• Full Time

City & Guilds Diploma in Work-based Horse Care Level 1

Applications for full time 2025/26 courses are now closed.

2026/27 applications will open in November 2025.

Subject Area
Animal Care, Equine and Land-based
Start date
7 September 2026
Duration
1 year
Mode of study
Full Time
Location
Usk Campus

Course Overview

Our Vocational Studies courses are designed to introduce you to the area of study that interests you and to help you to develop wider learning skills.

… You have a keen interest in horses
… You want to develop practical, transferable skills

A range of theory and practical sessions focussing on building practical and life skills.

This course will provide you with a range of progression opportunities, including further learning at the college on one of our next level courses, an apprenticeship or employment!

You’ll get the opportunity to work with the horses at the college and gain an insight into college life. You’ll develop practical, transferable skills and complete tasks that focus on demonstrating what you can do and what you’ve learned.

This workbased qualification will develop your practical skills competence and knowledge using our BHS approved yard, indoor and outdoor riding school and state of the art classrooms.

The grades you will include are:

  • Finding out about the equine sector
  • Caring for and feeding horses
  • Mucking out
  • Grooming horses
  • Catching horses
  • Tack fitting
  • Tack cleaning
  • Horse accommodation
  • Estate skills maintenance

You’ll be assessed through assignments, tasks and practical assessments and you’ll achieve:

  • City and Guilds Level 1 Workbased Diploma in Horse Care
  • Skills Activities
  • Maths and English (if you haven’t achieved a grade C or above at GCSE level)
  • Other relevant qualifications to enhance your skill set

You’ll need to be motivated, hardworking and willing to try new things. There will be an expectation that you practise skills and techniques in realistic work environments within college, allowing you to build on your employability skills. Attendance and punctuality for all sessions is a compulsory requirement of this course.

Full commitment to attendance is required. Respect for others, enthusiasm for the subject and self-motivation, along with a passion for equine studies are the essential qualities we expect to see in all our learners. You will be continually assessed and there is an expectation that you will continue your studies and coursework/work placement during your own time.

  • You could continue your studies at Level 2 in a vocational area of your choice
  • You could progress onto L2 Technical Certificate in Equine Care
  • You could progress onto an apprenticeship

There are no formal entry qualification requirements. You will need to have an interest in learning about different aspects of caring for horses.

Please note that this is not only a practical course, there is an amount or written work included.

You’ll need to have an up-to-date tetanus injection prior to working with the horses.

You will also need to purchase a Riding hat (to current BHS standards), yard boots, jodhpurs, riding boots, gloves (if riding). These costs vary. You will also be requred to wear a body protector.

Our yard has a riding weight limit to ensure the health and wellbeing of our horses and a riding assessment will be part of the process.

These items should be purchased before commencing your course but you will be able to discuss the requirements during enrolment.

Additional costs could be incurred during the year for educational visits.

BHS exams will be an additional cost for which a BHS membership is required.

White horse in a stable

Usk Campus

Course Code
UFBD0047AA
Duration
1 year
Mode of study
Full Time

All courses may be subject to change and cancelled if deemed not viable to run.

Upcoming events

BGLZ campus looking busy at an open event

November 2025 College Open Evening

Details
All courses
Location
All campuses
Time
5pm – 7.30pm
Register now
Student Union representatives smiling

January 2026 College Open Evening

Details
All courses
Location
All campuses
Time
5pm – 7.30pm
Find out more
Student ambassador with a campus tour sign

March 2026 College Open Day

Details
All courses
Location
All campuses
Time
10am – 12.30pm
Find out more