Success of First BHS Equitation and Teaching Examination
in Ireland
The British Horse Society recently organised the first BHS
Equitation and Teaching Examination to take place outside
the United Kingdom.
The Equitation and Teaching Examination, which is part of
the prestigious BHS Instructors Certificate, took place at
Kildalton College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, on 7 November.
Four Fellows of The British Horse Society flew in to examine
this inaugural exam: Patrick Print FBHS and Chairman of the
BHS; Robert Pickles FBHS, Chairman of the Training and Examinations
Committee; Carole Broad FBHS, Chairman of the Examinations
Advisory Committee; and Rob Lovatt FBHS.
Susan Irwin, BHS Development Officer for Ireland, liaised
with the college to bring in some first class horses for the
examination.
Susan said: “This is a truly exciting event in the BHS
Ireland calendar and one which we would like to continue every
year, giving all BHS instructors in Ireland the opportunity
to continue to progress close to home.
"The 'guinea-pig' riders who were taught by the candidates
were selected from competition riders from the four corners
of Ireland and included Luke Drea, Louise Bloomer, Roseanne
McEnery, Lucy Miller, Sarah Ponsonby, Ian Walsh and Margaret
Widger."
The four successful candidates were Grainne Sugars, Sandra
Morrison, Rosemary Gaffney and Jessica Soley. All are now
full BHS Instructors.
Sandra Morrison, who runs a BHS Approved Livery Yard in East
Lothian, Scotland, said: “To achieve the BHSI certificate
was my lifelong ambition. After setting up my own yard, it
has taken me a long time to be in a position to invest the
necessary time and money that an exam of this level requires
- I have been focussed on this goal for the last 18 months.”
Rosemary Gaffney, Equine Course Director at Kildalton College,
had to step aside during the preparations for the exam. It
would not have been fair if she had had inside knowledge of
the horses!
However, Rosemary was delighted with the final results. “Even
better than my own achievements, we now have 3 new BHSIs in
Ireland, demonstrating that the qualification is accessible
to everyone,” she said.
Grainne Sugars, proprietor of BHS Approved Riding Centre Calliaghstown,
near County Dublin, and Jessica Soley are both Senior BHS
Examiners and train students for BHS examinations and competitions.
Jesica Soley said: “Having worked so long in the industry
- it’s 17 years since I passed the BHS Stable Managers
Exam - and to go back into the exam system after all that
time, just proves in can be done!”
BHS Ireland plans to run more exam training courses in 2008.
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