Horses are majestic, powerful animals that bring us fulfilment as pets and in equestrian and sporting pursuits, but they also have high care needs. This course is ideal for recreational riders, stud owners or for those working with horses. It’s also valuable for people aspiring to start an equestrian business.
The Certificate of Horse Care is an advanced online program that will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of equine husbandry and practical knowledge in the care of horses.
In this professional development course, you will explore horse psychology and handling techniques, as well as the importance of diet, grooming, and basic principles of hoof care and shoeing.
You will also learn about maintaining the health of horses, exercise and conditioning requirements, tack and tack fitting, as well as a broad range of equine management topics from overseeing a horse event to managing an equine enterprise.
On completion of this course, you will feel confident to care for horses and prepared to manage equine events, horse farms, stables, tracks, riding schools and related equipment and equine operations.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Horse Care I
- 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
- 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
- Conformation
- The shape of the skeleton
- Body proportions and parts
- Conformation problems
- How to describe confirmation
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Unit 2 - Horse Care II
- Feeds
- Roughage
- concentrates
- roots
- green feeds and succulents
- tempters and tonics
- salts
- feeding for special purposes
- Stabling
- Three ways to keep horses
- combined systems
- stalls
- stables/looseboxes
- barns
- stable layout
- feed rooms
- tack rooms
- the medicine chest
- stable routine
- stable tricks and vices
- Bedding and Mucking Out
- Reasons for bedding
- bedding qualities
- bedding types
- choosing a system
- tools needed for mucking out
- mucking out
- bedding down
- managing the bed
- conserving bedding
- comparing bedding
- the muckheap
- The Foot and Shoeing
- Foot structure
- trimming
- advantages and disadvantages of shoeing
- signs that shoeing is required
- the farrier’s tools
- how the horse is shod
- what to look for in a newly shod hoof
- basic shoes
- surgical shoeing
- Exercise and Conditioning
- The difference between exercise and conditioning
- soft and hard condition
- exercising a horse
- the fittening schedule
- principles of fittening
- maintaining fitness
- Tack and Tack Fitting
- Principles of bitting
- the mouth
- types of bits
- where the bit acts
- fitting the saddle
- causes of sore backs
- care of the back when unsaddling
- saddle types
- linings
- girths
- saddle cloths and numnahs,
- tack cleaning
- Horse Facility Design
- Farm layout
Unit 3 - Horse Care III
- Blankets, Bandages & Boots
- different blankets and rugs
- fitting a rug
- surcingles and rollers
- caring for rugs and blankets
- types of bandages and their uses
- rules for bandaging
- boots and their uses
- Maintaining The Health Of Horses
- signs of good and poor health
- sick nursing rules
- isolation procedure
- common ailments to recognize
- taking the temperature
- the medicine chest
- first aid treatments
- restraining a horse
- emergencies
- preventing a disease
- Clipping, Trimming & Plaiting
- reasons for clipping
- types of clippers
- types of clips
- preparation for clipping
- how to clip
- finishing off
- hogging the mane
- trimming
- pulling the mane and tail
- plaiting the mane or tail
- Traveling & Care of The Horse Away From Home
- preparing a horse for travel
- preparing a trailer
- loading the horse
- the problem loader
- safety while loading
- before a show
- at the show
- returning home
- Organising & Managing A Horse Event
- organising an event
- contingencies to cater for
- the public, exhibitors and organisers
- costs
- guidelines for planning a show or exhibition
- the facility
- exclusive bookings
- facilities without prior bookings
- booking records
- publicity
- community participation
- Managing A Horse Enterprise
- management plans
- rural finance sources
- banks
- money market
- financial planning
- contract law
- assessing profit
- risk analysis
- standards
- financial records
- cash flow
- O.P accounting
Assessment
When you study with Australian Online Courses you will be assessed using a competency-based training method. Competency-based training focuses on a learner’s ability to receive, respond to and process information to achieve a competency result. As such, skills-based and knowledge assessments are geared towards attainment to meet industry-defined standards.
Assessment will be comprised of written assignments and exercises, including short answer questions, reports, essays, research projects and reflective tasks. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- No entry requirements;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support;
- Easy to understand course content;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Certificate of Attainment/Completion issued for your CV (hard copy provided); and
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
How long will it take to complete this course?
The approximate study hours for this course is 300 hours. We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply).
Can I purchase optional printed materials?
While printed materials are not available for purchase, PDF copies are available for download and self-printing for this program.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion of this course?
Yes! You will receive a Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion of your assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our e-learning system and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:-
- Horse Owners
- Horse Carers
- Horse Enthusiasts
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