Sports Horse Management and Coaching, FdSc

This highly vocational course emphasises the practical skills and attributes required to manage competition horses and develop teaching and coaching skills. From equitation to training young horses, this degree prepares students for working in the modern equine industry. Course elements complement study towards all British Horse Society (BHS) qualifications up to Intermediate Instructor examination. Why choose this course?

• Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre has international size indoor and outdoor arenas, a horse walker, round pen and crew yards.
• Your studies will benefit from our brand new 1,000 square metre, £2.5 million campus library that opened in 2013.
• You will have the opportunity to progress onto the final year of BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Science upon completion of this foundation degree.
• 35% of the contact hours are practical sessions - enabling students to work regularly with the horses.
• You'll be taught by academics that are professionals in their own right and compete at high level international eventing and dressage competitions including 3* and 4* events
• You'll have the opportunity to work at various high profile equestrian shows and events including Belton Horse Trials, Your Horse Live and Chatsworth International Horse Trials
• Our academic team are British Horse Society Assessors and have industry links and connections with top riders / trainers and other BHS Assessors.

All modules are designed to provide a balance of science, equine management, practical skills and coaching techniques. The course content focuses on the competition horse and on enabling students to study towards all BHS examinations up to the British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor (BHSII) examination and the UKCC qualifications.

Check out our Flickr photostream.

How many places are available?

There are approximately 20 places available on this course.

When does the course start?

Please see the academic calendar for term dates.

Where will I study?

We have invested over £20 million in facilities at Brackenhurst campus in the last eight years. Our beautiful 200 hectare estate acts as an outdoor classroom for fieldwork and research. Set in rural Nottinghamshire, but only a 40 minute bus journey from the city, it is the perfect location to study this course.

What will I study?

Year One

Sport Horse Production and Training One
This module provides the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to start a young horse's training. You will also learn how to:

• re-train horses
• evaluate traditional and non-traditional methods of handling, production and training.

Equine Health and Husbandry
You will be introduced to horse health by reviewing theoretical principles of nutrition and veterinary science. You will also learn how to apply this knowledge to practical horse husbandry.

Equine Anatomy and Physiology
Discover the knowledge linking equine body systems and the significance of their inter-relationships. Topics in this module include:

• skeletal and muscular anatomy
• cell biology
• tissue structure and function
• endocrinology
• haematology
• reproductive physiology
• investigations of equine physiological systems.

Equitation and Theoretical Principles
You will explore the practical and theoretical aspects of:

• equitation
• training of horses
• evaluating horse and human performance.

The module covers:

• paces and gaits at novice level dressage
• the horse's jumping technique
• the rider's position and effectiveness.

You will develop practical skills in equitation, including how to:

• Assess the horse's way of going.
• Evaluate the rider's position and effectiveness on the flat and over fences.

Introduction to Sports Psychology and Coaching
This module will introduce you to the field of sport and exercise psychology. You will:

• Study the psychological factors that are associated with elite performance in sport.
• Investigate how these can be applied to equestrian sports through coaching to maximise performance.

You will also study the major principles and the structure of the coaching system in the UK, as well as gain and develop the practical techniques required for equestrian coaching.

Year Two

Sport Horse Production and Training Two
This module will explore the practical and theoretical aspects of identifying, selecting and evaluating suitable breeding stock for specific equine sports. You will develop stud management of stallions, mares and foals. You will also gain:

• an insight to the equine sector and sport horse industry
• the theory and practical skills you need to market yourself
• commercial skills and attributes.

Sports Injury
This module examines the common injuries affecting sports horses. It also examines the implications for health and welfare. The scientific background provided in this module complements the Equine and Human Sport Science module. You will also develop a detailed knowledge of the athlete.

Equine and Human Sports Science
You will gain knowledge of the structure and function of the equine and human athlete so as to appreciate the:

• inter-relationship between the different systems
• demands of equestrian sports on horse and rider.

Advanced Equitation
You will learn the practical and theoretical aspects of equitation skills and equitation theory. You will also gain skills in analysing both horse and rider alongside sports psychology techniques. This will enable you to help improve rider performance.

Other exciting areas to be developed cover:

• skills in equitation looking at the assessment and improvement of the horse's way of going both on the flat and during various types of jumping
• the rider's position and effectiveness on the flat and over fences.

Advanced Coaching
This module provides both the theory and practical skills required to develop coaching and understand basic sports psychology. This will be achieved by looking at coaching philosophy together with approaches to coaching and coaching styles.

You will also gain the skills and techniques needed to:

• develop your coaching skills to show progressive lessons
• improve horses and / or riders in a range of lesson types
• deliver formal presentations to a select audience.

Equestrian Studies Project
You will have the opportunity to undertake an individual research project, focusing on any aspect of studies including:

• equine behaviour
• training
• coaching
• sports psychology
• nutrition
• welfare.

You are encouraged to study an area of interest which is relevant to your future employment interests or to enhance your understanding for possible progression to the BSc programmes.

Contact hours

You will have 13 hours of scheduled contact time per week, of which approximately four and a half hours will be practical work.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed using a variety of methods including the following.

Coursework 54%

• Coursework exercise – 17%
• Project output – 12%
• Portfolio – 25%

Practical 46%

• Practical skills – 29%
• Oral assessment – 17%

What do the course fees cover?

The annual fee for your undergraduate degree course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition.

• You will have a pre-paid printing allowance of £20 (which currently equates to up to 400 sides of A4 black and white printing) for use in NTU Print Shops.
• We will supply you with laboratory equipment, coats and safety equipment, where required.
• You will not have to pay a tuition fee for your Year Abroad/Sandwich year (when it is part of a course)
• You will not need to pay additional administration fees for International Exchange.
• You will be given two tickets to the Graduation Ceremony (any additional tickets will incur a fee).

What is not included in the fee?

You will need to budget for the following:

• general printing of coursework in addition to the printing allowance
• books and texts
• accommodation and travel costs
• travel and accommodation costs involved in year abroad, sandwich year or any placements you take
• graduation social events
• additional field trip or field work costs where not borne by the School.

Language classes are available via the University Language Programme at a very reasonable additional fee, alongside your chosen course. These do not bear credit towards your course.

Are you an international student?

Find out more about the entry requirements, fees and accommodation.

Loading the player ...

Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre

Our team at Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre have specialist expertise in many aspects of equestrianism. The Centre is home to:

• top-flight instructors (dressage and jumping)
• lecturers
• specialist facilities
• horses
• a range of ultra-modern equipment based on horse and human sports analysis, which offers some of the best training available in the UK.

The centre offers a full range of facilities including:

• 60 x 40 metre indoor school (at the Mary King Arena)
• 60 x 40 metre floodlit outdoor arena
• modern bio-science laboratories and Veterinary Nursing Centre
• stabling for up to 60 horses
• camera technology for behavioural monitoring
• horse walker
• solarium
• weighbridge
• treatment stocks
• round pen
• crew yards.

We provide various livery for horses owned by students. This will enable you to take advantage of our equestrian facilities.