Courses

If you want a job you can be passionate about and one which allows you to turn your hobby into a living, then working with horses could be for you. Our work-based horse care courses, awarded by City & Guilds, will give you the underlying skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the horse care industry.

City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Horse CareThis City & Guilds qualification is ideal if you are looking for a qualification in horse care where the emphasis is on gaining practical experience with the knowledge to support this. Learn how to monitor and maintain the health and well-being of horses; including cleaning and maintaining stables, providing feed and water to horses, and restraining horses using appropriate methods.Find out moreCity & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Horse Care and Management Ideal if you are working in the equine industry in a position of responsibility, such as head groom and are looking for a more advanced level of qualification to reflect your experience and knowledge. Develop existing skills and learn how to carry out an initial assessment of a horse, plan diets and implement feeding regimes for horses, monitor stocks of feed and bedding and deliver basic health care treatment to horses.Find out moreEquine Groom (Level 2 Apprenticeship)Looking to begin a careers working with horses? Undertaking this apprenticeship will allow you to earn while you learn, developing your practical skills and knowledge. Choose from five pathways to tailor your apprenticeship.Find out moreSenior Equine Groom (Level 3 Apprenticeship)Take your skills and understanding to the next level. This apprenticeship is suitable for those working in the equine industry in a position of responsibility, such as a Head Groom. Create a bespoke experience by selecting from one of the five available routes such a riding or racing.Find out more
Subject overview

Many people dream of working with horses but are never quite sure of where to start or what the opportunities are. Working in the equine industry can encompass a whole range of careers such as groom, riding instructor, yard manager, farrier and equine veterinary nurse; the opportunities are vast.

There is no doubt that working with horses can involve working long hours, with relatively low pay and can be physically demanding. However the work can be incredibly rewarding and job satisfaction is high. Vacancies can be very competitive and what often gives applicants the edge is experience, enthusiasm and a qualification relevant to the job.

You must be hard working, motivated, happy to work outdoors at all times of the year and be passionate about horses. You will need to enjoy working as part of a team but also be able to work with little or no supervision. You should also have good people skills, as working with horses often involves significant contact with people, particularly if you are working in a riding school, for example.

Job vacancies in the equine industry can be very competitive. In order to give yourself a head start you should undertake as much work experience as possible, and gain a qualification relevant to the job. Work experience will not only just look good on your CV, but it will allow you to get a real insight into what the work involves and whether it is for you.

Why choose to study horse care at The College of Animal Welfare?

  • Experienced and supportive teaching staff
    We are very proud of the fact that all of our staff delivering our animal care courses have significant industry experience and knowledge under their belts; they all share a common passion for pushing the profession forward. They do this by helping students to get the most out of their formal training and become the best animal carers they can be.
  • Gain real long term job prospects
    Job prospects within horse care are often competitive, so by undertaking formal training you put yourself at an advantage by gaining a qualification that demonstrates your skills and knowledge to employers.
  • Flexible horse care qualifications
    It is important to us that the opportunity to undertake our courses is open to everyone that has the dedication needed to succeed in the profession, regardless of background. As such our horse care courses are available in a variety of different formats such as online, and in the workplace. We can offer you the opportunity to study within a community of like-minded students and staff, who all share a common passion for animal welfare and a commitment to pushing forward what is already an exciting and rewarding profession.
Careers

There are many different directions your career could go in and this will depend on your interests, skills and level of academic study.

Some of the opportunities include:

The list is almost endless! Please note some of these links take you to external sites and therefore the accuracy of these pages is dependent on each individual site. It is always a good idea to search around the internet, look in the careers section in your local library and speak to careers advisors to decide what are the best options for you, based on your individual circumstances and goals.

If you would like to find out more about some of the career opportunities and animal care jobs available, our FREE annual Careers With Animals Day is a great place to start. This event provides you with the opportunity to listen to career talks, ask questions and gain advice about careers working with animals. You will come away with lots of information and new ideas.

Alternatively, if you would like to chat through some of your options, please feel free to contact us and speak to a member of our Customer Advice Team who will be happy to try and help you.