Are you confident you know how to care for your horse - BHS Horse Owners Certificate

Becoming a horse owner is the dream of many once a week riders and pony mad youngsters alike but when that dream comes true it can often turn into confusion, trepidation and even fear. Owning your own horse or pony, being completely responsible for it's well being, is a whole lot different to going to the stables to ride once a week even if you do stay behind to help out after.

It's a good idea to prepare for horse ownership before actually taking the plunge and one way of doing this is to take a horse care course. One such course is the British Horse Societies Horse Owners Certificate:

"The Horse Owner's Certificates are offered at four levels of knowledge with regard to the care and management of the horse and are specifically aimed at the first time horse owner, parent of horse owners or potential owners. Each level will be assessed in the form of a written paper, which should be completed under examination conditions with an adjudicator present.

Courses may be held anywhere, but the person who takes overall responsibility for the training and the course must be a member of the BHS Register of Instructors. During the course the instructor will follow the syllabus appropriate for each of the levels. Candidates can also purchase books to accompany the course through the BHS Bookshop.

The examination papers will be set and marked by the registered instructor in charge of the course. The pass mark for each Level is 60 percent and successful candidates will receive a certificate for each level attained. All certificates will be sent to the instructor, who will forward them. "

Level 1 consists of:

Knowledge of horse types, uses,colours and markings.
Elementary stable management.
Knowledge of care and maintenance required to keep a horse healthy and comfortable in the stable.
Stable routine and safety in the stable. Safe handling of both horse and equipment necessary for his well being.
Identification of items of tack in common use and naming the parts.
Basic care of tack. Ability to take apart, inspect for safety and re-assemble.
Reasons and principles of grooming. Knowledge of the items in a grooming kit and their use.
basic knowledge of shoeing and care of the foot.
Recognition of signs of health and ill health and when to call the vet. Temperature, pulse, respiration and signs of health.
Preventative treatments - worming, flu-vac etc. A basic knowledge of the need to vacinate and worm.
Elementary principles of watering and feeding. Rules of feeding and watering.
A knowledge of buying a horse. Points to look for. The need for a vet to access the horse before purchase.
Elementary rules for preparing ahorse for a ride, riding ot on the roads, returning from a ride, riding dress.

Level 2:

The reasons for shoeing and recognition of when shoeing or re-shoeing is required. A knowledge of the basic structure of the foot. Farrier's tools and how to use. How to remove a shoe in an emergency.
Recognition of common injuries and basic first aid. Arresting bleeding and treatments for different types of wounds.
Knowledge of feeding and watering the stabled horse and the horse at grass. Feeding in all seasons. Feeding for light work.
Care and maintenance of grassland. To include the maintenance of fences, gates, shelter,watering etc. care and improvement of the grassland to include knowledge of harmful weeds and their control.
The care of saddlery, to include inspection for soundness of saddles. Aknowledge of fitting and the use of most items of equipment ie. martingales, breastplates,boots etc.
The necessity of insurance to cover all aspects of the horse and its use.
Stable routine for two horses.To include all the extra jobs that need to be undertaken eg. drains, guttering, paintwork, cleanliness of yard etc.
Bedding. A knowledge of different types of bedding and their management. To include different systems eg. deep litter.
The Highway Code.
The Country Code,including the correct and courteous use of bridleways.

Level 3:

The recognition, treatment and care of commoninjuries and ailments, further to Level 2.
Changes from management in the stable to amnagement at grass and vice-versa.The procedures for getting a horse up from a period at grass eg. teeth, worming etc and the procedures for roughing-off a horse.
Clipping, trimming, plaiting.
Care and maintenance of horse transport, to include both horse boxes and trailers. A knowledge of the law regarding the transit of horses.Weight ratios for trailers and legal requirement with regard to towing. Preparation of the horse for travel. A knowledge of the equipment needed with regard to the length of journey and climatic conditions.
The care of the horse trekking and in competitive events.
Understand fitness and condition and maintenance of both.
Knowlege of good and bad stable construction. Different types of stabling. basic requirements of planning regulations. Layout of stable yard to include handling and disposal of the muck heap.
Knowledge of horse clothing and bandaging.Care and maintenance of both.
Recognition of good and bad forage. Knowledge of different grasses found in hay samples and ability to identify weeds and poor grasses.
Have a working knowledge of the costs involved in keeping a horse.
Have a knowledge of the activities of the:
The British Horse Society
Riding Clubs
The Pony Club

Level 4:

Knowledge of the main systems in a horse.(respiration, reproduction, digetive, immune etc) their function and common problems asscoiated withthese systems (COPD, Colic etc.)
Knowledge of various grasses, conditions of growth and beneficial properties. Procedures for improving pasture ie. drainage, cross-grazing, re-seeding, fertilisers etc. Haymaking, types and methods.
Vitamins / Minerals - difference between them and why they might be deficient in the diet. Name main vitamins / minerals and their uses. Weigts and types of feed available for : Riding School Horses, Hunters, Competion Horses etc.
Knowledge of the structure of the tooth and ageing characteristics.Description of structure of the mouth and common problems that may result from poor conformation of this.
name and structure of different types of remedial shoes.Give description of the condition under which these shoes may be used and the way in which they affect improvement / relief.
List the basic principles of sick nursing and the resons / conditions for implementing these. describe the way in which these principles may help to reduce the severity of a condition / injury and any problems that may arise as a result.
outline the basic principles of fitting varios saddles, (dressage, jumping, cross country, general purpose) and bridles (snaffle, double bridle). Describe the uses of specifc "bits" and gagets, (draw reins, balancing reins, Market Harborough, De Gouge etc) and the way in which they work.
List common stable vices and their possible causes. Also suggest ways to stop such vices and preventative steps that can be taken to limit these.
A general knowledge of The BHS and its Departments, Structure etc. awareness of The BHS qualifications system and the BHS register of Instructors.
Action to be taken in the event of an accident.Aknowledge of RIDDOR and legal obligations of an instructor.

"If you are interested in taking the Horse Owner’s Certificates you can contact an Instructor who is on the Register of Instructors, those running courses are prefixed by (H).

You can also contact a BHS Approved Centre, a local Agricultural College, riding centre or local education authority to see if they are running an evening course.

A candidate’s information pack is available from the BHS Examinations Department on request.
Please contact exams@bhs.org.uk or call 0844 848 1666 for more information"