Equine Performance and Management

About the course

This course combines technical skills, workplace skills and academic knowledge. Oaklands College has strong links with local equestrian employers and one of the course's key benefits is a work-based learning project for a local business, which gives you a great opportunity to develop your skills in a practical setting. These practical skills are essential in helping you secure a good job within the industry or greatly improving your opportunities in your current role.

You'll be taught by a highly qualified team of lecturers and instructors, and study areas including: human and equine psychology, equine health and treatment, applied equitation and sports coaching, competition equitation and facilities management, nutrition, and anatomy and physiology.

Applicants who are not deemed to be of a suitable standard to undertake the riding modules, those who are unable or those who do not wish to ride would be able to study the Equitation Theory modules in place of the equitation practical modules.

Why choose this course?

This Programme combines technical skills, workplace skills and academic knowledge.

Study routes

• Part Time, 3 Years
• Full Time, 2 Years

Locations

• Oaklands College

Careers

If you choose, you could progress to an honours degree in equine performance or related subjects. You'll also gain the knowledge, skills and understanding to start or improve a career within the industry..

Teaching methods

You will study areas including: human and equine psychology, stud and breeding management, applied equitation, competition equitation, veterinary science, nutrition and sports science. The programme is taught by a highly qualified team of lecturers and instructors.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Anatomy & Physiology

  This module will explore the anatomy and physiology of small animals, farm animals and horses. This unit will be based mainly on practical sessions including dissections and physiological experiments. There will be some formal lectures for both equine and animal management students however the seminars will be split to concentrate on species specific anatomy. Students will be encouraged to use appropriate terminology for the subject and to develop good communication skills.

• Animal Nutrition

  This module will cover the different types of food, properties and uses within a nutritional context. A wide range of food types and sources will be assessed in relation to their nutritional value. The anatomy and function of the gastrointestinal tract will be analysed as will the digestion and absorption of food types. The rationing process will be covered in detail in relation to a range of animals.

• Introduction to Business Practice

  The module draws together many of the topics covered in other modules and allows students to practise the business skills required in a small business. The module is primarily designed to gain a working understanding of business management in the Animal Management and Equine Industries. In particular it will enable individuals to produce, explore and make reasoned decisions based on financial information. Students will also explore the roles and responsibilities of employer and employees within a business and the procedures used to recruit and manage staff. The importance of effective resource management and marketing to ensure the success of a business will be emphasised throughout the module.

• The Equine Industry

  This module will cover the structure, organisation and the economic importance of the worldwide equine industry. The major sectors and organisations within the industry such as the BHS, BSJA, BE, and The Jockey Club will be studied. The importance of education and training within the industry will be assessed as will the structures and employment opportunities

• Work Based Learning Career Planning

  This module will introduce students to suitable career identification, planning for career progression and techniques to enable suitable jobs to be found. The module will also assist students to develop parts of their personal development plan. An introduction to self promotion, CV development and application processes will be covered in depth. Previous and current employment will be linked into assessments for this module which should allow for career development.

• Work Based Learning Maximising Potential

  This module should seek to enhance the confidence of new students joining the programme by helping them to identify characteristics of themselves that will help them to succeed on the course and in employment. It is also important that areas of weaknesses that need development to ensure success on the course are identified early and plans put in place to help the student improve upon their existing capabilities. This is equally important for students joining from school / further education programmes and for mature students returning to education. This module will lay the ground rules for the completion of assignments throughout the course and will take the students through what will be expected of them in terms of written, oral and group work. They will draw on previous experiences, both study and work based, to learn from them, and this will be the introduction to reflective learning on the programme.

Optional

• Applied Equitation & Sports Coaching

  This module will allow students to develop and build on their practical equitation skills and stable management skills. Lungeing, basic health, fittening and field management will be covered in detail. The theory of equitation will also be covered which will link to what is covered in the practical sessions. Sports coaching will be a major part of the module and will be linked into the sessions to allow students to fully appreciate and expand their coaching styles and ability. The sports coaching section will also look in detail at analysis and evaluation of performance linked to improvement strategies.

• Equitation Theory and Sports Coaching

  This module will allow students to develop and build on their knowledge of equitation theory and stable management. The theory of Lungeing for exercise and improvement will be covered as will the theory behind basic health, fittening and field management. Sports coaching will be a major part of the module and will be linked into the sessions to allow students to fully appreciate and expand their coaching styles and ability. The sports coaching section will also look in detail at analysis and evaluation of performance linked to improvement strategies.

Year 2

Core Modules

• Equine Health and Treatment

  This module provides students with a detailed knowledge of the common performance limiting injuries and diseases that affect sports horses. Topics such as thermoregulation and performance limiting disorders relating to body systems will be covered. Students will investigate the current treatment options and rehabilitation of injured horses. The course will include a visit to a veterinary hospital and experience a wide range of diagnostic and treatment techniques such as endoscopy, ultrasound and radiography. Students are expected to be able to assess first aid situations and to know how to react in an emergency situation. Practical sessions will include bandaging and first aid techniques. There is an emphasis on developing good communication and team working skills to prepare students for future employment.

• Human and Equine Psychology

  This module develops an understanding of the psychological aspects of both horses and humans. It details the importance of the understanding of psychology for individuals and team sport performance. It also investigates the behaviour and psychology of the horse and analyses the interaction between the rider and horse. It provides a basis and awareness of sport psychology for sports coaching. Horse psychology and behaviour is also looked at in depth enabling a thorough understanding to be established.

• Investigative Methods

  This module will introduce students to a range of methods, both qualitative and quantitative, that can be used in small scale investigations. The module should prepare students to undertake investigative work as part of their work based project and prepare them for more in-depth independent project work in future studies. Topics to be covered will be drawn from; discrete stages of undertaking research, the research question, reviewing literature, approaches to research, ethics, primary and secondary data, data collection methods, analysing and presenting research data. Emphasis will be placed on framing or defining research questions at the start of the module as this is key in designing a realistic and achievable research project. Skills gained during the WBL Maximising Potential module in research techniques will be developed further. This module may preparae and bring together elements from other modules such as WBL Project, monitoring techniques in Wildlife Conservation in the UK and behaviour observations in Animal Behaviour or Human & Equine Psychology.

• Legislation in the Animal Industry

  Students will begin the module with an overview of legislative procedure, including a history of the progression of animal laws, terminology, basic procedures for the development and approval of legislation and enforcement. Specific issues and legislation will then be considered; laws that affect both equine and animal industries will be explored. Seminars will be utilised to discuss issues specific to the animal and wquine industries. For example, protection of wild animals or the regulation of riding establishments. The response of the animal and equine industry to legislation ( for example, guidance, codes of practice, schemes etc.) will also be investigated.

• Work Based Learning Project

  The Work based Learning Project will allow students an opportunity to relate the skills, knowledge and understanding learnt on the course to a work based situation. Project management and time planning will be covered in detail in the taught part of this module. The module will also cover investigative methods which links to the level 2 Investigative Methods module. Relevant Health and Safety where applicable will be covered to enable facilitation of the project. Evaluative and reflective techniques will be developed within sessions to allow students to build on their skills and apply to the project module.

Optional

• Advanced Competition Equitation & Facilities Management

  This module will cover a wide range of advanced topics within equitation, competitions and facilities management. Students will be expected to develop their practical riding skills towards BHS Stage 4 level on completion. It will be necessary to undertake a range of competitions and evaluate performance against set objectives. A range of training equipment and training styles will be covered which will link back to the Advanced Equitation and Sports Coaching module at level 1. Facilities management will be a large section of this module and will include competition design, adding value to facilities and management of events. Risk analysis and Health and Safety are central to the facilities part of this module.

• Competition Equitation & Facilities Management

  This module will cover a wide range of topics within equitation, competitions and facilities management. Students will be expected to develop their practical riding skills towards BHS Stage 3 level on completion. It will be necessary to undertake a range of competitions and evaluate performance against set objectives. A range of training equipment and training styles will be covered which will link back to the Advanced Equitation and Sports Coaching module at level 1. Facilities management will be a large section of this module and will include competition design, adding value to facilities and management of events. Risk analysis and Health and Safety are central to the facilities part of this module.

• Competition Equitation Theory & Facilities Management

  This module will cover a wide range of topics within equitation theory, competition development and facilities management. The importance of performance evaluation and target setting will be covered in detail. A range of training equipment and training styles will be covered which will link back to the Equitation theory and Sports Coaching module at level 1. Facilities management will be a large section of this module and will include competition design, adding value to facilities and management of events. Risk analysis and Health and Safety are central to the facilities part of this module.

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £5,000 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

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Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

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How to apply