Horses / Ponies Keeping

Course summary

An apprenticeship is a job with training. The job must have a productive purpose and should provide the apprentice with the opportunity to embed and consolidate the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for their immediate job and future career. The Equine industry contributes over £8bn to the British economy each year. Horse industries are steeped in tradition, yet embrace innovation and technology. There are about a million horses (including all domestic equine species, namely horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids) kept for recreation and commercial use in the UK. A Senior Equine Groom will be capable of looking after a small to medium sized equine yard and supervising a diverse team of workers. They will be capable of offering advice, support and guidance to their team, whilst possessing appropriate people skills necessary for their chosen sector. They will have a sound base of experience and knowledge and have the right empathy so as to promote the horses’ physical and psychological well-being within a safe working environment. The Senior Equine Groom will have a sound knowledge of horse anatomy and physiology and the ability to assess and promote health. They will be able to recognise and treat common minor injuries and ailments. They will be capable of presenting horses to a high standard and can demonstrate the skills required to groom, plait and clip horses. Senior Equine Grooms may have the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally, preparing and caring for horses at competitions, the races, sales, shows and other public appearances. The apprentice will need to decide in which sector of the industry they wish to work and select the appropriate occupational route. On completion apprentices can progress to the higher level apprenticeship with a management focus, where they have sufficient responsibility within their job role.