The Open College of Equine Studies

BHS Horse Owner’s Certificate Level 3

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 done in the presence of a BHS registered instructor.  The candidate must arrange a suitable date and venue with a local instructor (details can be obtained from the BHS website at www.bhs.org.uk)  The candidate is responsible for paying the invigilation fee direct to the instructor.

The instructor will send the completed exam paper back to TOCES and the 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 – Stable Management
Changes in management from stabled to grass kept and vice-versa. Roughing horses off and bringing up from grass. Horse clothing, bandaging – care of and fitting. Clipping, trimming and plaiting. Recognition of good and bad forage. Different grasses in forage – weeds and poor grasses.

Module 2 – Equine Veterinary Care
The recognition, treatment and care of common injuries and ailments.

Module 3 – Transporting Horses
Care and maintenance of horse transport – lorries and trailers. Law regarding the transit of horses. Weight ratios for trailers and legal requirement with regard to towing. Preparation of horses to travel. Care on long journeys. Stress of travelling.

Module 4 – Fittening the Horse
Fitness and condition. Care of the horse for trekking and competing.

Module 5 – Stable Construction
Good and bad stable construction, different types of stabling. Basic requirements of planning regulations. Layout of the stable yard. Siting and disposal of muck heap.
Forage storage.

Module 6 – Riding Organisations
The structure and organisation of the British Horse Society, Riding Clubs and the Pony Club.

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