Equestrian education

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sunshineseeker

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Hi apologies if in the correct place?, I'm new.
Unfortunately I don't have any equestrian knowledge so thought I'd ask here

Daughters riding school is Abrs, she wants to build some proof of experience/do equestrian qualifications, but I thought I'd ask what yards actually accept/look for as she may not get great gcse grades.

Locally to us there's BHS stages, equestrian courses at a college (although bad reviews and if she gets grades needed) She doesn't want to be a coach or anything senior but then again doesn't know what just yet. Any advice welcome! xx
 
Do you mean to work on a yard in future? Does the riding school take on working pupils and put them through their exams. Or college to do the same thing? Racing yards take on people to muck out and manage the horses. Can eventually lead to being a work rider?

College you generally need English and Maths GCSEs
 
Kaylum said:
Do you mean to work on a yard in future? Does the riding school take on working pupils and put them through their exams. Or college to do the same thing? Racing yards take on people to muck out and manage the horses. Can eventually lead to being a work rider?

College you generally need English and Maths GCSEs
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Thanks, yes apologies she wants to work on a yard in the future. Colleges here need 3 GCSEs Inc maths, English but it's looking likely she'll need functional skills as may fail both of these grades wise, but hopefully not🤞. So her riding school don't do apprenticeships, but I was reading about BHS stages at another yard, would these be accepted for a job?
 
BHS stages is very much an exam accepted for a job. She can self fund and do those with no academic qualifications at all.

Many yards would value experience over qualifications though for 'ground floor' workers. Sadly, she is unlikely to get the sort of experience people are looking for by riding at a standard riding school.

Has she thought to look at the racing colleges? Once she has been through one of their courses, jobs in racing would be available. There is a thread on here about someone going through that system. Other yard based jobs would also be more accessible.

Personally, I went from riding school to having my own steady horses, to helping at an event yard, for no money, just for the experience of working with big competition horses. I was 16 though. It gave me the ability to be robust with all types of horses. I did then do my BHS exams at 18.
 
Red-1 said:
BHS stages is very much an exam accepted for a job. She can self fund and do those with no academic qualifications at all.

Many yards would value experience over qualifications though for 'ground floor' workers. Sadly, she is unlikely to get the sort of experience people are looking for by riding at a standard riding school.

Has she thought to look at the racing colleges? Once she has been through one of their courses, jobs in racing would be available. There is a thread on here about someone going through that system. Other yard based jobs would also be more accessible.

Personally, I went from riding school to having my own steady horses, to helping at an event yard, for no money, just for the experience of working with big competition horses. I was 16 though. It gave me the ability to be robust with all types of horses. I did then do my BHS exams at 18.
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Thanks, I had wondered about this as my son spent ages going to tech college to do plumbing and tbh jobs were all seeking experience over college also! Yes I'm guessing the riding school horses are one thing but absolutely understand they are probably well trained..you make a valid point. I'll look into the racing side
 
Experience is the key as is time keeping. You need someone who can get out of bed in the morning and turn up when it's cold and wet. It's hard work physically and mentally with little pay. We have had college kids in for work experience and they have little idea about turning up on time in all weathers. In fact we have had to phone up college to find out where they are.
 
Kaylum said:
Experience is the key as is time keeping. You need someone who can get out of bed in the morning and turn up when it's cold and wet. It's hard work physically and mentally with little pay. We have had college kids in for work experience and they have little idea about turning up on time in all weathers. In fact we have had to phone up college to find out where they are.
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Oh gosh I can well imagine that, thank you. Yes f she's definitely up and in all weathers, if anything I can't get her to wear a coat..she says she gets too hot working 😂. I think I've learnt experience is key so we'll see if we can find somewhere for her to build it up
 
In our area there are always yards that are a bit off the beaten track looking for help. Dogsbody work though, mucking out, filling nets, turning out and changing rugs. It's people that can get there for 7am in winter conditions that they struggle with, other skills can be learnt.
 
Colleges will have options for students without GCSEs, will continue supporting students in achieving their Maths and English (or FS) & might give her a wider skillset than a more direct route. Locally, our land-based college seems to have many students who switch from "I want to work with horses" to "I want to be a zookeeper" ... Lots of crossover and options available usually. I would contact your local admissions team and find out what the reality is on the ground. There are definite advantages to staying in education and naby students go from college into apprenticeships, which might suit her further down the line. I'm saying all this guessing she is 15-16 but obviously age matters, too!
 
The racing schools teach the functional skills element and the British Racing School in Newmarket has just announced a new non residential course. Might be worth a chat with them depending on where you live and what your daughter would like.
 
With the racing side they get experience on a racing yard which is great. It’s hard work but sets you up well for other yards.

brs.org.uk

British Racing School | World-Class Horseracing Training in Newmarket

Discover world-class horseracing training at the British Racing School in Newmarket. From newcomers to experienced professionals, we offer exceptional courses for all career stages in racing.
brs.org.uk brs.org.uk
 
Are there any really, really big yards near you? Places that have 40 or more horses all ptivately owned on full livery? Those are the kind of places which will take apprentices, partly because they can be paid so little, and start them off at ground level doing the mucking out and bucket scrubbing while they do day release or module based training at a local equine college. That kind of experience is valued and there may be scope for progression within the yard
.
 
ycbm said:
Are there any really, really big yards near you? Places that have 40 or more horses all ptivately owned on full livery? Those are the kind of places which will take apprentices, partly because they can be paid so little, and start them off at ground level doing the mucking out and bucket scrubbing while they do day release or module based training at a local equine college. That kind of experience is valued and there may be scope for progression within the yard
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No idea! But I'm thinking I will get her her to ask around, thanks!
 
I would look at apprenticeships through Haddon Training, they can also support functional skills training.
It’s worth her looking around and seeing which part of the industry she wants to work in. I think it’s worth doing some work experience on different yards.
 
Ceifer said:
I would look at apprenticeships through Haddon Training, they can also support functional skills training.
It’s worth her looking around and seeing which part of the industry she wants to work in. I think it’s worth doing some work experience on different yards.
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Thanks. That makes a lot of sense, I think there are so many jobs out there, it doesn't have to be directly on the yard.. she'd still be around horses doing other things
 
Having been Equestrian Director for two major equine colleges, I would go the BHS route.

The curriculum in equine colleges is simply not able to prepare kids for a real job on a yard. There are those who thrive, but they do so off their own backs, doing extra work, and generally they are going into a career where college or university is vital, such as equine physio.

Stick to the BHS. You can’t go wrong.
 
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sunshineseeker said:
No idea! But I'm thinking I will get her her to ask around, thanks!
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If you give us a very rough idea what area of the country, we can tell you where they are. Somerford and Kelsall, for example, are north West. It needs to be private, not a college. Somerford has two yards with professional trainers as yard managers and 38 and I think 60 boxes respectively.
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Depends on their insurance as to the minimum age. College provide insurance for their work experience pupils so some are 16
 
ycbm said:
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If you give us a very rough idea what area of the country, we can tell you where they are. Somerford and Kelsall, for example, are north West. It needs to be private, not a college. Somerford has two yards with professional trainers as yard managers and 38 and I think 60 boxes respectively.
.
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Thanks, We're in Warminster
 
sunshineseeker said:
Thanks, We're in Warminster
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If she’s just starting out, one of the Saddle Clubs may be able to help - fairly sure a number are BHS approved. Your daughter would be able to do her Stage 1 there, rather than going to an exam centre (they made the stage 1 far more accessible post Covid).

No commercial livery yard or equestrian centre would employ someone without the basic skills - even for apprenticeships, you need a baseline/proof you’re interested. Honestly OP, see if you can get your daughter to a better riding school/centre, work towards her Stage 1 and go from there. Everyone has to start somewhere :)
 
www.kmc.ac.uk

Kingston Maurward College | Land-Based College | Dorchester, Dorset

Kingston Maurward College is Dorset's only land-based College. Choose from a variety of courses - your future starts here.
www.kmc.ac.uk www.kmc.ac.uk

Have a look at this college website. It's a pretty good place to start. A lot of students from here end up employed locally. The equine care courses are pretty good for filling in the gaps that riding schools leave.

They also have facilities for your daughter to resit gcse's or take 'essential' maths and english courses along side her equine course.

If your in the Warminster near me the college have a substantial bus service supplied by a local company.
 
If your daughter knows she wants to work on a yard an apprenticeship with Keits or Haddon Training would be a good shout. If she may want to go to University, a Level 3 in Equine Studies at a college (with GCSE resits or functional skills and some practical work with horses on the side) might be a safer option as it is equivalent to A levels but would still keep the door open for working with horses.
 
At 14, I would start with looking for a pony/horse share if you can. That way she will ride more often and can have private lessons on the pony, can learn basic aspects of care and just become more competent than a once a week riding school lesson will allow.
 
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