This year I am hoping to begin my BHS stages at an equestrian centre....Can anyone tell me how good the other riders will be??? For example how fit, how many years riding experience etc....I guess I am a little nervous!!!

I recently took my stage 1 exam at the equestrian centre at Wrexam. Although about one third of the candidates failed everybody generally was quite fit. Obviously certain parts of the exam i.e. riding without stirrups for a period of time needed some degree of fitness. The thing that phased most people was the fact that you had to be able to get on to the horse unaided from the ground - they didn't particularly give you a small horse if you were small. It was a nerve wracking experience - fortunately I passed but I learn't such a lot revising for the exam that I am about to embark on stage two.

Good Luck

Just out of interest, was there any particular reason why one thrid of the candidates failed? How much training/preperation did you do beforehand? What was everyones ability like prior to taking the course?

Like Ginetta, I've also recently tried my hand at Stage 1. Tough isn't it? I've had private lessons for the last year with a fab instrutor, who said that for Stage 1 the examiners are looking for a safe seat and that the basics are there to build on. It's tough trying to keep a relaxed position in a pressure situation.

The best advice I could give is to have a few lessons with a good instructor (they'll have been through it all so are best placed to advise you). Have group lessons at the centre where you're going to sit the exam, they let you do this for the earlier stages but not as they get more advanced, and tell the instructors what you are aiming to do.
A great book to read is "Stage One Riding & Stable Mgmt" by Hazel Reed & Jody Redhead. Together with the exam syallbus (from BHS website)you'll be armed with all you need to know - then it's just a case of practicing!

All in all be confident - and go for it. By the way ......I passed too!!

Thanks so much everyone for all the help and encouragement! Hopefully I'll be O.K. Good luck to you all on your exams too!!!!