Courses

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:

E9T7 10: Grooming and Care of the Stabled Horse
A practical class dedicated to methods of grooming and general care of the horse. Lessons will mostly take place on the yard and will be practical sessions with some theory work beforehand as required. This unit is mostly assessed through practical assessments with some oral and written questions also included.

BHS Progressive Riding Tests 1-6
These tests cover practical riding and stable management allowing for direct access to BHS Stage 2 once all six tests and the Riding & Road Safety Test are complete.  This is a practical area of study providing students with a range of stable management and riding skills. The Progressive Tests are assessed practically with some written and oral questions included.  Some of the practical assessments for Progressive Tests will take place during allocated yard duties, so good attendance of duties is important if all tests are to be achieved.

BHS Riding and Road Safety Test
The BHS Riding & Road safety test is a pre-requisite for sitting the riding section of BHS Stage 2 exam. Training for this exam is carried out during timetabled riding sessions and it is assessed by external examiners provided by the British Horse Society. The exam has both written and practical sections.

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.

D055 10: Accident and Emergency Procedures
This unit enables students to gain a knowledge of potential hazards and corrective measures and a basic understanding of emergency procedures.

E9TA 10: Horse Health
This unit is both theory and practical based, enabling students to understand the fundamentals of horse health.

DO1B 10/11 Communication 1 & 2
Students engage in various activities to improve their communications skills at both intermediate 1 and 2 levels.  For students looking to progress onto the Advanced Certificate course, the Communication unit must be achieved at Intermediate 2 level.

DO1D 10: Information Technology
This unit allows students to develop skills in using a computer to carry out some straightforward processing tasks and is achieved through the successful achievement of ongoing practical assessments.

DO1C 10: Numeracy
This unit allows students to develop skills of interpretation and communication of straightforward graphical information and the application of basic numerical skills in everyday contexts.  This subject is taught with the use of workbooks and assessed by closed book restricted response assessments.

Entry requirements

Essential

Entry requirement:

  • Minimum of Communications Intermediate 1                                           
  • Minimum of Numeracy Access 3
  • 2 weeks practical work experience on a yard (reference required)
  • Able to walk, trot, canter & jump a small fence (DVD evidence required)
    Note: An applicant having owned their own horse does not substitute for the practical criteria required.

Upon successful achievement:

  • Certificate in Equine Studies (with Distinction if 100% attendance at duties)
  • BHS Stage 1
  • R & RS

Progression

Progression to the Advanced Certificate 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 Certificate course including the achievement of the Communications unit at Intermediate level 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