BHA Rider Competency Standards | Page 35

E1 E2 D1 I1 I2 A1 ASC Advanced Stage Rider Competency Standards( A1 & ASC) Advanced Stage Skills – A1 & ASC( Common other than for Riding)

Riding A1 • Ride and improve any horse, including unfamiliar horses, intelligently, in a range of surroundings with a secure seat and balanced position

• Demonstrate an effective rider position whether riding at speed, over an obstacle or out of the stalls

• Adapt riding style and approach to meet demands of activity and horses’ individual needs to maximise training and education

• Select and unobtrusively use the most appropriate aids to encourage the required response and performance

• Support and guide other riders to maximise training and performance of all horses exercising individually, in a pair, in a group, as a string

• Follow instructions but quickly respond and adapt, where required, to maintain safety and optimise performance, within parameters set

• Ride a range of horses safely, at a variety of paces on a range of surfaces and going individually, in pairs, in a small group and as a string

• Adapt style and approach according to environmental conditions, challenges faced, advantages and disadvantages of types of surfaces and going

• Select and ride every horse with an appropriate level of stirrup and contact to improve performance and way of going

• Set, ride and maintain variations of speed within paces, as instructed

• Ride horses safely at speed, including individually, upsides, in a group, in a string, to maximise training and performance

• Accurately assess, describe and communicate response of horse to activity, fitness level, soundness, education and training needs

• Support and guide other riders to provide feedback to maximise training and performance

• Assess and communicate the optimum going and distance requirements for individual horses

• Evaluate actual against expected performance

• Demonstrate understanding of the effect of breeding on individual characteristics and performance potential

RIDER COMPETENCY STANDARDS | ADVANCED STAGES( A1 & ASC) 35