The Open College of Equine Studies

Senior Horsemaster's Course 1

Aims of the course:

• To expand upon the subjects covered in BSM. It is not mandatory to complete BSM before starting SHM1.
• To provide the preparation for Senior Horsemaster's Course 2 (SHM2). It is not mandatory to complete SHM 1 before starting SHM2.

SHM1 is ideal for:

• Any student upon completion of the Basic Stable Management course (BSM). Although there are similarities in course content, SHM1 goes into greater depth than BSM.
• Any student with at least one year's experience with horses.
• Preparation for BHS and RC Stages 2 and 3, and NVQ Levels 2/3.

Module 1 - The Stabled Horse
Yard routine, stable construction, materials, barn stabling, safety, bedding, grooming, clipping, trimming, clothing, boots, bandages, behavioural abnormalities. Points of the horse, describing and recognising good and bad conformation.

Module 2 - The Grass Kept Horse
Care at grass throughout the seasons, fencing, shelter, watering arrangements, grasses, fertilisation and pasture management, taking a hay crop. Ailments affecting the horse at grass including laminitis, mud fever, cracked heels and sweet itch.

Module 3 - Equine Nutrition
The digestive system, digestion, constituents of feedstuffs, calculating feed rations, sample feed charts, rules of feeding, hay. Internal parasites. Colic.

Module 4 - Horse Health
Signs of good and ill health, vaccinations, maintaining health, hygiene and inherent behaviour. The teeth, ageing and care of the teeth.

Module 5 - Saddlery
Fitting, care and uses of different items of tack and equipment. Bits and bitting. Ailments caused by ill-fitting saddlery.

Module 6 - The Foot, Shoeing and Lameness
Anatomy of the lower leg and foot, reasons for shoeing, procedure, recognising when a horse needs shoeing and when a horse has been well shod. Recognising lameness, identifying and treating the cause. Ailments of the foot and leg, including bursal and bony enlargements.

Module 7 - Anatomy and Physiology
Skeletal structure - bones, joints, tendons and ligaments. Muscular structure and function, Cardiovascular and respiratory systems, structure and function. Urinary, nervous and sensory systems, structure and function.

Module 8 - Equine Veterinary Care
Sick nursing procedures, isolation, when to call the vet, types and treatment of wounds, administration of medicines. Ailments and their treatment.

Module 9 - Fittening the Horse
Bringing up from grass, traditional fittening programme and interval training, preparation for competitions and/or hunting. Lungeing, ride and lead. Care before, during and after an event/meet. Types of competition, equipment needed. Travelling horses in lorries and trailers, loading and unloading.

Module 10 - Safety
Accident prevention. Safety in the stable, yard, field and whilst riding. Basic road safety. Safety when loading and travelling. Fire prevention, action to take in the event of fire. Manual handling - safe lifting techniques. Personal protective equipment and clothing. The injured horse. The Accident Report Book. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1994.

Optional End of Course Examination
This is sent out with the marked Module 10 work and assessment sheet, and is completed at home without the use of course material or books.