Technical Certificate in Horse Care

Course information

If you can’t get enough of horses and have your sights set on working with them, then this is the course for you and can be your first step into a career working in the equine industry.

The course is made up of a mixture of academic lessons and practical lessons, with lots of opportunities to work around the horses and on the yard.

You’ll be working on a range of different topics and units on this course including: Horse health, the equine industry, feeding and watering, grassland management, anatomy and physiology, tack and equipment. Basically, you will be studying all aspects of equestrianism to build and develop you theoretical knowledge and working on improving your practical skills.

Our top class facilities include stabling for 24 horses, horse walker, solarium, and covered practical area, 20m x 60m indoor arena with viewing gallery and 30m x 60m outdoor arena. We provide a range of horses to suit all abilities including cobs, thoroughbreds, young horses and competition horses.

As a Level 2 qualification, this Technical Certificate is all about introducing you to the equine industry and developing your essential skills. You’ll be learning from experienced and well qualified staff, who are there to give you the very best start to your career.

What You Will Learn

During this course you will look at the equine industry as a whole and learn about your roles and responsibilities within the workplace. The course explores the wide variety of employment opportunities within different disciplines and governing bodies. This is ideal for students who love to work with horses but are unsure of potential career pathways.

Internal weekend duties develop the skills required to work as a team on any equine yard and care for a variety of horses. By the end of the year students will have had the time and practise to be ‘work ready’ for a junior role on an equine yard.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for external applicants and school leavers
• Three or more GCSEs at Grade 3 or above, or successful completion of a relevant Level 1 qualification.

Entry requirements for existing learners with the Cornwall College Group
• Successful completion of previous course and, where relevant, progress in maths and/or English.

Entry requirement is to achieve grade 4 or higher in GCSE Maths OR English, and a grade 3 in the other, plus 3 additional GCSE’s at Grade 3 or above. To be able to walk, trot and canter in balance with the horse. Video evidence will be required at interview.

Work Experience

This course has compulsory 2 weeks work experience at an equestrian business. External work experience provides an opportunity to explore a different setting within the industry and allows students to gain an insight into their potential career pathway. This opportunity can provide excellent references and often leads to future employment.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a multiple choice exam, externally set from City and Guilds in March.

There is also a synoptic assessment, which is a controlled assessment made up of practical and written tasks. This occurs between February and May. You are required to complete optional units, which are assessed with practical assessment, assignments and exams, these are assessed throughout the academic year.

You also have to complete a health and safety exam in the summer term.

Progression

Once you’ve finished the Level 2 qualification you can progress onto the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma, apprenticeship, or depending on your age and skills, employment.

Bicton College

Bicton College

Bicton College is based in East Devon, near Exeter, and set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from the Jurassic Coast. The historic Georgian mansion, commercial farm, animal husbandry school, modern veterinary nursing building, world-class engineering and heavy plant machinery workshop, walled garden and arboretum are all set in over 200 hectares of historic parkland.

Find out more about our Bicton campus

Events

Open Event

Bicton College

Open Event at Bicton College

• 18 Jan 25
• 26 Apr 25

Taster Event

Bicton College

Taster Day at Bicton College

• 17 Feb 25
• 28 May 25