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Schools 14-16 - City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care (Equine Studies)
Location: Broomfield Hall
Years: 2
Interview: Y
Course Summary
This course is for school students, where the school has agreed to fund the placement, or for electively home educated young people.
The City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care (500/8771/X) has been developed to provide an engaging introduction to the equine industry, a valuable sector which contributes around £8 billion a year to the economy.
Students will have the opportunity to learn the technical knowledge and skills sought after by the industry at our Equestrian Centre which is equipped with a purpose-built indoor arena, an all-weather outdoor school, a cross-country schooling field and off-road riding tracks around the beautiful Broomfield estate.
This course is delivered over two years, starting in Year 10 and students will study at Broomfield Hall one day a week.
There are two available pathways within this qualification: a riding pathway and a lunging pathway. For students wishing to undertake the riding pathway, we operate a personal weight restriction of no more than 13 stone (82.5kg) to ensure the welfare of our horses. Students must also be able to walk, trot and canter independent of the rein – this will be assessed at the start of the term to ensure the riding pathway is suitable.
If you are home educated, you can also apply to study GCSE Maths and English with us.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements: you just need a strong interest in caring for horses and adequate experience of working with or riding horses.
You will be assessed during the first term at College to ensure this is the most suitable course for you, with fall-back options available.
Course Content
You will need to complete four mandatory units:
- Undertake work-related experience in the land-based industries
- Carry out and understand the principles of feeding and watering horses
- Undertake routine stable duties
- Undertake horse handling
You will also need to complete three optional units plus the units relevant to the pathway you are undertaking:
- Fit and maintain horse tack and clothing
- Undertake horse grooming, trimming and plaiting
- Understand the principles of horse biology
- Introduction to riding horses on the flat (riding pathway)
- Riding horses over fences (riding pathway)
- Introduction to lunging horses (lunging pathway)
How will I be assessed?
The course is 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.
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment required?
Students must supply their own equipment and Derby College Group uniform (this will be discussed at interview). You will also be required to supply your own writing materials and folders to store work in.
What can I do after this course?
Further Study
Upon completion of the qualification, and depending on the grades achieved and other qualifications achieved, students may wish to progress to:
- The Level 3 Diploma in Equine Management
- An apprenticeship programme at Level 2 or 3
- A-levels
You will be able to access advice and guidance while studying at the College to learn more about the post-16 opportunities available for you.
Careers
Further study can lead to a variety of careers within the construction industry, including:
- Coach/Instructor
- Stud Supervisor
- Work Rider
- Welfare Officer
- Clinical Assistant
For more information, email the 14-16 team at 14-16@derby-college.ac.uk
Did you find the course information on this page useful?
Ruth Orrell-Stokes
Horse management student Ruth returns to Broomfield as lecturer
Former horse management student Ruth Orrell-Stokes returned as a lecturer to Derby College Broomfield Hall because she knew it was a "nurturing and driven" campus. She said she never walked away from a lesson "without learning something new" and "an amazing" team had supported her. Ruth found a three month work placement with horses in California between the first and second years of her Level 3 National Diploma in Horse Management.
That meant taking some time out, but Ruth and her lecturers found a way to minimise the disruption. Having successfully completed the National Diploma, Ruth went into higher education elsewhere, gaining a range of qualifications including a Higher National Diploma, and a BSC in Equine Performance Management. She was awarded a Federation of Animal Welfare award for her final year dissertation.
While studying, staff spotted that she had a talent for teaching and she went on to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. After a part-time teaching job and agency work, Ruth applied and returned to Derby College, Broomfield, lecturing on maternity cover. She has now been appointed to the staff full-time in the post which one of her former lecturers – who has gone into higher education – used to hold.
I love it. The reason I came back is because I knew that when I was a student here, it was a nurturing and driven college that really pushed me.
It was an amazing team that supported me.
While I was here I was always stretched and challenged.
I'd come from a jumping background and it was Jon, my line manager now, who taught me for jumping.
There was never a lesson I walked away from that I hadn't learnt something new, from really delicate techniques to things which were out of the box. That was true across the board.
Despite having a lot of previous experience the level 3 course was really challenging but it opened up my eyes to opportunities in the industry.
