Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care

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 will be taught in both a practical and theoretical environment relating to the industry of riding and caring for horses. This course is ideal for someone looking to improve upon their basic equine skills and knowledge and to open up employment opportunities within the equine sector. There are both riding and non-riding pathways.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to participate in a range of enrichment through training, clinics, workshops and trips. 

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
• Achievement of a minimum of two GCSEs at grade D/3 in English and Science
• Level 1 progression

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 current safety standards.

The course will cover a selection of the following modules:

• Work Experience
• Feeding and Watering
• Routine Stable Duties
• Horse Handling
• Tack and Clothing
• Health and Welfare
• Grooming, Trimming and Plaiting
• Biology
• Riding Horses
• Lunging

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

This course will be delivered on-site.

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

You will have the option to take part in additional qualifications with Derby College Group at your own expense such as trips, training, first aid, safeguarding and online courses.

Long hair is to be tied back and no nail varnish, jewellery, false eyelashes or false nails are to be worn.

The course is continuously assessed using a range of methods both practical and theoretical: verbal discussions, demonstrations, written reports and presentations. You will be required to build a portfolio of evidence of your practical skills, knowledge and understanding. Each assessment will be internally marked and your completed portfolio will be awarded a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction* grade.

You will be able to enter the industry by working on a yard, within a stud, or perhaps in a business such as a store or feed merchant, tack shop or another organisation allied to the equine industry. As you will have gained industry-level skills and depth of knowledge over a wide range of units, you could progress within work to become a:

• Discipline specific groom
• Apprentice
• Work rider
• Travelling groom

You may also wish to become self-employed and undertake roles such as  freelance grooming or riding. 

With many transferable skills embedded throughout the course, it is possible for you to switch vocation easily.

Additionally, you can progress within further education on either a higher Level 2 Diploma or a Level 3 Technical Qualification.

Derby College Group offers a range of one-day, weekend and evening Equine courses – please see the Derby College Group Equestrian website at www.derby-college.co.uk/equestrian-centre

We also offer courses covering 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 on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk