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Week 7- Assessment of Lameness, management and treatment, causes of lameness and types of shoes including remedial. Principles of the quality of life.
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Week 8- Horse behaviour, stereotypical behaviour in horses, management techniques, handling the difficult horse.
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Week 9- Pasture management, how to manage a turnout area for the horse and the roles and responsibilities of a groom.
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Week 10- Horse conformation, what to look for static, dynamic and foot balance. Suited to different types of work
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BHS Stage 4 Care
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Week 1- Fitting specialist tack and equipment, tack for disciplines, evaluation of the mouth and bits, boots and bandages. Training aids and their use.
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Week 2- Conformation of the horse, specifics to discipline, soundness and performance. Physical condition and muscle performance.
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Week 3- Horse health, including lameness, shoeing and care of the lame horse. How to take TPR and sick nursing. Outbreak of disease and end of life care.
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Week 4- Physiological systems of the horse PART 1- includes Muscles, Cardiovascular, respiratory and lymphatic.
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Week 4- Physiological systems PART 2- includes reproductive, endocrine, nervous system, how all the systems work together. Complimentary therapies.
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Week 5- Breeding and stud management, covering, scanning, gestation and foaling. Care of the older horse.
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Week 6- Horse behaviour and psychology, effects on ridden work and performance.
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Week 7- Business and Yard management, health and safety, legal requirements, stable design.
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Week 8- Yard Management and routine health care, worming programmes, vaccinations and record keeping, grass and pasture management. Management of different health conditions. Management of the competition horse at different stages of competition.
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Week 9- Horse fitness and conditioning for different disciplines, injuries and recognising signs of injury. Handling the fit horse.
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Week 10- Feeding horses, nutritional requirements for different disciplines, yard management, problems associated with poor feeding regimes and dehydration, the use of supplements.
BHS Stage 5 Performance Manager
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There are many elements to cover in the Stage 5 Performance Manager (Care) Exam syllabus. These sessions will be tailored specific to participants' needs, with the first session beginning with a discussion between us to find out more about you, and create a plan.
BHS Ride Safe
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Week 1- About the day and riding on the road, what to wear, the highway code specific to horse riders.
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Week 2- Signs and markings, leading the horse on the road, the highway code continued and methods such as correct hand signals.
