National Diploma in Horse Managment

Q

QUICKFIRE

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2008
Messages
1,503
Location
Be
Visit site
Just thinking, what this is worth in terms of getting a job at the end of a two year course?
Daughter is is at the moment attending college studying this course, and when she tells me that she had an assignment asking her to describe what a chestnut, bay, palamino and piebald are, well
shocked.gif
I am thinking what the hell?
I know and understand that there are students of different abilltys, but is this course realy for complete numptys? if it is then I think she may be wasting her time and may be better off on a working placement, by the way daughter has had several of her own horses, since the age of 3, has broken and schooled, jumped BSJA and shown to a high standard, and hunts regular, what do you think is it a waste of her time? What can you sugest?
 
The big benefit of this course is that it will give her 'A-level equivalents' ie allow her to go on to higher education afterwards if she does well. Training on a yard may well give her better practical skills but won't give her University entrance qualifications. Did she have to describe the genetics of the different coat colours? If so then it would be quite a complex assignment!
 
I have completed my ND, we never had an assignment on the colours :S What subject was it for?
As soloequestrian said, it does give an A level equivalent at the end.
Its definitely not a 'numpties' course, there was some really difficult work to do on the ND
 
I think it depends on what college you go to as to how hard to work is, i did the ND last year and it was very like basic stuff at first - points of the horse and colours etc, And all the other harder work we did was very text book so wasnt really learning all that much as you cod just get it out of a book :S . As already said its more of a steping stone to get in to uni, not that many people leave and go in to a job straight from doing the ND.
 
To answer your last question too, i had alot of experence before i went in to doing my ND - horses of my own, competing regually, hunting, and breaking in. i was hopeing it would further my equine knowlege but i came out of it not having learnt what i would hav liked to. I feel that mine was a waste of time from the knowlege point of view but the time i spent meeting new people and learning social skils was valuble. dos your daughter want to go on to uni? if so then id stick with it. If not then maybe a working student would be better for her? college can be alot of fun tho =]

and i also had to do an assignemnt on the colours of the horses - nothing to do with genes but had to describe the colours and markings.
 
i would employ a yard trained person over a college trained one every time, as they know what is involved re hours, work load expected and weather conditions!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Just thinking, what this is worth in terms of getting a job at the end of a two year course?
Daughter is is at the moment attending college studying this course, and when she tells me that she had an assignment asking her to describe what a chestnut, bay, palamino and piebald are, well
shocked.gif
I am thinking what the hell?
I know and understand that there are students of different abilltys, but is this course realy for complete numptys? if it is then I think she may be wasting her time and may be better off on a working placement, by the way daughter has had several of her own horses, since the age of 3, has broken and schooled, jumped BSJA and shown to a high standard, and hunts regular, what do you think is it a waste of her time? What can you sugest?

[/ QUOTE ]

What does your daughter want to do?
If she wants to work as a poo-shoveller on a yard, then it sounds as if she is already capable.
grin.gif

I suppose the ND would give her not only the content knowledge (which gives UCAS points if you know how to read their tariff system), but also transferable skills, for example literacy (including spelling
tongue.gif
).
S
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
i would employ a yard trained person over a college trained one every time, as they know what is involved re hours, work load expected and weather conditions!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

The sad truth is that very few students actually aspire to working practically in the horse industry, due to poor wages (typically NMW), poor holidays, lack of progression, unsociable hours, bad weather and unrealistic work loads.
S
grin.gif
 
I did a National Diploma some years ago, but already had a good working knowledge of the Industry having horses of my own, hunting, teamchasing etc.

The course did very little for my equestrian knowledge, it was fairly basic stuff and doesn't really give you much of an idea about the trails and tribulations of working in The Industry.

I left after 12 months of "dossing" (as I later came to refer to it) and got a job as a working pupil instead. This gave me much better, hands-on experience - the like of which could never have been taught fully in a classroom.

The added bonus of working pupil is that you often get your BHS exams paid for as well, and I took NVQ 3 alongside, which I used to get me into University along with A Levels.

In short, the Nat Dip is a way into university, but not a great vocational course and not the best at giving Industry experience.
 
Thank you all for your replys, and a big thank you to shills for being so kind about my spelling lol
tongue.gif
, daughter has had a taste of employment working for a Int show jumper, and for the past 3 yrs summer job working with the public and animals so knows what the job will consist of. At sixteen I dont think she know what she wants to do (I didnt at that age) and at the moment she is enjoying the social aspect of college life. I only had a fleeting garbled phone message so maybe they do have to go into the genetics of the colours of horses, again thanks for replys
wink.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top