Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care

This course is suitable for school leavers and provides the 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 health pathways. There are also opportunities to work towards the BHS Challenge Awards.

• Three GCSEs or above at a grade 3 and above in English, Maths and Science.

OR

• A Level 1 Diploma at a Merit grade or above, including English and Maths GCSEs at a grade 2 or above.

You will need to have at least six months’ prior experience in handling horses, and a reference may be required. You will need to be highly motivated and demonstrate a keen interest in the equine industry. This is a very practical, hands-on programme.

A riding assessment is required for those who wish to take the riding pathway. You will need to be able to walk, trot and canter confidently and in balance, within a group. You will be assessed at the start of the course and if you do not achieve this assessment, you will be offered the health pathway.

To ensure the welfare of our horses, we operate a personal weight restriction of no more than 13 stone. Applicants will be weighed prior to riding whilst wearing their riding equipment. You must provide your own PPE to current safety standards.

The course will cover a selection of the following modules:

• Tutorial
• Routine Stable Duties
• Feeding and Watering
• Horse Handling
• Tack and Equipment
• Health and Welfare
• Biology
• Behaviour
• Horse Presentation (health pathway)
• Riding Horses (riding pathway only)
• Estate Skills (health pathway)
• Work Experience – 70 hours total
• Mandatory Yard Duties

You will also study GCSE English and Maths alongside your main study programme, if you have not achieved this at a grade 4/C or above.

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 Equestrian Centre at Broomfield Hall. We have a wide range of horses and facilities so that you can 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: full length riding boots or jodhpur boots with chaps (no rubber riding boots)
• Correctly fitted and up to current safety standard body protector
• Steel-toe cap footwear for yard work and practicals
• Derby College Group uniform
• Gloves
• Hairnet
• Trip/visit fees
• 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 should be worn.

You will be assessed by a mixture of written assignments, practical assessments and short tests.

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 to 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 Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk