Extended Diploma Horse Management Level 3

A minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English Language and Science or a Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care with a full Merit profile. You must also demonstrate a good standard of literacy and numeracy.  Candidates will also be expected to be computer literate. All applicants must be at least 16 years of age on entry. Other equivalent qualifications may be considered, or industrial experience with a sufficient science background. You should also demonstrate a competent level of riding ability (applicants may be asked to undertake a practical riding assessment).

You will undertake work experience during the course, which will help you to better understand the equine industry, and utilise your skills and knowledge. You will be encouraged to find your own placement, but we will support you in this where required.

Routine early morning and evening duties are undertaken on a set day(s) during the week, and at weekends usually one week in three, on the College’s equine yard. These duties allow you to increase your practical expertise and in year two to develop supervisory and managerial skills.

You will ride and handle a wide range of horses on the equine unit.  You will receive instruction in riding, both on the flat and over fences every week. This is supported and enhanced by practical sessions and classroom-based theory.  You will also have the opportunity to train for BHS stages.

You will study various units over 2 years to achieve 180 credits including a combination of the following topic areas:

• Horse Care
• Yard Management
• Accommodation
• Feeding
• Work Experience
• Biology
• Riding and Exercising
• Principles of Equitation
• Health
• Behaviour and Welfare
• Investigative project
• Care of Competition Horses
• Nutrition
• Fitness and Training
• Riding & Training Horses On the Flat
• Riding Horses Over Fences
• Ground Schooling
• Teaching
• Grassland Management
• Business Management
• Animal Anatomy and Physiology
• Rehabilitation
• Young horse training
• Functional Skills.

Classroom-based lectures are used along with directed study to underpin the knowledge and skills learned during practical sessions. Your progress will be monitored continuously throughout the programme, and you will be assessed via the following means:

• Written assignments
• Practical assessments
• Verbal assessments.

The Extended Diploma in Horse Management is an end in itself, providing you with opportunities to seek a supervisory or management position in industry.  Successful students have found positions as national and international grooms on dressage, show jumping and eventing yards, and within the mounted police force.

Others have found work as junior instructors on teaching yards and in the ancillary industries, such as equine insurance brokers. Opportunities also exist in transport companies, studs, educational establishments, and on dealer, hunter and livery yards. Students can also use the qualification to gain entry onto higher level courses.

You could also progress onto the following Higher Education programmes if you achieve the required points profile:

• BSc (Hons) Equine Science

• BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Science

• FdSc Equine Management & Training