Tried and Tested

Lingfield Correspondence Course - An Insider's Perspective

by Naomi Cohen

I first came across the Lingfield distance learning course whilst browsing the links page on this website. It was love at first sight. I knew that I wanted to do the BHS Stage exams and this course seemed the perfect complement. At £96 for Level 1 - which can be paid in three instalments - it's not outlandishly expensive (let's face it, most things related to horses don't come cheap!) and it is possible to purchase the course with an Individual Learning Account (ILA) but you must have received confirmation of eligibility BEFORE you start. After completing Level 1 students can proceed to Levels 2 and 3 at approximately the same cost.

What's in it for you?

The course format is seven study packs. Each study pack comes with a set of course notes which students use in connection with books such as the Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship (extra cost) and leaflets from the BHS, some of which are free. Guidelines are given on how to study - making one's own notes from the course notes, referring to recommended books and leaflets, and browsing websites and magazines.

The course has been compiled by people who've had years of experience working with horses, and throughout, the emphasis is on the safety and happiness of the horse/pony. Additionally, the pack aims to encourage students to think for themselves - to think about what you're doing, why you're doing it and will it make the horse's life less stressful. So it's not neutral in its stand, but has the welfare of horses and the safety of those working with them, as its overriding concerns.

Students get one study pack at a time with the option of answering the set questions in order to qualify for the Lingfield Correspondence Equine Certificate OR the Horse Owner's Certificate. So, you're not simply paying for the study packs but also for the qualification (which is optional) - subject to completion of all the set work and practical sessions. Yes, practical sessions play their part in this distance learning course too. In order to qualify for the first level certificate it is essential that one knows how to clean and assemble a snaffle bridle and tack, and students must have in-depth knowledge of saddle fitting. For students who wish to gain the certificate, this part of the course is assessed. It forms part of study pack 4 - I'm still on the first study pack, but I'll let you know how I get on.

Additionally, there are a number of other practical sessions which students are recommended to attend, including bandaging, travelling, plaiting, clipping, feeding & bedding, lunging. However, these are not included in the cost of the course. I recently went to a clipping session - £40 for the day. Two of the three other students were also doing the Lingfield course. The day was informative and cost-effective - a lecture on clipping - why we do it, types of clip and brands of clippers, and hands-on experience which can't be beaten. Food was included as was a session on mane-pulling and a talk from a farrier about shoeing. I certainly hope to attend other seminars.

How much time will it take up?

Really, as much as you choose to spend. I think the best method is to study for an hour or two each week. I now aim to practise what I preach and complete the course in six months rather than six years(!) as I hope to start working with horses in the next few months. But there really is no time limit - it's down to the individual, and how much time you choose to make. At the end of the day though, you'll only get out what you put in.

As you may have guessed, my initial impressions of Lingfield are very favourable (and no I'm not on commission). To be honest if the course wasn't high calibre I wouldn't bother writing about it. I think that people who ride, whether it be as a job or as a hobby, have a duty to know as much as they can about the animals they're riding and how best to ensure their welfare. A top trainer/instructor, who's been in the industry for years, recently told me that standards have dropped. I think that doing the Lingfield correspondence course, which includes working towards the certificate and attending the related seminars, is one way of ensuring that standards start to rise.



Further Details of the course can be found at www.horse-care.co.uk.

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