Become active in the horse industry
COURSE STRUCTURE
This is a 900 hour course; to gain this qualification you must successfully complete:
Four Core Units - see below
Three Stream Units - see below
Workplace Project (200 hours) - this can be satisfied a number of different ways including: undertaking approved work experience in the horse industry attending conferences or approved practical courses with another organisation, or undertaking research (eg. Research Project I and Research Project II)
CORE UNITS
Office Practices
Develops basic office skills covering use of equipment, communication systems (telephone, fax, etc) and office procedures such as filing, security, workplace organisations, etc.
Business Operations
Develops knowledge of basic business operations and procedures (eg. types of businesses, financial management, business analysis, staffing, productivity, etc) and the skills to develop a 12 month business plan.
Management
Develops knowledge of management structures, terminology, supervision, recruitment and workplace health and safety.
Marketing Foundations.
Develops a broad understanding of marketing and specific skills in writing advertisements, undertaking market research, developing an appropriate marketing plan and selling.
STREAM UNITS
Horse Care 1
There are eight lessons as follows:
1. The Horse Industry; resources & its scope.
2. Horse Psychology & handling: types of horses, behaviour, psychology for handling
3. Buying a horse: temperament, size, age, aging, sex, experience, potential, breeds etc.
4. Conformation: skeleton, muscles, body proportions, head, neck, withers, hooves, etc.
5. The digestive system and principles of feeding & watering.
6. The grass kept horse and pasture management: pros & cons, fencing, paddock size, etc.
7. Grooming: tools, types & times of grooming, washing manes & tails, sheaths, shampooing etc
8. Industry Applications: dressage, event, racing, jumping, driving horse, transportation horse etc.
Horse Care 2
There are eight lessons as follows:
1. Facilities: fencing, gates, stables, etc.
2. Farm management
3. Feeds: Roughage, concentration, roots, green feeds & succulents, tempters and tonics, salts, etc
4. Stabling, Bedding & Mucking Out: Combined systems, stable routines, tacks and vices, bedding etc.
5. The Foot & Shoeing: Foot structure, trimming, farriers tools, how to shoe, shoe types, studs.
6. Exercise & Conditioning: Difference between exercise & conditioning, fittening schedules etc.
7. Tack & Tack Fitting: The mouth, types of bits, fitting the saddle, back care, saddle types, etc.
8. Facility design: farm layout, design of tracks, show areas, etc.
Horse Care 3
There are eight lessons as follows:
1. Blankets, Bandages & Boots: Types, fitting a rug, surcingles, rollers, bandaging rules, boot uses
2. Sick Nursing: Detecting poor health, sick nursing, first aid, isolation procedures, temperature etc.
3. Minor Ailments and Unsoundness: Parasites, colic, coughing, colds, wounds, skin ailments, eyes, etc.
4. Clipping, Trimming & Plaiting: Clippers, clip types, hogging, the mane, trimming, pulling, whiskers etc.
5. Travelling And Care At An Exhibition: Preparing for travel, loading, safety, care during travel, etc.
6. Organising A Show Or Event.
7. First-Aid For Riders And Spectators.
8. Financial Management In The Horse Industry.
Enrolment fee does not include exam fees. An exam fee is paid prior to sitting each exam (8 in total).
INDUSTRY PROJECT
This is normally done after completing all of the other modules. It is intewnded as a "learning experience" that brings a perspecive and element of reality to the Modules you have studied. The school is very flexible in terms of how you achieve this requirement, and can negotiate to approve virtually any situation which can be seen as "learning through involvement in real life situations that have a relevance to your studies"
Some of the options, for example might be:
Option 1. Work Experience
This involves working in a job that has relevance to what you have been studying. For some students this may be a job they already have. (In some instances, credit may be even granted for work prior to studies). In other instances, this may be either paid or voluntary work which is found and undertaken after completing the other modules. Proof must be provided, and normally this is done by submitting one or more references or statements from an employer. It may also be satisfied by a discussion between the employer and the school in person or on the phone. The must be an indication that you have skills and an awareness of your industry, which is sufficient for you to work in a position of responsibility.
Option 2. Project
This project may be based on applications in the work place and specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study.
Students will design this project in consultation with a tutor to involve industry based activities in the area of specialized study which they select to follow in the course. The project outcomes may take the form of a written report, folio, visuals or a mixture of forms. Participants with relevant, current or past work experience will be given exemption from this project if they can provide suitable references from employers that show they have already fulfilled the requirements of this project.
Students will be assessed on how well they achieve the goals and outcomes they originally set as part of their negotiations with their tutor. During a project, students will present three short progress reports. These progress reports will be taken into account when evaluating the final submission. The tutor must be satisfied that the work submitted is original.
Other Options
Workplace learning hours may also be satisfied through attending or being involved with meetings conducted by industry bodies such as professional associations; or attending seminars which are attended by industry professionals. Any opportunity for observation and networking may be seen as a valid option.
OUR TUTORS
Dr. Gareth Pearce BSc(Hons), BVSc, MA, MVetS, PhD, GradCertEd(HE), PGCertAqVetS, PGCertWLBio&Cons, DiplECPHM, MRCVS. Gareth has over 25 years of experience in teaching and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine, wildlife ecology and conservation in a variety of colleges and universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon at the Universities of Melbourne and Bristol, having previously graduated in Agricultural Science and gained a PhD in Livestock Behaviour and Production. He also has post-graduate qualifications in Education, Wildlife Conservation Medicine, Aquatic Veterinary Studies and Wildlife Biology & Conservation.
Anna Sylvester B.Sc.Hons.(Human Biology), M.Sc.Equine
Anna graduated with a degree in Human Biology from Loughborough University and then went on to complete an MSc in Equine Science at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and has a high level of expertise in equine science. She has since spent time in managerial, research and lecturing positions. She also has practical equine experience, and still competes nationally whenever the opportunity arises.
Marius Erasmus B.Sc.Agric., B.Sc.(Wildlife), M.Sc.Agric.
Subsequent to completing a BSc (agric) degree in animal science, he completed an honours degree in wildlife management, and a masters degree in production animal physiology. Following the Masters degree, he has worked for 9 years in the UK, and South Africa; in wildlife management, dairy, beef and poultry farming.
Modules
Note that each module in the Qualification - Advanced Certificate In Applied Management (Horses) is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
Suggested Reading: Farm Management 2nd Edition by John Mason (our principal)
