laura_nash
Well-Known Member
I went to equine college in Wales (CCTA) many years ago and had a very different experience from that described in this thread. It was hard work and AFAIK everyone who completed the course had no trouble getting a job (they certainly had no trouble knowing how to tack up, use a broom etc). We did the BHS exams as well as NVQ's and the main diploma we were studying. There were no grooms, just a YM, and everyone took turns to stay in the "grooms house" for a week and do all the mucking out etc for the yard. I think a lot of that came down to the main instructress at the time, Barbara Ripman. Students who weren't there to work and learn didn't last very long with her! The horses weren't owned by the college and as I remember were primarily semi-retired competition horses, they also had short-term liveries to give the students more experience (I remember a 2 year old and an in-work point-to-pointer).
It wasn't perfect (the grassland management training was done by a terrified lecturer drafted in from the farming side who mumbled and was ignored by everyone - I learnt nothing about grassland management!), but I have always been glad I went and my eventual decision to persue a different career (a few years later) wasn't related to the course.
It wasn't perfect (the grassland management training was done by a terrified lecturer drafted in from the farming side who mumbled and was ignored by everyone - I learnt nothing about grassland management!), but I have always been glad I went and my eventual decision to persue a different career (a few years later) wasn't related to the course.