The Open College of Equine Studies

BHS Horse Owner's Certificate Level 1

These BHS certificated courses cover the theoretical aspects of horse care. There are four levels of certificate, all of which can be studied at home using course material specifically developed for distance learning. Courses include at least six modules providing all of the information required to pass the examination at the end of the course.

Course material includes in-text questions to help you learn and a number of work assignments for you to complete and send in for assessment. Your course tutor will provide detailed feedback on your assignment. At the end of each course you complete the Horse Owner’s Examination Paper.  This is carried out in the presence of an invigilator who should be a BHS registered instructor.  A list of BHS registered instructors is available on the BHS website - www.bhs.org.uk .  You must contact a local instructor and arrange a suitable date and venue for the completion of the exam.   The candidate is responsible for agreeing and paying the fee to the instructor.  The instructor will send the paper back to TOCES and a course tutor will mark your paper and send it to the BHS for verification.

The appropriate level BHS Horse Owner’s Certificate is awarded to all successful candidates.

You do not have to own a horse or be a BHS member to complete these courses. Courses are progressive, i.e. you should study Level One before Level Two. If however you are confident that you have already progressed beyond a particular level, you can elect to sit the examination without first studying the course material. This will reduce the cost and time involved in achieving your ultimate goal.

Module 1 – Identification of Horses
Types, uses, colours and markings. Points of the horse. Gender. Height.

Module 2 – Safety with Horses
Safety with horses on the yard, in the stable, field and whilst riding. Checking tack for safety. Safe handling of horses, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), manual handling. Personal protective equipment, riding wear, riding on the roads.

Module 3 – Basic Stable Management
Advantages and disadvantages of keeping horses stabled. Stable management – bedding, routine. Grooming – the kit and method. Tack, cleaning and maintenance, assembling the bridle.

Module 4 – Horse Health
Horse health, signs of health, preventative medicine, vaccination, worming, TPR, Shoeing, foot care. When to call the vet.

Module 5 – Feeding
Types of feedstuff. Basic structure of the digestive tract. Rules of feeding.

Module 6 – Buying a Horse
Buying a horse, points to look for, the vetting procedure.

There are three work assignments and one final examination paper within this course.