Equine Studies Course

Are you interested in studying Equine Studies by distance Learning? Do you love horses? Want to provide them with the best care possible? Do you want to really get to grips with horse ownership or are you keen to work in stables? Then our Equine Studies distance learning course would be perfect for you to Start Learning with. It covers everything from evolution to basic vet care.

Distance Learning Support

At Start Learning we pride ourselves on our friendly and supportive tutors. Your tutor support will start as soon as you receive your course and will be valid for 12 months. All our tutors are highly qualified with extensive experience in supporting distance learning students. You contact your tutor via email and they are responsible for marking assignments answering your questions and guiding you through the course.

Home Study Entry Requirements

At Start Learning we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

Recommended Hours of Study

We recommended you spend approximately 110 hours of your time studying for the Equine Studies Course. The pace of study is completely up to you. To give an example, if you dedicate 2 hours a week to the course it would take you a year to complete but if you could spare 4 hours a week you could complete it in six months.

Distance Learning Course Contents

Unit 1 - Evolution of the horse: Introduction - Early horse groups - Modern horse groups

Unit 2 - Biology of the horse: Introduction - An Introduction to the Skeleton of the Horse - Muscles of the Horse and Their Purposes - Muscles of the trunk, back, and ribs - Muscles in the hindquarters - Tendons and ligaments of the lower leg - Organs of the Horse - Horse Markings

Unit 3 - Horse Breeds: Introduction - Abyssinian - Albanian - Appaloosa - Arabian - Clydesdale - Dales Pony - Egyptian - Exmoor Pony - Fell Pony - Hackney - Lipizzan - New Forest Pony - Palomino - Pinto - Shetland Pony - Thoroughbred

Unit 4 - What horse is best for you?: Introduction - The Best Breed for You - Age, Size and Sex - Assessing His Body Language - Assessing your prospective buy

Unit 5 - Buying a horse: Introduction - Where to Buy - The Initial Evaluation - Riding the Potential Horse - What to look for during your ride - Question Checklist - The Pre-Purchase Examination - The Coggins Test

Unit 6 - Basic Health & Safety for the Rider & Establishment: Introduction - Legal Requirements - Hazards and precautions  - Checklist - References and further details - Basic Rider Equipment for Safe Riding - Proper equipment for junior riders (children under age 12) - Proper equipment for adult riders

Unit 7 - Grooming & tacking up: Introduction - Choosing a suitable horse - Seek good advice - Choosing a riding academy - Choosing a saddle - The Bridle - Grooming and tacking up

Unit 8: Leading, Mounting & Dismounting: Introduction - How to lead a horse - How to ask a horse to stand for mounting - Preparing to mount - Getting a leg up - Holding the reins - How to dismount

Unit 9: Walking & Halting: Introduction - How to ask a horse to walk - How to halt a horse - The basics of steering - Exercises at walk and halt             

Unit 10: Trotting Basics: Introduction - Basic riding theory and philosophy - How to maintain a good walk, and why - How to ride the trot

Unit 11: Stable Care: Introduction - Where to Keep your Horse? - Feeding - Pasture - Hay - Concentrates - Water - Shelter and Fencing for Horses - Security - Safety

Unit 12: Basic Vet Care and First Aid: Introduction - Other Emergencies - Equine First Aid Kit - How To Take a Horse's - Temperature - How To Check a Horse's Pulse - How To Determine The Respiration Rate - How To Check for Gut Sounds - How to Perform a Pinch Test - How To Check CRT - Mucous Membranes - Teeth - What is Colic? - Prevention of Colic

Qualifications

Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a Level 2 NCFE Award certificate in Equine Studies.

Language of Course

English

Assessments

This course is marked through a process of continuous assessment guided by your tutor. This means that your qualification will be awarded according to your performance on assessments rather than by taking an exam.