The Open College of Equine Studies

Courses

BTEC Intermediate Certificate in Horse Management

BTEC Intermediate Certificate in Horse Management

(Course Reference: ICHM)

Level: Introductory

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BTEC Intermediate Certificate in Horse Management

Aims of the course:
  • To provide a broad base of theoretical and practical knowledge to students with some experience of horses.
  • To provide preparation for the BTEC Advanced Certificate in Horse Management (ACHM). It is not mandatory to complete ICHM before starting the ACHM course.
Entry requirements:
  • Students must be at least 16 years old upon enrolment.
  • There are no formal academic entry requirements.
  • Extensive experience is not necessary but students should have some experience with horses. This can be in the form of owning a horse, working with horses and/or riding regularly and helping at a yard.
ICHM is ideal for:
  • Students preparing for the BHS Stage 2 HKC examination.
  • Anyone wanting an alternative validated qualification.
Students attend a three day study weekend during which practical topics are taught, practiced and assessed.  This course is set at a level comparable to BHS Stage 2 and builds upon topics studied in FCHM.
 
Unit 1 Equine Anatomy and Physiology (2)
Skeletal structure, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Circulatory and respiratory systems.
Sensory organs and nervous system.
Conformation and action.
 
Unit 2 Horse Knowledge and Care (2)
Stable construction and yard planning. Yard routine.
Maintaining optimum grazing Health and Safety with horses.
Strapping and quartering, care after exercise. Stable and support bandages.
Tack fitting: lunge equipment, boots, breastplates, pelhams, gags.
Clipping, trimming and plaiting.
 
Unit 3 Horse Knowledge and Care (3)
Lungeing a well-mannered horse.
Fittening the unfit horse for medium work. Roughing off.
Footcare and shoeing – care of the hooves, the role of the farrier, remedial shoeing, removing a loose shoe.
Preparing the horse to travel, vehicle checks, transportation of horses, loading and unloading.
 
Unit 4 The Healthy Horse (2)
Feeding: digestive tract, nutrients, feedstuffs: forages and concentrates, preparation of feedstuffs, basic rationing, rules of feeding.
Equine behaviour and how the horse’s environment affects the horse.
Monitoring health, obtaining temperature, pulse and respiratory rates.
Preventative medicine.
 
Unit 5 Equine Veterinary Care (2)
Wound management and healing.
Applying a foot poultice and support bandages.
Lameness: Signs, causes and course of action for: injuries to the sole, degenerative joint disease, tendon strain, bursal and bony enlargements.
Trotting up to identify lameness.
Signs, causes and course of action for: Tetanus, recurrent airway obstruction, colic, equine influenza.

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