LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN PRACTICAL HORSE CARE SKILLS

This course provides knowledge, skills and work experience to help you gain employment within the equine industry or to progress to the next level in your career. 

You need to be highly motivated and demonstrate a keen interest in the equine industry. Offers of a place on the course are dependent on your: 

• Experience/work experience in the industry
• Career progression
• References
• Attainment of any equine-related qualifications

All candidates will be interviewed.

For the riding pathway, the minimum riding requirement is being able to walk, trot and canter confidently and in balance. Riders will be assessed at the start of the course and those not achieving this standard will be offered the non-riding option. To ensure the welfare of our horses, we operate a personal weight restriction of no more than 13 stone and applicants must provide their own PPE to meet current safety standards. 

Some of the units covered are:

• Work experience on the College yard
• Health and safety
• Employment skills
• Stable management
• Feeding and watering horses
• Horse behaviour
• Anatomy
• Health and welfare
• Horse tack and equipment
• Prepare horses for presentation
• Working and training horses from the ground

You will also be expected to continue with English and Maths qualifications if you do not have a grade 4 GCSE in both. (If you are 19+, this is not applicable.) 

You will be taught in both a practical and theoretical environment relating to the industry of caring for horses. All equine lessons are based at our Equine Centre at Broomfield Hall. We have a wide range of horses and facilities to help you develop the skills and understanding required.

You will be required to supply your own: 

• Correctly fitted and up to current safety standard riding hat
• Correctly fitted and up to current safety standard riding footwear
• Correctly fitted and up to current safety standard body protector
• Derby College Group uniform
• Entrance fees to various establishments
• Writing materials

The course is continuously assessed using a range of practical and theory methods: verbal discussions, demonstrations, reports, examination and presentations. You will be required to build a portfolio of evidence of your skills, knowledge and understanding.  

This qualification is mainly focused on helping you to secure employment in the industry, either in an apprenticeship or as a working groom.

Derby College Group offers a range of one-day, weekend and evening courses relating to Equine Studies – please see the Derby College Group Equestrian website www.derby-college.ac.uk/equestrian-centre. 
 
Derby College Group also offers courses in a wide range of other land-based topics – please see the Derby College Group Part-time Prospectus for a full list and details. 

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk