0800 028 0289
BHS Bronze Challenge Awards - AprilBook Now »
Location: Broomfield Hall
Years: 1
Weeks: 8
Hours: 2.00
Start: Various Dates (Please press the Book Now Button to View Dates)
Days / Times: Tuesday 18:30 to 20:30
Tuition (£): 160.00*
Interview: N
Course Summary
Whether you are thinking of starting your BHS exams, or just want to deepen your equestrian knowledge, this course will help you. We cover practical and theoretical stable management and ride through the Stage 1 syllabus. This can be found online at www.bhs.org.uk
Entry requirements
Learners must be at least 14 years of age and need to be able to walk, trot, canter and be independent from the rein i.e. not balancing the body weight on the horse’s mouth.
We do not accept any beginner riders.
In order to ensure the welfare of our horses, we operate a personal weight restriction of no more than 13 stone. All riders will be weighed prior to the start of the course.
Course Content
The course will cover:
- Horse psychology
- Horse anatomy and health
- Daily routines
- Watering and feeding
- Saddlery and rugging
- Shoeing and turning out to grass
- Riding wise
- Correct mounting and dismounting procedure
- Ride through correct school movements in walk, trot and canter
- Riding without stirrups and going over poles on the ground in the forward seat
How will I be assessed?
There will be no formal assessment although you will receive verbal feedback during and at the end of each lesson and will be set targets for improvement. At the end of the course, you will do a mock Stage 1 riding exam.
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment 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 gloves
- Correctly fitted and up to current safety standard riding footwear
- Correctly fitted and up to current safety standard body protector
- Writing materials
What can I do after this course?
Derby College offers a range of one-day, weekend and evening courses relating to Equine – please see the Derby College Equestrian website www.derby-college.co.uk/equestrian-centre.
We also offer courses in a wide range of other land-based topics - please see the Derby College Part-time Prospectus for a full list and details.
Did you find the course information on this page useful?
* Tuition - This figure is the tuition fee to be paid - There are no concessionary fees available.
Emily Field
Open day unveils equine career for Emily
Schoolgirl Emily Field had no idea her hobby could turn into a career until she went to a Derby College Open Evening. Hailing from a family which is "not horsey at all ", Emily now has a string of equine qualifications at the age of just 22. Emily was unsure what she wanted to do after her GCSEs. But as a keen rider – although she did not have her own horse at the time – the equine courses stood out.
Enthused by the open evening, she decided to pursue the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management, although she admits she was nervous. She worried that she might be left behind because she was not from a "horsey" background and didn't own her own horse. Instead, she thrived, and found the environment friendly and helpful. Emily described the course as "very practical", which suited her style of learning, with most days spent on the yard.
It also included more scientific areas such as equine feeding, digestion and sickness. Emily completed her Diploma in 2013, with Passes and Merits and also took her industry qualifications BHS levels 1 and 2. Overall, she said she "pretty much learned everything I needed to know" to put into practice as a groom when she left college. Emily has now worked at two horse yards and is enjoying her latest job at a stud yard in Nottinghamshire. She has also gained her BHS levels 3 and 4 as well as a teaching qualification.
The Diploma was just so helpful. When I was leaving school I didn't even know you could get involved with horses as a full-time career and a proper job. It gave me a base to move upwards, I don't think I'd be able to be where I am now without it. I've been at the stud yard since September and it's entirely different to anything I've before, but I really enjoy it. I think my boss is happy with what I'm doing and I'm happy here.
