Land Based Studies – Horse Care Pathway

Course information

If you are wanting to take the first steps of working with horses in the future, then this course is for you.

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:
Mucking out horses, rugs & rugging, tack and tacking up, feeding and watering, health and safety, communication, handling horses and riding horses (although this is not compulsory). You will be studying many aspects of equestrianism to build and develop your theoretical knowledge and working on improving your practical skills.

We are very lucky to have 2 indoor schools and 1 outdoor school, stabling for 55 horses, that are all rubber matted and have automatic water drinkers. We have 5 horse-walker, 2 hot wash bays and solariums, and heated tack rooms. We have 30 acres of grazing that is split into smaller paddocks, a cross country schooling area and lots of beautiful hacking available.

On evenings and weekends we run competitions or hire our facilities to a range of different awarding bodies, including British Dressage, British Show jumping, The Riding for the Disabled Association and the British Horse Driving Trials Association. So, if you have a passion for horses and want a career working with them, this is the best place to start.

As a Level 1 qualification this course 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.

There are 2 options on the course, riding or non-riding.

What You Will Learn

This one-year course will ensure you have all the foundations and skills to progress onto a Level 2 course. You will learn the different terminology and will gain valuable practical experience to ensure you perfect your own skills. By gaining underpinning knowledge on the various different units, you will be prepared for the L2 technical or Work based further education qualifications.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for external applicants and school leavers
• Two or more GCSEs at Grade 2 or above, or successful competition of Entry Level Qualification.
• Learners with relevant industry experience but no GCSEs at Grade 2 may be considered based on interview.

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

2 GCSEs at Grade 2 or above, including English and maths

If you are home-schooled please contact us. Learners with no GCSE’s but relevant industry experience may be considered based on interview.

Riding option:
To be able to walk and trot on a horse unaided. Video evidence will be required at interview.
There is a 13 stone weight limit to riding at Duchy College Equestrian Centre.

Non-riding option:
To have some experience of handling horses and completing basic tasks including grooming, tacking up and leading horses.

Work Experience

This course has compulsory 1 week’s work experience at an equestrian business. It is also desirable that a one day per week placement is taken in an equine related yard or business.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a couple multiple choice tests are a part of the qualification

Progression

Once you’ve finished the Level 1 qualification you can progress onto the Level 2 Technical Certificate in Horse Care

Duchy College Stoke Climsland

Duchy College Stoke Climsland

Set on stunning rolling hillsides, our campus epitomises the very best of land-based education. The recent addition of the £4 million Future Farm research facility means students and businesses are at the heart of the next evolution of environmental farming. Whether it’s a love of horses, sport, protective services, heavy machinery or animal care, nobody forgets their time at Duchy College Stoke Climsland. It’s time to secure your #careercollege experience.

Find out more about our Stoke Climsland campus

Events

Open Event

Duchy College Stoke Climsland

Open Event at Duchy College Stoke Climsland

• 25 Jan 25
• 23 Apr 25

Taster Event

Duchy College Stoke Climsland

Taster Day at Duchy College Stoke Climsland

• 18 Feb 25
• 27 May 25