Equine Groom Apprenticeship

Pony Pursuits are looking for an Equine Groom Apprentice to join their small team. The right candidate will have a passion for helping to care for horses and enjoy working with young clients who attend the riding centre, there's lots of variety at this yard from pony birthday parties to therapy sessions for learners with SEN needs.

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work
Pony pursuits are a riding centre, who specialise in non formal riding experiences, such as country hacks, ride and groom sessions, pony therapy and birthday parties.

There will also be opportunities to attend public and private events.

Daily duties include all general yard duties and animal husbandry for the other small animals there:

Mucking out/keeping yard tidy
Filling water buckets / haynets
Making feeds
Grooming/ tacking up
Assisting with lessons and leading
Some riding available
Assisting with adults and children with additional needs

Where you'll work
HUCKLEBERRY FARM
HEATHFIELD
BLETCHINGDON
KIDLINGTON
OX5 3DU

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider
HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

What you'll learn
Course contents
Work safely and efficiently at all times and comply with current health, safety and security policies and procedures (including PPE).
Carry out all yard and field duties to include mucking out, skipping out, tidying and cleaning the yard, watering and feeding. Assess suitability of stabling and grassland environments for horses including checking for hazards etc. Assist with the arrival of a new horse to the yard, following current yard procedures and measures to prevent and control the spread of disease.
Recognise, identify and describe horses including sex, height, type, colours and markings. Identify basic anatomy, to include points of the horse. Recognise signs of good and poor welfare (including ill health) and check for injuries. Report relevant information and assist with medical treatment and other industry specialists, including Senior Groom, Dentist, Farrier, Veterinary surgeon. Ensure the horses’ welfare before and after exercise or travel.
Handle a variety of horses in the workplace to include tying up, leading, trotting up, turning out and catching in. Recognise different types of feed and hay and check their quality. Groom a horse including checking feet and shoes. Demonstrate trimming and plaiting.
Fit a variety of common saddlery, equipment and horse clothing. Remove, clean and store common saddlery and equipment. Check the safe and effective working condition of all saddlery, equipment and clothing.
Prepare horse(s) for travel using appropriate clothing and equipment. Assist with loading and unloading before and after travel.
Prepare for and provide a variety of appropriate non-ridden exercise including an introduction to lungeing.
Demonstrate basic safe competence in handling equines used for breeding purposes including assisting with teasing and covering. Observe the onset of, and assist if required, foaling of an equine and following on procedures. Demonstrate an awareness of reproductive status; including the interpretation of teasing results and the specialist care of breeding equines at all stages of the reproductive cycle. Recognise the importance of; and participate in, the maintenance of disease control within an equine breeding population. Assist with the work of breeding industry specialists; using equipment, machinery and technology appropriately as directed. Assist with the preparation and show of equines of varying ages, as directed, for commercial and/or private sale.
Harness up and put to with an assistant a single turnout in both a two and four wheeled vehicle. Act as a groom/ backstepper in exercising/show/trials (select one discipline). Exercise horses/ponies in a non driving environment, to be able to lunge or longrein in an enclosed area, in a circle for exercise purposes. Drive a quiet pleasure single turnout in an enclosed area demonstrating safe rein handling, turns to the left and right, in the walk and trot. To be able to halt. Mount and dismount in a safe manner. Demonstrate safe use of the whip. Take horse out of vehicle with assistance and unharness horse in a safe manner.
Handle Thoroughbred racehorses in and out of full training. Fit a variety of specialist racing equipment and tack. Carry out the specific routines required in a racing yard and in taking horses racing, complying with industry regulatory requirements, policy and practice. Provide exercise regimes to racehorses as directed and effectively care for horses prior to and after strenuous work and racecourse performance. Prepare and lead up a Thoroughbred racehorse at the races in accordance with industry practice and the Rules of Racing. Provide after race care including compliance with industry regulations and post-race dope testing procedures.
Adopt an appropriate basic riding position. Ride an experienced/schooled horse according to instruction, independently and as part of a group in an enclosed area. Ride in a balanced, secure position showing control in walk, trot and canter, working with and without stirrups whilst demonstrating movements i.e. circles, turns, etc. Ride in the open, in a forward seat according to instruction with control, security and balance. Ride with a balanced, secure, forward seat over ground poles at trot to enable progression to ride, where practical, over a short course of fences with control, security and balance. Ride on the road or in public places according to laid down procedures, Highway and Country Codes. Open & close a gate whilst mounted. Negotiate everyday obstacles/hazards with control, security and balance. Ride a quiet horse whilst leading another quiet horse or pony.
Assist with storage of supplies and stock rotation. Contribute to the organisation and maintenance of establishment. Engage with customers and identify their needs. Assist with appropriate office duties including answering the telephone, processing information and use workplace IT systems. Contribute to yard based records including passports, vaccinations, worming, farriery, dentistry etc. Assist and support Riding Grooms and provide non-ridden exercise regimes. Prepare for and lunge a horse for exercise in an enclosed area according to instruction.

Training schedule
You will be working towards achieving your Level 2 Equine Groom apprenticeship, and also completing your maths and English Functional skills at level 1 or 2 if required

All training will be completed at the employer's premises by the employer and Haddon Training.