Certificate of Horse Care (Introductory Program)

Unit 1 – Horse psychology and handling

• The early horse
• Survival mechanisms of the early horse
• The modern horse – behaviour and memory
• Using psychology to handle horses
• Catching and leading horses
• Fitting the bridle and saddle
• Tying up a horse
• Safety rules

Unit 2 – Buying a horse

• Temperament
• Size
• Weight carrying ability
• Age
• Equine dentition and ageing
• Glossary of terms
• Dentition diagrams and detailed explanation
• Colour and markings
• Breeds

Unit 3 – Conformation

• The shape of the skeleton
• Body proportions and parts
• Conformation problems
• How to describe confirmation

Unit 4 – The digestive system and principles of feeding and watering

• The digestive System
• The alimentary canal
• The Stomach
• The small intestine
• The large intestine
• Absorption of food
• Groups of food nutrients
• The composition of some common horse feeds
• The principles of watering
• The principles of feeding
• Feeding concentrates and roughages
• Feeding groups of horses at one time

Unit 5 – The grass kept horse and pasture management

• Advantages and disadvantages of working off grass
• Paddock size and minimum area needed
• Types of fencing
• The water supply
• Shelter
• Fodder trees
• General management of the grass-kept horse
• Management in summer
• Management in winter
• Exercise
• Grooming the grass-kept horse
• Conservation of the land
• Keeping horses at grass on small areas
• Roughing off and turning a horse out

Unit 6 – Grooming

• The skin – epidermis, dermis, the coat
• How the skin regulates body temperature
• Reasons for grooming
• Grooming tools
• Grooming techniques – strapping, sponging, brushing
• Using a stable rubber, dealing with stable stains on grey coats
• Oiling the feet
• Quartering
• Setting Fair/Brushing off
• Washing the mane and tail
• Washing the sheath
• Shampooing the horse

Unit 7 – Industry Applications

• Resources
• Writing resumes – employment readiness
• Competition horses (overview) – event horse, dressage horse, show jumper, endurance
• Educating Horses
• Breeding
• Farm planning
• Short term operations
• Farm business structures
• Quality management systems
• Whole farm planning
• Preparing a farm business
• Managing risk
• Sensitivity analysis
• Financial management
• Record keeping
• Finance sources
• Setting up a small business