Senior Equine Groom

On a senior equine groom apprenticeship course, you’ll help provide for and coordinate the day-to-day care of the horses in the workplace.

You may expect to handle and exercise horses in various working environments as a senior equine groom. As a result, you will require dedication, commitment, and physical and mental strength to cope with the rigours of the work.

Living on-site for a portion of the apprenticeship may also be necessary. You will be required to commit to the horses in your care.

In the United Kingdom, about a million horses are kept for leisure and commercial reasons, and you will be taught to manage a small- to medium-sized equine yard and supervise a team of workers.

You’ll get a strong foundation of experience and knowledge, as well as the required empathy, to enhance the physical and psychological well-being of the horses. You’ll also get a firm grasp of horse anatomy and physiology.

What you’ll learn

On a senior equine groom apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Promote, monitor, maintain safe working practices, and adhere to current health, safety, and security policies and procedures (including PPE). Participate in risk evaluations.
• Organise, supervise, and carry out all yard and field tasks and daily rotas and routines, including communication with the vet, farrier, and other visiting specialists.
• Keep and organise basic yard records, such as farrier, worming, vaccinations, etc.
• Monitor feed and bedding stocks and supplies, manage and evaluate. Evaluate, prepare, and manage horse stalls and pastures.
• Put in place measures to prevent and control disease spread.
• Coordinate waste-reduction, environmental, and long-term working techniques.
• Supervise the introduction of a new horse and perform a preliminary assessment, including record keeping and health status.
• Identify and explain the main superficial muscles and the anatomy of the lower leg and foot.
• Examine and evaluate a horse’s conformation, movement, condition, and fitness.
• Evaluate one’s well-being (including health) and detect and cure common minor diseases and injuries.
• As instructed by a veterinarian, provide first aid and treatments like poultices, dressings, and bandages. As indicated, provide authorised oral and topical treatments. Take the temperature, pulse, and respiration rates of the horse.
• Determine and use appropriate horse-handling or restraining methods.
• Groom, clip, trim, pull and plait a variety of horses for work or competition.
• Recognise and discuss hoof balance. Demonstrate appropriate shoe removal methods in line with current legislation.
• Coordinate horse travel preparations, such as supplies and equipment.
• Plan horse transportation by road while keeping current standards, documentation requirements, and procedures in mind.
• Prepare a horse for travel by safely loading and unloading it according to current health and safety standards. Horses must be monitored and cared for both during and after travel.
• Use the appropriate equipment to prepare and lunge a horse for exercise.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• GCSEs including English and maths or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience for an advanced apprenticeship 
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment comprises three components:

• A Knowledge Test 
• A Practical Observation
• A Professional Discussion 

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 3 Senior Equine Groom Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.