Overview
Humans and horses have a lengthy and harmonious history of cohabitation stretching back into pre-history, and they’ve been helping to shape our society and the world we live in ever since. It’s no wonder, then, that around 1.8 million are owned as pets, and that the equestrian industry is worth millions. What’s more, the industry provides many diverse career opportunities including racing, veterinary assistant work, horse farming, grooming, and more.
This course will provide you with knowledge of routine horse care and management, covering everything from physical markings to maintaining the field, leaving you ready and raring for a future with horses and ponies. You’ll discover the correct grooming process, how to make sure your horse is receiving the correct nutrition, as well as create a good stable yard routine. You’ll explore how to maintain the field in which the horse is kept, along with all the laws and regulations you’ll need to be familiar with as an owner. You don’t need any previous experience to enrol in a horse care course, and you’ll work in your own time, at your own pace.
What you'll learn
During this unit, you’ll be looking at the horse as a whole, covering everything from psychology to physical markings. You’ll learn some of the terms used to describe a horse and why they may act in certain ways. You’ll be shown some of the things to look out for when caring for a horse too.
Secondly, this unit will give you a better understanding of how to work with a horse safely, as well as how to groom and maintain a healthy horse. You’ll look at everything from tying a horse up in the correct way to looking at types of wounds that you may come across whilst caring for a horse.
Next, you’ll look at the different types of food that can be fed to horses including roughage, concentrates, succulents, additives and supplements and what each one should look like. You’ll also cover water systems and the ways that you can make sure a horse has access to enough water.
In this unit, you’ll look at the type of tack that can be used on the horse, how to fit it and other types of horse clothing available. You’ll look closely at the English bridle, saddles and boots and bandages.
In this unit, you’ll look at good routines on the stable yard and the need for them. You’ll also look at the areas within the stable yard, including mucking out, types of bedding, schooling and many more.
This unit will focus on what is needed in the field and how to maintain it, you’ll take a look at suitable and unsuitable fencing, as well as the plants that are poisonous. During the second part of the unit, you’ll look at the differences with grass in summer and winter and the impact this could have on a horse.
Lastly, you’ll cover the laws and regulations that all horse owners, and anybody working with horses should know and follow.
Extra info
Awarding Body
With a heritage stretching back over 150 years, NCFE is one of the largest awarding bodies in the UK. Over 340,000 students were awarded certification by NCFE last year.
NCFE Customised Qualifications are bespoke, unregulated qualifications developed to meet the specific needs of learners. These courses fit in where there are no other regulated qualifications are available. Meaning you can achieve recognition from a well-respected awarding body, even if there isn’t a pre-existing qualification in a certain subject area.
Course Outcome
At the end of this course, successful learners will receive a certificate of completion and competency.
How is this course assessed or examined?
Throughout this course, you may be expected to complete assignments, essays, research projects, posters, leaflets, presentations, video/audio recordings and work-based and practical learning sessions to meet the requirements of your course. This information will be included in your study pack detailing exactly what you need to do to accomplish your goals as a student.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, it is recommended that you have an intermediate ability to read and write English.