City & Guilds Level 2 Technical Certificate Equine

About the course

The Level 2 Technical Certificate in Equine Care provides practical knowledge and experience combined with academic studies. Stable management and riding skills will be developed within the College Equine Department and students will gain a comprehensive knowledge of horse care. It is extremely popular with school leavers who wish to combine a practical based training programme with sound theoretical knowledge. This course is ideally suited to students who wish to spend a year developing their knowledge and experience working with horses. This course is highly practical and learners applying for this course will be expected to be hardworking, keen to learn about horse care and willing to take a ‘hands on’ approach when working on the stable yard.

This course provides you with a comprehensive introduction to the basic care of horses in the equine industry. It is extremely popular with school leavers who wish to combine a practical based training programme with sound theoretical knowledge. The course is designed to give you a broad understanding of horse care, with a view to progressing to one of our Level 3 Diploma courses, or to start work in the Equine industry.

Location: Myerscough College (Preston) or Croxteth Park (Liverpool)
Course length: 1 year
Available course dates: Please select a start date & location before you apply.

Location: Croxteth Park (Liverpool)
Start date: September

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Location: Myerscough College (Preston)
Start date: September

Select Selected

Course modules

Year 1

Year 1

The Principles of Feeding and Watering Horses

In this unit you will develop your practical and theoretical knowledge of feeding and watering horses.

Undertake Routine Stable Duties

This unit covers the daily care activities for the stabled and grass kept horse which includes mucking out, grooming, health checks, feeding, watering and the wide range of general yard tasks.

Introduction to Lungeing Horses

In this unit, you will focus on lungeing, which is a way of working horses from the ground. You will develop your practical ability and knowledge of exercising horses using different methods.

Assisting with the Transportation of Horses (Behaviour route)

This unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of the principles of transporting horses and how these can be applied in practice.

Riding Horses under Supervision (Riding Route)

This unit covers the basics of riding horses on the flat. The learner will be able to prepare horses for ridden exercise, including adjusting the girth and stirrups. The learner will demonstrate a balanced riding position in walk, trot and canter. The learner will also know how to ride safely on the road

Health and Safety for Land-based Industries

The purpose of this unit is for learners to understand the principles and importance of health and safety within land-based settings. This unit covers health and safety legalisation which provides the requirements upon which policies and procedures within the industry are based. This unit also introduces learners to the basic requirements of fire prevention, safe manual handling and basic first aid

Equine Health and Welfare

The purpose of this unit is for learners to have an understanding of the principles of equine health and welfare and how these can be applied in practice

Working in the Equine Industry

Within this unit, you will start to investigate the employment opportunities available to you within the equine industry. You will look at self-development and how to prepare yourself for employment whilst developing your practical skills.

Horse Handling and Grooming

In this unit you will learn to safely handle horses along with an understanding of the importance of restraining horses in a range of situations.

Horse Tack and Equipment

Within this unit you will apply an assortment of horse clothing and tack in addition to developing an understanding of the importance of maintaining the good condition of tack and equipment.

Principles of Horse Behavior (Behaviour route)

This unit aims to provide you with an understanding of the principles of horse behaviour and how these can be applied in practice.

Riding and Exercising Horses (Riding route)

This unit aims to equip learners with an understanding of the principles of riding horses on the flat.

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

This course covers practical skills and relevant background knowledge. Students are normally aged 16 or over and the following qualifications are needed:

3 GCSEs at Grade 3 (D) or equivalent, including English Language, Maths and Science (or related subject).

(Check FE Admission guide for changes and equivalencies)

Please note there is a maximum weight limit of 14.5 stone for the riding units.

Learning and assessment

Assessment of technical qualifications is a mixture of internal practical assessment of skills conducted by the teaching team, internal written assignments marked by the teaching team, an externally set synoptic examination that combines the knowledge and practical skills of all of the mandatory units, an external online exam that combines the knowledge of all mandatory units and an online health and safety exam. The assessments and exams are spread throughout the year.

Additional Qualifications:

¨ Learn to Work.

Progression

Level 2 students can progress to level 3 programmes subject to published entry requirements and satisfactory performance at level 2.

Careers

Employment opportunities in equine and its related industries are currently very good. Former students have become grooms, stable yard assistants and apprentices.

Special requirements

Costs that are mandatory for the course:

Specialist Clothing and Equipment: approx £100

Plain navy blue or black jodhpurs
College sweatshirt/ polo shirt in navy/ black, or similar plain sweatshirt/ polo shirt
Navy or black jacket (warm and waterproof advised)
Boots for yard work – wellingtons or strong boots
Riding hat to current standard PAS015 or BSEN1384 along with the Kitemark
Gloves and hairnet
Riding boots or leather gaiters (suede chaps are not allowed as they rub the horse’s sides)
Jumping whip and schooling whip
Back protector is compulsory for jumping lessons
(Hooded jumpers, bright or garish clothing is not acceptable on the yards).
Resources and Facilities Contribution, approximately £95 Preston (subject to change).

Costs that are optional for the course:

Students will be given the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities throughout the duration of the course. For example:

Horse of the Year Show £35
WHW £5
Badminton Horse Trials £150

Work experience

All students are required to undertake a minimum of two weeks of external work experience placement as part of their course. This is a core part of the course and ensures that all students are putting their skills into practice within the work place. Support is available to find a suitable placement and placements must have employers and public liability insurance.

Stable Yard Practical

Students will gain work experience on the College Yard and at the Preston Centre will be required to attend weekend duties where they will care for the horses one weekend in five. A rota is produced at the start of the year with the students allocated weekend yard for the entire academic year.

Students also work on the yard, looking after the college horses, one day per week within their normal timetabled hours.

Equine Studies

The equine industry in the United Kingdom is expanding rapidly, with a turnover approaching £1 billion per year. It encompasses many different sectors, from racing, driving and endurance to dressage, horse trials and show jumping. These areas are supported by a large ancillary industry which provides extensive career opportunities.

Student Livery

More information about student livery can be found here

Riding Hat Standards

More information about hat standards can be found here

Myerscough College - Equine Studies - Arena

Fantastic resources

The equine department at Myerscough College has excellent resources including a busy international equestrian arena, indoor and outdoor schools, motion analysis software, coldwater therapy spa and specialist laboratories. As well as this, we have more than 50 quality horses on site of various sizes, breeds and standards, stabled in three professional and friendly yards.

A Reputation for Excellence

Myerscough College is widely recognised as one of the leading equine colleges in Britain. The facilities and expert knowledge of tutors provides an ideal learning environment. Our staff are active in equine research, with a particular focus on equine performance and equine locomotion.

RESEARCH STUDIES:

Investigating Risk Factors in Equestrian Eventing

Setting the gold standard for equestrian sports surfaces

Latest news, Equine studies

Former student Harrison Ashton with a horse

Meet our Equine Mentors

At Myerscough we work closely with professionals from across the equine industry to give our students current and up to date information and help them to develop the knowledge and skills they need for the wide range of job roles available within the industry.

Our equine industry mentors' scheme is set up to give our students valuable career advice and guidance from industry professionals that have not only been very successful in their chosen careers but have also been students at Myerscough College.

Find out more!