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Online Short Course

Horse Care Fundamentals

A Course for Horse People, Created by Horse People

Are you passionate about horses and their care? Looking to further your knowledge or focus on a career in the equine industry? Our Horse Care Fundamentals is a unique online course for those passionate about all things equine! A career working with horses is extremely rewarding and satisfying, and this short course is a great way to make your dream become reality!

This horse care course is ideal if you are:

  • Looking to pursue a career in the equine industry
  • A volunteer or already working in the equine industry
  • A leisure rider who just wants more knowledge about horses
  • Looking for a future career in equine veterinary nursing and need exposure to horse care

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  • An existing veterinary nurse who is seeking more experience in equine care
  • Seeking more experience with horses to go on to further training
  • A property owner caring for horses.

Course snapshot


Duration:
Up to 6 months

Study mode: Self-paced

Online study time: Approx. 4-6 hours per week

Application status: Enrol now

Prerequisite: No prior qualifications are required

Best suited to: Those looking for more skills, knowledge and expertise in the area of horse care, or those who are looking to pursue a career in the equine industry 

Equine and Horse care qualification - online course Australia
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Course outline

Delivery & Assessments

This course is delivered online and you will not be required to attend classes. You will be provided with a login to our Online Learning Platform where you will find all of the course materials including interactive learning material, videos, and assessments.

Entry Requirements

The Horse Care Fundamentals short course is a great building block for those with an interest in horse care. There are no prerequisites for entry into this course, however, to enrol in this course you will need to:

  • Be passionate about all things equine.
  • Have a reliable internet connection and access to a desktop computer, laptop or electronic device. 

What will you learn?

You will complete 10 modules, covering a broad range of topics relating to the principles of working in the animal care industry.  You will be introduced to:

  • Equine behaviour and welfare
  • Safe and effective handling techniques including loading
  • Daily husbandry routines for horses
  • Fitting gear and equipment
  • Equine health and nutrition
  • Assessment of horse conformation
  • Safe and effective lunging

All of the skills and knowledge you will learn can be applied across a broad range of horse care facilities. For more information on jobs and careers in this industry, read our article Ten Rewarding Careers that Involve Working with Horses.

Qualification and training in horse care - online studies

Course outcomes

Our graduates go on to a wide range of roles across the equine and animal care industry.  You can learn more about working with horses in our popular blog post “Ten Rewarding Careers that Involve Working with Horses” and below are potential outcomes for graduates of our horse care fundamentals course:

Job outcomes

Potential career pathways include, but are not limited to:

  • Stable hand in a variety of equine care environments
  • Equine veterinary assistant
  • Stud hand
  • Farm hand
  • Stock rider
  • Trail ride assistant
  • Equine events assistant
  • Equine retail including pet shops and specialist horse retail outlets

Skills outcomes

As well as becoming confident in handling horses, here are some of the skills you will be able to apply once having completed this course:

  • Understand horse behaviour
  • Handling and caring for horses safely
  • Undertaking stable duties
  • Horse health, including nutrition and feeding
  • Assessing horse conformation
  • Fitting gear correctly
  • Lunging horses safely
  • Safe transportation of horses including loading and unloading

Course content

The Horse Care Fundamentals short course is comprised of 10 modules covering the principles of working in the equine and horse care industry. You will be required to study the topics listed below:

  • Module 1 – Working in the Horse Industry
    Discover potential career paths within the horse industry. This module sheds light on topics such as animal welfare, biosecurity, and the transmission of zoonotic diseases in horse care facilities.

  • Module 2 – Understanding Horse Behaviour
    Learn how horses’ innate behaviours, including the flight response, social structures within herds, special senses, and communication, shape their interactions. This module also delves into problem behaviours, often termed as ‘vices’.

  • Module 3 – Working Safely with Horses
    Develop a comprehensive understanding of workplace health and safety, covering hazards, risks, and emergencies specific to horses and their care facilities. It includes safe handling techniques such as approaching, catching, leading, tying up, and releasing horses, as well as horse restraint and transportation.

  • Module 4 – Terminology, Characteristics, and Identification of Horses
    Gain a foundation of knowledge on horse breeds and types, along with points, different gaits, and methods of identification based on sex, coat colour, and markings, both natural and acquired.

  • Module 5 – Housing of Horses
    Explore various housing options like stables and paddocks, discussing appropriate bedding, stable routines, agistment, and Australian regulations pertaining to horsekeeping.

  • Module 6 – Routine Husbandry
    Understand the importance of grooming, foot care (including the application of boots and bandages), hosing, clipping, rugging, exercising, and maintenance of tack and saddlery equipment in routine horse care.

  • Module 7 – Nutrition and Feeding
    Identify horses’ complex nutritional needs, including digestive anatomy, food types, handling, storage, body weight and condition assessment, and formulation of daily rations.
  • Module 8 – Horse Health
    Learn the essential factors for horse health, methods of assessment, vaccination schedules, and common health concerns like lameness, colic, dental issues, and parasitic infections.
  • Module 9 – Assessing Horses’ Suitability for Specific Uses
    Learn how to assess horse conformation and suitability for specific purposes based on conformation, action, breed, type, and other characteristics.
  • Module 10 – Lunge Educated Horses
    Explore the basics of how to safely lunge an educated horse, including equipment, techniques, and troubleshooting strategies.

Why choose our Online short course for Horse Care?

  • Complete flexibility – you can start and study whenever you like to suit your lifestyle and commitments.
  • Professionally managed and delivered course – complete with online instructional videos and materials to help you understand and apply theory with ease.
  • Affordable, monthly payment plan to help you manage your student fees.
  • This short course can increase your opportunities for employment in the horse care industry.

What students are saying about this course

Fees & inclusions

Total course fees: Starting from $595

All course fees include:

  • Textbooks (available as PDF)
  • Online Support Chat
  • Dedicated Student Support
  • Assessments and Certification

 

Choose from two payment options:

Option 1
Full Payment Upfront 
Total cost: $595

Option 2
Monthly Payment Plan

Total cost: $650
$150 upfront enrolment fee 
Plus 4 monthly payments of $125

 

*Fees, inclusions and payment plan amounts are subject to change. If you decide to withdraw from study for any reason, refunds are not issued. Please see our policies page for full details.

 

Enrol now

Enrol Now
Horse Care Fundamentals Short Course

FAQs

 

Horse Care Fundamentals

No, this short course is non-accredited. However, this course has been designed to provide skills, knowledge and expertise in the area of horse care.

As the Horse Care Fundamentals is a non-accredited short course, it does not meet the prerequisite for the ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

To apply for Veterinary Nursing, you must have any one of the following prerequisites:

  • Certificate II in Animal Care, OR
  • Certificate III or a higher level qualification in an animal science discipline, OR
  • The equivalent skills and knowledge in a relevant animal science discipline (to a Certificate II level)

As the Horse Care Fundamentals is a non-accredited short course, it does not meet the prerequisite for the Equine Veterinary Nursing course.

To enrol in the Equine Veterinary Nursing course, students need to have successfully completed a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent qualification or equivalent skills and knowledge.

The Horse Care Fundamentals short course has been designed for flexible online delivery allowing you to learn at your own pace. You’ll dive deep into the world of horses through interactive modules, real-life scenarios, and online experiences. It’s a flexible format that lets you learn at your own pace in your own time.

No, there is no requirement to find a work placement position for the Horse Care Fundamentals short course. The course is completely delivered online, allowing you to complete your learning and assessments at your own pace over a 6 month period.

 

Why choose AVT?

Dedicated Animal Care College

AVT has been delivering Vet Nursing and Animal Care related courses for over 25 years. It's safe to say there are no plumbing or hairdressing courses here!

Prerequisite course for veterinary nursing

Outstanding Track Record

A recent NCVER VET student outcomes report found 93% of AVT graduates were employed or enrolled in further study after training and 95% of graduates would recommend the training provided by AVT.

Prerequisite course for veterinary nursing

Safe and Supported Learning

Our qualified teaching team have many years of experience as well as extensive backgrounds in the veterinary and animal care industry. They're approachable and dedicated to helping students succeed.

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