LAST year, Galway Community College (GCC) commenced a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) accredited level 5 course in Equine Studies.

The course was hugely popular, and this year GCC are offering a QQI level 6 advanced course in Equine Studies which is designed to allow students to develop their horsemanship skills and to progress in a specialised way within the equine industry.

For those who are not experienced riders, there is an equine breeding module which can be undertaken as an alternative – this allows students to participate and achieve a level 6 award and thus gain access to the young trained farmer schemes.

The level 6 advanced certificate fulfils one of the conditions of stamp duty exemption on the transfer of lands to a family member and meets the criteria for grants that are made available to young trained farmers.

The course is aimed at up-skilling suitably experienced workers and those progressing from level 5 to supervisory positions across all sectors of the industry.

PRACTICAL ELEMENTS

All Equine Studies courses are based in Galway Community Centre PLC College. The colleges extensive IT facilities allow the students to broaden their education.

A short distance away is Rock Mount Riding centre where the practical elements are delivered.

The level 6 students will be coached by Ralph Conroy in Milcheim and will also use the facilities of Galway Equestrian centre. Work placement takes place two days per week and can occur in local yards or in yards nearer the student’s home, for convenience.

BHS exam preparation has been scheduled in to next year’s course.

Several students work towards the Horse Sport Ireland coaching awards, which requires QQI Level 5 First Aid and Child Protection certification.

Both are provided free as part of the GCC course fee. In addition, SJI Bar 1, 2 & 3 training is provided as part of the course fee.

For further information visit galwaycc.ie

WHY I CHOSE TO STUDY AT GCC: TIM MACDONAGH

AT home we buy, produce and sell horses. I’ve grown up around horses and have always had a huge interest in show jumping. When I finished school last year I went to Florida for the summer as part of a bursary development programme provided by Horse Sport Ireland and Connolly’s Red Mills.

Five young Irish riders were selected to travel to the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, to train and ride with host riders.

That was a fantastic experience and now I am looking to gain a qualification that shows I have the necessary skills to train and bring on young horses. I’m also really keen to learn more about breeding. I didn’t want to move to Dublin to study because I wanted to be able to continue producing the horses at home.

I heard about the QQI level 6 advanced course in Equine Studies at GCC from a number of people and when I looked into it, it sounded like something I would really enjoy and I was delighted that it had that practical element. I’m really looking forward to starting the course.