Distance Learning Courses

[Big H]

Hi!:confused:

I was hoping someone could maybe give me some advice on which distance learning course is the best.

I would like to get a qualifcation of some kind in horse care/ownership? as one day I would like to have my own yard (also it would be good to have a bit more knowledge of horses).

Do you have to take exams with these kind of horses?
Do you need to work on a yard (ridiing school?)?

Has anyone got any info???
:D

[Jakes Mum]

I did my HOC1 through Lingfield Correspondance. I thought it was a very good informative course, they send the relevant paperwork through the post with a test paper that you fill in and send back for marking/comments, they then post the next set of papers and so on. There was no time limit as to when each question paper has to be returned so it could be done at your own leisure, which is helpful when you are trying to juggle a full time job and horses.
There is an exam to sit at the end of it if you wish but it is not compulsary. There was no practical work involved.

My HOC2 and HOC3 I took at college on an evening course, 1900-2100hrs one night a week. This worked out much cheaper and I personally found it a better way of learning, although it was a rush to get there on time. The woman who took the course had her own yard so we were able to do practical sessions too.

[Big H]

Thanks!

Do you get some kind of certificate/acknowledgement with this course once you've completed it ?

Unfortunately I don't have to choice of going to an evening class as down here on the Island our collage doesn't seem to have anything to do with horses, considering the Island is covered with stables/yards/schools etc. :mad:

[Jakes Mum]

As far as I know, if you sit and pass the exam you get a certificate, if you complete the course and don't sit the exam, you get papers saying you have completed the course.
As far as I am aware, the HOC certificates are equivalent to the BHS stages (theory only).

The Lingfield website is www.horse-care.co.uk

Hope this helps

[Big H]

Thats great. Thank you very much, I'll check them out.

:D

[decibelle]

Big H,

You can also do your Horse Owners Certificate through the Open College of Equine Studies www.equinestudies.co.uk Don't be put off by the prices, it looks much more expensive than Lingfield, but their prices don't include the final exam cost, (£55), while TOCES prices do.

I've been really impressed with TOCES, it has very professionally put together course work and it's really easy to follow.

For their HOC courses, you do three assignments and then a final exam. You get a BHS certificate for each level you complete.

You could think about doing the BHS Stage exams, TOCES also do preperation courses for these exams, but it's more expensive and you still need to organise to sit the exam yourself. Some riding school also train people for BHS exams, it might be work phoning round any BHS approved centres in your area (I'm sure there must be some on the Isle of Wight!)

The Stage exams are recoginised qualifications, which might be worth thinking about if you want to run your own yard, while the HOC are just thoery, with no practical work. Have a look at the BHS website for more information on both.

Hope this has helped a bit and not confused you too much!

[dolphin]

I would just like to say I had a lot of problems with TOCES and would not use them again. They were not helpful and I had to make several complaints during my course. In the end I got my course completed as quickly as possible so I did not have to have any more to do with them.

[decibelle]

Wow, dolphin, that's a shame. I haven't been with them long, only sent in a few things, but I've had no problems yet. I'll watch out in future though.

Hope you've managed to find a good alternative. :)