NVQ Horse Care 1/2/3

[Morganna]

I have decided to do these, I want some horsey qualifications with a view to doing some teaching down the line. My yard is an authorised training centre for these so I can do it there, one day a week for a few hours on my day off - my RI/YO is happy to help me get through these.

So,who has done them, what are they like, how long did they take?

Discuss

[loveponies]

ive done a NVQ 1 dont and i repeat do NVQ 3 my RI is trying and has falied twice. Its really hard.
But
the one i did they let me do it again and again. So you cant fail on n 1 but NVQ 2 is hard and 3 well

[Saz89]

I started an NVQ in horse care then decided it was not for me (a career with horses that is!) I found this quite hard as we never got any help from our tutors. I then did an NVQ level 2 in countryside and enviromental conservation and when the tutor explained it too us it was actually really easy the way it's put together. This probably dosen't help but I think I made my horse care one harder for myself!
Good luck!

[Morganna]

Sorry to hear that Saz - I had a long chat with my YO yesterday and she went through the levels with me, she said that level 3 was by far the hardest but it is doable

I dont want a career with horses, but I would like to teach part time possibly in the future purely for my own satisfaction though, not as a career (although it would be an extra earner). My YO also said that it would be easier to do the NVQ than the BHS levels as Im not in a horsey job and apparantly the BHS are quite anal about normal joe bloggs doing their precious exams lol

Once I have the NVQ though, I can then do the teaching through the BHS

[gunner5125]

how experienced are you? I did NVQ2 6 years ago & didn't find it too bad. The theory was fairly easily learned, most difficult things being knowing different types of bits & the theories on feeding & anatomy. The riding is basic walk/trot/canter & jumping up to 2'6" plus a bit of no stirrups & stuff. Also has to do lungeing & loading but nothing too taxing. I know the riding units are optional but i can't remember what the alternatives where (breeding?). Also had to do BHS Riding & Road Safety & BHS Horse Owners levels 1-4. Only new thing I had to learn really was plaiting (manes only, not tail) as having had a scruffy native I'd never had to do that before. I did the course part time so I had to do tonnes of paperwork. definately not un-manageable though. I really enjoyed it but it did take 9 months part time & out of 5 on the course, only me & one other passed. The others got bored & gave up, one girl failed her jumping assessment & never bothered to re-take.

[eml]

I disagree with your YO.

We found it almost impossible to get people who did not work with horses through the NVQ system in the time allowed due to the amount of paperwork and verifying of tasks required but most of my BHS candidates are one day a week students.

If you want to teach you will probably still have to do BHS stage 3 and PTT to be an AI even if you get NVQ2 or 3. Very few places are approved to do the teaching option on NVQ3 and most employers still prefer the BHSAI

[Morganna]

I can walk/trot/canter/gallop and jump up to 2'3 at the moment although I am returning to jumping after a serious accident and was previously jumping 3'. I have my own horse and used to work part time on the yard I keep my horse at. I'm 38 so have plenty of experience behind me. I will be doing the riding option and have already done the Horse Ownership course so have that under my belt.