Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Equine Management (720)

It provides you with a very wide range of specialist technical, practical and detailed knowledge and understanding which will equip you to seek a diverse range of employment opportunities, or to further learning and training within the equine industry.

This qualification consists of the following mandatory and selected optional specialist units.

Mandatory Units

The proportion of mandatory content ensures that all learners are following a coherent programme of study and acquiring the knowledge, understanding and skills that will be recognised and valued.

• Principles of health and safety
• Undertake and review work related experience in the Land-based Industries
• Undertake stable yard operations
• Equine Health
• Horse tack and equipment
• Biological systems of horses
• Prepare horses for presentation
• Equine feeding and nutrition
• Working and training horses from the ground
• The principles of equitation
• Contribute to managing an equine event

Optional Specialist Units

Students will also study two optional specialist units (as determined by WUC Course lead) from the following:

• Horse behaviour and welfare
• The principles of horse fitness
• Exercising horses
• Undertake estate skills
• The principles of competition grooming
• Business management in the Land-Based sector
• Customer care and retail merchandising
• Exploring improvements, opportunities for diversification and new business initiatives within the Land Based sector
• Undertake a specialist project in the land based sector
• The principles of grassland management
• Riding horses on the flat
• Riding horses over fences
• Introduction to Equestrian coaching
• The principles of horse rehabilitation and therapy
• The principles and practices of an equine stud
• Introduction to the principles of young horse handling, training and backing

The following information provides students with the entry requirements for this particular course.

• 5 GCSEs at Grade 9-4 or A*-C
• Must include English, Maths and Science
• Satisfactory references from most recent school, college or employer

Course Prerequisite (direct entry to second year):
Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Equine Management

Please note:
Alternative qualifications or experience will be considered on application.

Our Equine Training and Development Centre situated on Cow Watering Lane offers extensive facilities to optimise the student experience

• Around 70 Horses on campus
• Equine Academy Centre
• Three Indoor Riding Arenas (24m x 60m), (24m x 55m), (22m x 22m)
• Oval Horse Walker
• Mechanical Horse
• Equine Water Treadmill
• Therapy Barns
• Outdoor Arena (20m x 60m)
• Stabling for 92 horses
• Semen collection area
• Classrooms

Due to changes in the facility to benefit the student experience, from the 2022/2023 academic year we will no longer foal mares on campus; we will however retain youngstock and our pony stallions. Students interested in gaining specific foaling-related stud duties will be supported to gain experience with industry partners.

Our enhanced facility now has increased grazing for all horses allowing more students the opportunity to bring their own horses to university as well as additional space for events and commercial partnerships.

For more details please email the equine resource team, equineresourceteam@writtle.ac.uk

Students are required to complete two weeks at an approved and agreed external equine work placement.

• Three externally set, externally moderated assignments
• Four externally set and externally marked exam, sat under examination conditions
• portfolio of evidence
• Optional unit assessments as required

Educational Progression

After completion of the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Equine Management (720), you can progress to a Higher Education course such as:

• Equine Studies Foundation Degree
• BSc (Hons) Equine Performance Science
• BSc (Hons) Equine Behavioural Science
• BSc (Hons) Equine Performance and Business Management
• BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Employment

After completion, it is likely that you will enter the industry by working on a yard, within a stud, or perhaps a business such as a store, or feed merchant, tack shop or another company/business allied to the equine industry such as a welfare organisation. As you will have gained a breadth and depth of skills and knowledge over a very wide range of units, you could progress within work to become a:

• Stable yard supervisor
• Exercise rider
• Competition groom
• Event supervisor
• Retail saddlery assistant
• Assistant saddler
• Apprentice saddle fitter
• Country store retail assistant