Courses

Advanced Certificate in Equine Studies

This one year full time course has a practical emphasis and offers the opportunity for candidates to gain the skills necessary to work with horses.


The course covers the following areas of study:

E9TB 10 Lungeing or Long Reining
This is a practical class instructing students in the above methods of exercising and schooling horses. This unit is assessed practically but also includes a written question paper.

SCQF level 5:  BHS Stage 2 preparation
This stage consists of both a Riding and Stable Management section which you will be working towards over the year.  Students who are able to sit their exam at the end of the year will be encouraged to do so. 

SCQF level 4: UK Coaching Certificate level 1
This is the first level of the nationally recognised coaching awards where you can assist a more qualified coach. 

D36H 11 Work experience
This unit will help students develop their ability to plan, organise and investigate workplace experience.  This process will help develop interpersonal skills and self awareness.

E8WC 11 Equine Anatomy & Physiology
Theory based subject, where students learn basic horse anatomy and physiology.  This unit is assessed by the completion of a portfolio of the students own work.

E8WM 11 Equitation 2
A more advanced riding unit allowing students the opportunity to improve many aspects of their riding, including jumping.  

Practical Stable Management
The practical stable management of the course is designed to maximise your employability skills for the equine industry.  It is therefore essential that all equine  students undertake duties in a real working environment which includes some early morning duties and weekends.  

D01D 11 Information Technology
This unit will help the student develop skills in using a computer to process a range of information.

D01B 12 Communication
Students engage in various activities to improve communication skills.  On the Advanced Certificate in Horse Management, Communication is taught at a Higher level and must be achieved by students wishing to progress to HNC.

D01C 11 Numeracy
This unit will aid students to develop skills of interpretation and communication of graphical information and application of a wide range of numerical skills in everyday and straightforward, generalised contexts.

D11E 12 First Aid Measures
The student is provided with the information and skills required to handle a 1st aid situation and to enable them to know the principles and rules of 1st aid at work.  The assessments for this unit are a combination of practical, oral and written assessment methods.

Entry requirements

Essential

For progressing students - it is essential to have passed the certificate level of the course and accumulated the required yard duties points from certificate studies.  If progressing from certificate level a further 2 weeks industrial experience is required.

Entry requirement for new students

  • Minimum of Communications Intermediate 2
  • Minimum of Numeracy Intermediate 1
  • Minimum of IT Intermediate 1
  • 4 weeks practical work experience on a yard (reference required) or 80% attendance at duties and 2 weeks practical work experience on a yard (reference required)
  • Completion of basic horse care paper
  • Riding at Stage 1 level (DVD evidence required)

Upon successful achievement

  • Advanced Certificate in Equine Studies (with Distinction if 100% attendance at duties)
  • BHS Stage 1
  • R & RS
  • SVQ Horse Care Level 1*                                                  
  • UKCC Level 1 **
  • HN Selection of the Horse unit **
  • Certificate of Competence in Horse Transportation **                
  • BHS Stage 2 **
  • SVQ Horse Care Level 1*
  • BHS Stage 2*

*  Optional - training provided or ILA funded; student may be required to pay exam fee
** Optional - training & exam ILA funded
Note: An applicant having owned their own horse does not substitute for the practical criteria required.

Progression

Progression to the HNC in Equine Studies is at the discretion of the college but students may be eligible to progress under the following circumstances;

  • Successful completion of all the units on the Advanced Certificate course including the achievement of the Communications unit at Higher level with Numeracy at Intermediate 2.
  • Completion of required yard duties, having shown a high level of commitment to this.

Additional information

Yard Duties are an integral part of all equine courses at Oatridge.  It is essential that all equine students take part. 

Start date

College term commences mid September each year.

Finish date

Early June each year.

Back to the Equine Studies section