Kirkley Hall Campus
Ponteland
Northumberland
NE20 0AQ
England
Studying equine at Northumberland College can take your learning higher and set you up to progress into a career in equestrian management, training, coaching or lecturing.
We offer a range of full-time and part-time qualifications, from courses for 16–19-year-old school leavers to adult and Higher Education courses, with a focus on flexible learning.
The Northumberland College Equestrian Centre is a British Horse Society approved training centre and livery yard.
Located at our Kirkley Hall campus in Ponteland, you'll have access to our dedicated equine centre, and state-of-the-art facilities such as:
Dressage Pro Equestrian Simulator
Two indoor and two outdoor arenas
Weighbridge
Solarium
Range of equestrian technology (e.g. biomechanics apps and rein tensiometers
Indoor demonstration barns
Cross-country course
With links to a variety of local employers, you’ll have the opportunity to gain hand-on experience through a work placement. Our courses are designed to help you prepare for your next steps, whether that’s further study, university, or entering employment.
Northumberland College is also partnered with RDA to provide outstanding equine education.
Our experienced teaching staff will support you throughout your course, whilst you’ll also be given the chance to hear from guest speakers and industry specialists. In addition, our courses also incorporate trips and visits to give you a taste of life in the equine sector and enhance your learning opportunities.
You’ll also have access to our Learning Resource Centre on campus, as well as free onsite parking. Our Kirkley Hall campus is also home to Northumberland College Zoo, which houses over 150 species of animals, as well as a working farm.
Visit us at one of our open events to find out more about the equine courses available, speak to our lecturers and tour our state-of-the-art facilities.
Our land-based courses are designed specifically with the North East rural communities in mind, and to prepare our graduates for the future of their chosen sectors.
Courses
School Leaver:
Level 1 Land-based Studies - Equine Care
The aim of the course is to develop skills and knowledge in the equine and land-based sector.
To complete the diploma, there are 2 mandatory and 5 optional modules to complete.
Mandatory units: Health and safety and Work experience
Optional units: Horse handling, feeding and watering, stabling preparation and maintenance, horse health and preparation and aftercare of horses for exercise
On completion of this course, you could progress onto the Level 2 Technical Certificate in Horse Care. Alternatively, you can look to progress into employment within the industry.
Level 2 Equine Technical Certificate in Equine Care
This course is a one-year, full-time programme and includes 8 mandatory units and 1 optional unit. The course is split equally between practical and theoretical sessions.
You can choose riding as an optional unit, however, please note that if you are over 13 stone you may not be able to ride due to our weight limit policy. If you do not want to ride there are other optional units you can choose to complete your qualification, such as care of the competition horse.
This course will prepare you for work in a range of businesses, including riding schools, livery yards, welfare charities and will also prepare you for Level 3 progression to equine management.
The course includes health and safety, equine health and welfare, feeding and watering, tack and equipment, stable duties, feeding and watering, an introduction to lunging, handling and grooming and riding on the flat. You will undertake real work experience both at the college yard and in an external placement.
Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Equine Management (720 or 1080)
This two-year qualification gives you the opportunity to learn about and build on the essentials of working with horses, such as stable yard operations, horse health care, feeding and nutrition and fitting and evaluating tack and equipment. You will develop further practical skills such as working and exercising horses from the ground, horse presentation skills (grooming, clipping, trimming and plaiting) and you will also learn about horse biology and horse behaviour and welfare. Entrepreneurial skills are developed with business and event management modules, and you will study the theory of equitation to support riding and groundwork skills. The course includes 150 hours work placement to support development of industry skills and on successful completion of the course, you could progress either into employment in a range of practioner/team leader roles, or progress into higher education.
Adult courses:
Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Equine Management (Adult)
The Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (720/1080) in Equine Management is a two-year qualification aimed at providing individuals with a range of practical skills and knowledge aimed at preparing you for employment, progression into further training within the equine industry or into higher education study. Modules studies are the same as those listed in the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Equine Management (720 or 1080) There is also the option to study a one year course at this level, the Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Horse Management, which also allows you to progress into work. You might progress into roles such as a groom, competition groom or a, riding school trainee instructor.
Higher Education:
FdSc Equine Management, Training and Coaching
The FdSc Equine Management, Training and Coaching is a Level 5 qualification studied over two years and is suitable for those with a strong interest in ethical horse management and training. Teaching is required on campus two days a week term-time.
The programme is aimed at developing a wide range of equestrian skills, with a particular focus on equine behaviour and cognition, to maximise employment and entrepreneurship within the equine industry. In year one the focus is in developing coaching and training skills using learning theories to support ethical training practices for the betterment of both horse and rider. Additionally, you will study anatomy and physiology, animal health and academic and career development modules. In the second year the training and coaching modules continue to develop ethical practice alongside the use of technology, for example, Dressage Pro Equestrian simulator, rein tensiometers and biomechanical monitors. You will also study ethics and welfare, research studies and event management. There is a requirement to complete 150 hours work experience over the two years.
On successful completion of the FdSc Equine Management, Training and Coaching you would be eligible to progress onto the BSc (Hons) Top Up Equine Management, Training and Coaching or step out into industry in a range of management or entrepreneurial opportunities.
BSc (Hons) Equine Management, Training and Coaching
The BSc (Hons) Equine Management, Training and Coaching course has been designed to offer progression opportunities to FdSc graduates from a range of equestrian disciplines, and to permit continued development of graduate level skills. This is to ensure our equine graduates can support the equestrian community through a period of cultural change, brought about by growing interest in equestrianism and the social license to operate.
The programme has a strong welfare focus and embeds ethical equitation principles and equitation science within the training, coaching and management of the competition and leisure horse. You will study equitation science, performance horse management, sustainable management, and review current issues debated within the equine sector. In addition, you will design and undertake a research project as part of your dissertation.
Graduates will have the opportunity to progress into equestrian management, training, coaching or lecturing, or you could enter career specialisms such as the marketing of veterinary and scientific products. You could also choose to continue into postgraduate study. The course is delivered over one year and attendance on campus is required for two days a week, term-time.
