From The Talland International School of Equitation
- At Stage 1 and Stage 2 only, candidates are permitted to wear a plain, ‘V’ neck sweater or, as in the other exams, a hacking jacket. A blue or black jacket is not recommended. The sweater or jacket must fit well – nothing flatters you less than ill-fitting clothing. The jacket should be fastened at all times when riding or working around horses.
- A correctly fitted and secured hat must be worn when mounted, lunging, leading or loading horses. Hats must have one of the following kite marks – PAS 015, EN 1384 or ASTM F1163 with either a Kite mark or S.E.I.
- A shirt and tie is preferable, although a stock can be worn - a coloured stock with a hacking jacket and a cream/white stock with a black/navy jacket.
- Either are acceptable. There is no restriction on colour, but neutral colours are preferred. If you are taking only the Care section of the Stages 1 – 4, you could wear a pair of tidy trousers with suitable boots or shoes.
- Jodhpur boots or long riding boots (leather or rubber) must be worn for riding. If you are taking only the Care section of the Stages 1 – 4, you can wear shoes or boots suitable for stable tasks. Fitted gaiters may be worn but not half-chaps. Boots must be clean, tidy and in good repair. For Riding there must be a minimum clearance of ¼ inch either side of the stirrup.
- Must be worn for the riding section, lunging, leading and loading.
- These are MANDATORY for examinations containing cross-country jumping – Stage 3 and Stage 4. A body protector is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED for all examinations where there is show jumping. Body protectors can be worn over or under a jacket or with a plain sweatshirt instead of a jacket – it is a requirement that your arms are completely covered. The body protector must comply with discipline requirements, i.e. BEF or Pony Club.
- These may be worn for Stage 3 upwards. They should be short and blunt with the shank set centrally to the rear. They must only be used as and when the need arises – if in the opinion of the assessors you are misusing them or they are deemed unnecessary, you will be asked to remove them.
- For the Stage 1 riding, you should carry a whip that does not exceed 30’’ or be less than 14’’. For Stage 2 upwards in the jumping sections the length of the whip is as above and for the flat work section the whip must not exceed 39’’ in length.
- Must not be worn. Permitted items include a watch and wedding ring. Studs or piercings of any sort are potentially dangerous and should be removed.
Candidates are reminded that BHS Examinations lead to professional qualifications. Candidates should present themselves smartly and must adhere to the above dress code. For health and safety reasons, hair that is shoulder length or longer should be tied back and a hair net should be worn.
