The Open College of Equine Studies

BHS Horse Owner’s Certificate Level 2

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 must be invigilated by a BHS registered instructor - the candidate is responsible for arranging the date and venue with a local instructor. The candidate is responsible for agreeing and paying the invigilation fee direct to the instructor. A list of registered instructors can be found on the BHS website at www.bhs.org.uk.  The instructor will send the paper back to TOCES and it will be marked by a course tutor and sent 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 – Stable Management
Yard routine for two horses. Yard maintenance – painting, tidiness. Bedding – types and management. Stable construction.

Module 2 – Feeding
Feeding stabled horses and those at grass, feeding for light work, feeding in all seasons.

Module 3 – Grassland Management
Care and maintenance of grassland – fences, gates, shelter, watering. Weed control.

Module 4 - Equine Veterinary Care
Common injuries and basic first aid. Arresting bleeding. Wound treatment.

Module 5 - The Foot and Shoeing
The reasons for shoeing, when to re-shoe. Structure of the foot. The farrier’s tools and uses. Removing a shoe safely in an emergency.

Module 6 – Tack and Equipment
Care of saddlery, inspecting tack for soundness. Fitting and uses of a range of equipment - martingales, breastplates and boots.

Module 7 – Responsible Riding
The Highway Code, The Country Code, Insurance.

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