Unit 1: Stage 2 Care
This unit develops the essential practical skills and underpinning knowledge required for an Assistant Groom to maintain horse welfare and presentation in a professional yard. Learners will gain competence in routine care tasks such as fitting tack, preparing horses for travel, feeding, foot care, and health monitoring, underpinned by an understanding of anatomy, behaviour, and environmental needs. Successful completion ensures the learner can work safely and effectively under direction, contributing to the horse's fitness and overall condition.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The BHSQ Level 2 Foundation Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 2) is a pivotal qualification for those aspiring to become professional riding coaches. It builds on foundational knowledge and skills, focusing on the safe, ethical, and effective coaching of horse and rider combinations at the elementary level. This stage emphasises the coach's ability to assess rider position, plan progressive lessons, and ensure the welfare of the horse throughout the coaching process.
Candidates will develop a deep understanding of the horse's biomechanics, the principles of the scales of training, and how to apply these in practical coaching sessions. The qualification also covers essential business and safeguarding knowledge, preparing coaches to work professionally in a variety of settings, from riding schools to private yards. Mastery of this stage is crucial for progression to higher coaching levels and for building a successful career in the equestrian industry.
This topic is central to the wider subject of equine coaching because it bridges the gap between being a competent rider and becoming an effective instructor. It requires not only practical riding ability but also the communication and analytical skills to teach others. By the end of this stage, coaches will be able to deliver safe, enjoyable, and educational lessons that promote the long-term welfare of both horse and rider.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Scales of Training: Understand and apply the six scales (rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection) to assess and improve horse and rider performance at the elementary level.
- →Rider Position Analysis: Ability to identify and correct common faults in the rider's seat, hands, and legs, using appropriate teaching techniques and exercises.
- →Lesson Planning: Structure a progressive 30-45 minute lesson that includes a warm-up, main session with clear objectives, and a cool-down, with appropriate safety measures.
- →Horse Welfare: Recognise signs of fatigue, stress, or lameness in the horse, and know when to modify or stop a lesson to prioritise welfare.
- →Coaching Ethics and Safeguarding: Understand the BHS Code of Conduct, safeguarding policies, and how to create a positive, inclusive learning environment.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Apply correct procedures for fitting a snaffle bridle and general purpose saddle.
- Describe the signs of good health and common signs of illness in horses.
- Explain the principles of a balanced diet and calculate feed rations based on workload.
- Demonstrate safe handling techniques when leading and tying up a horse.
- Evaluate the suitability of a stable environment for equine welfare.
- Identify the main external anatomical features and skeletal structures of the horse.
- Perform daily foot care including picking out and inspecting for abnormalities.
- Prepare a horse for travel including protective clothing and safe loading procedures.
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Award credit for demonstration of correct lifting and positioning of saddle onto horse's back without causing discomfort, ensuring clearance at withers.
- Accept identification of key health indicators such as mucous membrane colour, capillary refill time, and gut sounds during a health check.
- Require evidence of safe handling, such as leading from the near side with a correctly held lead rope and maintaining a safe distance when passing through doorways.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡In practical assessments, narrate your actions clearly, explaining why each step is performed, to demonstrate underpinning knowledge even if the horse is uncooperative.
- 💡For written elements, use correct equine terminology for body parts, tack components, and health conditions to gain full marks.
- 💡When assessing a rider's position, use the 'three-point contact' method: check the rider's seat, hands, and legs in relation to the horse's movement. Be specific in your feedback—instead of 'sit up,' say 'lengthen through your spine and soften your elbows.'
- 💡In the lesson planning section, always include a contingency plan. Examiners look for evidence that you can adapt your lesson if the horse or rider is struggling, such as changing the exercise or reducing the pace.
- 💡Demonstrate your knowledge of horse welfare by checking tack fit, the horse's expression, and any signs of discomfort during the lesson. Mentioning these checks in your oral or written answers shows a holistic understanding.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Confusing the terms 'colic' and 'laminitis' when describing common ailments, leading to incorrect symptom description.
- Failing to check the fit of a bridle after mounting the bit, potentially causing pain or refusal to accept the bridle.
- Misconception: 'The scales of training are only for advanced horses.' Correction: The scales apply at all levels; even at Stage 2, rhythm and suppleness are fundamental for the horse's physical development and should be the focus of elementary lessons.
- Misconception: 'Coaching is just about telling the rider what to do.' Correction: Effective coaching involves observation, analysis, and using a variety of teaching methods (e.g., demonstrations, lungeing, use of aids) to help the rider feel and understand the correct way.
- Misconception: 'If the horse is moving, the lesson is going well.' Correction: A moving horse may still be tense, unbalanced, or in discomfort. Coaches must assess the quality of movement and the horse's mental state, not just activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for BHS QUALIFICATIONS Unit 1: Stage 2 Care
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •BHSQ Level 1 Foundation Coach (Stage 1) or equivalent knowledge and experience in horse care and riding.
- •A solid understanding of the horse's basic anatomy and behaviour, as covered in Stage 1.
- •Practical riding ability at a minimum of BHS Stage 2 Ride standard, including the ability to ride schooled horses and perform elementary movements.
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Equine health monitoring
- Tack fitting and safety
- Nutritional management
- Safe horse handling
- Anatomy and physiology
- Stable and pasture management
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