BHS Challenge Awards - Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards

BHS Challenge Awards at Our Centre Build Confidence • Learn Horse Care • Progress at Your Own Pace

We are proud to deliver the BHS Challenge Awards – a flexible and enjoyable programme for anyone who wants to learn more about horses, from complete beginners to developing young riders.

These awards help children and young people gain real-world horse knowledge, safe handling skills, and structured progression.

What We Offer at Our Centre

We currently offer the THEORY-BASED Challenge Awards, which include all the horse-care, handling, horse health, knowledge modules and lungeing.

What’s Covered in Each Level?

Each module has small, achievable steps building from Bronze → Silver → Gold.

Bronze Level (Beginner Foundation)

• Basic safety and awareness
• Introductory horse care
• Simple stable and yard tasks
• Recognising healthy horses
• Basic handling skills
• Introductory theory to support future riding skills

Silver Level (Developing Confidence)

• More independent yard work
• Deeper understanding of health & behaviour
• Planning daily and weekly routines
• Tack knowledge and care
• Risk-awareness and problem-solving
• More confident horse-handling

Gold Level (Advanced / High Competence)

• Confident and consistent horse care
• Assessing horse condition and welfare
• Advanced grooming and management routines
• Yard management knowledge
• Understanding more complex behaviour and health issues
• Preparing for higher-level learning or BHS Stages

How Long Does Each Level Take?

We run 1-hour sessions per week during term-time.

Because Challenge Awards are flexible and assessed continuously, progression varies from child to child, but as a guide:

This will vary depending on confidence, attendance and how quickly skills are mastered.

Benefits of Completing the Challenge Awards

• Builds confidence around horses
• Teaches real-world horse-care skills
• Encourages responsibility and independence
• Improves safety awareness
• Great introduction for children who may want to own a pony in future
• Structured progression gives children a strong sense of achievement
• Certificates and badges boost motivation
• Helps riders become more knowledgeable, safe and capable around horses

What It Can Lead To

• Completing the Challenge Awards provides a pathway to:
• Further Challenge Award levels (Silver, Gold, Platinum in some modules)
• BHS Stage 1 & Stage 2 Care (with certain Silver modules recognised as prior learning)
• Road-safety riding training (if taking the riding awards elsewhere)
• A strong foundation for pony ownership or part-loaning
• Future progression into BHS professional qualifications (if they choose)
• Confident, safe horse handling and care for life

Even if riders do not intend to become professionals, these awards give valuable life skills and deep horse understanding.

Ready to Join?

Our weekly Challenge Award groups are open to beginners and improvers. Children of all abilities can progress at their own pace in a friendly, supportive environment.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW