New British Horse Society training partnership

Posted 22 June 2011

Harper Adams University College has teamed up with The British Horse Society to offer Higher Education recognition to equine enthusiasts who complete advanced specialist training.

The development of a suite of six modules has been structured to reflect the three strands of activity already in place within The British Horse Society qualification framework; (Horse) Riding,(Horse Knowledge and) Care & Coaching (groups and individuals). 

The first set of three modules are pre-fixed with the title ‘Milestone Achievement’ as they recognise the achievement of reaching the half way point between two industry standards, the BHS Stage 3 and BHS Stage 4 qualifications. The second set of three modules, have the pre-fix ‘Professional Competency’ and are applicable to those individuals who pass the BHS Stage 4 examinations plus undertake a personal reflection of their time in training.

Emily Chapman-Waterhouse, Business Development Manager for the Animals Department at Harper Adams, explained: “The primary aim of the collaboration with the BHS is to enable a greater number of candidates to continue up the scale of industry qualifications whilst additionally achieving HE credits. It is hoped, therefore, that completing the Milestone Achievement modules will motivate individuals to continue and achieve these higher professional qualifications. 

“Having a greater number of more highly qualified staff across the equine sector ought to subsequently improve the standards of equine husbandry, management, welfare and customer satisfaction, for example a riding school client, which would be considered a very positive outcome.”

A number of BHS Approved Training Centres around the UK already deliver the standard of training required to successfully complete the modules. A number of FE land-based colleges are also approved in this capacity.  

A list of these can be found on the BHS website and individuals who wish to undertake training should check that the centre is approved to train up to and including the BHSII qualification and have enrolled with Harper Adams as training providers of the modules.  

• Applications for training should be made direct with the centre as per the contact details provided on the BHS website.

• BHS Approved Training Centres wishing to undertake training in respect of these modules should contact Alison Pyatt, the Course Manager at Harper Adams on (01952) 815077 / e-mail apyatt@harper-adams.ac.uk  or Margaret Linington-Payne, Director of Standards at The British Horse Society on (02476) 840480 / e-mail M.Linington-Payne@bhs.org.uk