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If you cannot find an answer to your question please feel free to telephone Paula in the office on 01398-371177 or email
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. If we are not there we will respond as soon as possible.
Email generally gets a quicker response especially if we are closed for a holiday break - someone always checks mail.
Q. How do the courses work?
A. On enrolment you are sent the first Section or Study Pack of your course. When you have worked through this first module, completed the assignments, research and set work, you send for the next one and so on. There are assignments to work on throughout the courses but most of these you do on your own. It is only when you reach the end of the course that you send in any work for your course tutor to check. Tips on fitting the course in around a busy life will be found later in this FAQ list.
Q. Do I get a Certificate or Diploma?
A. Yes if you wish. The final written assignment is the one you send in for checking by your tutor. If you want to achieve a certificate, providing this is successfully completed, your tutor will award you a Lingfield Equine Certificate. If you complete all the elements of the Intermediate Diploma programmes you are awarded an Intermediate Diploma. Occasionally, should a tutor feel an answer or two needs some more work, they send it back to you with advice and help on how to rework it. There is a small administration fee to cover the tutors time and admin for checking all your work.
Q. Can I get a BHS Certificate? A. Yes you can. If you complete successfully an individual Lingfield Long course you can opt to sit the BHS Horse Owner's Certificates exam. The BHS will award you the relevant Level of the BHS Horse Owner's Certificates
Q. Are there any time limits to work to, or a completion date?
A. No time limits at all. All our courses allow you to work at your own speed and to complete entirely at your convenience. Once your course has started we promise not to rush or hassle you in any way and you can take as long as you like to complete a course. There is more information on the How the Courses Work page.
Q. What happens if I want to take a long break? I might in future have family or work commitments which must come first.
A. You can take a long break of up to 2 years without even contacting us. Providing you contact us every 18 months to 2 years the course will remain open for you. If you leave it longer than this we will require a small re-instatement fee to set it running again. After 3 years without any contact we assume the course has been terminated by the student. More information on the How the Courses Work page.
Q. I live outside UK, can I enrol on a course? A. Yes, providing you speak and write English to a reasonable standard.
Q. Can I pay by Paypal? A. Yes if you have a Paypal account, simply register as though paying the course fee by cheque. Then send the full fee to
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. At the same time, forward by email a copy of the "Pending" form you received by email after registering, include details of the course and Paypal payment.
Q. Can I pay for an email course by cheque? A. Yes you can with a UK bank account cheque made out to PClements (this is the name of the working account for Lingfield Correspondence). Send it to the address on the contacts page with a copy of the "Pending" form you will receive by email after registration. The course codes will then be set 'live' so that you can access your course files.
Q. Can I pay by instalments?
A. Yes, with post dated UK bank account cheques. See next question for credit/debit cards. You must send three cheques made out to PClements (this is the name of the working account for Lingfield Correspondence) – send them with a copy of the "Pending" form you received by email after registering for a course. Date one cheque the same date as the form, the other two must be dated one and two months later.
Q. Can I pay in 3 instalments with my credit card or debit card via your web site?
A. No, the option to pay instalments is only with UK post dated cheques. You can PART pay by credit card though - just telephone Paula in the office on 01398 - 37 11 77.
Part payment by Paypal: You can if you wish however, pay the first instalment by Paypal (www.paypal.co.uk) to
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providing you do the following:
1. Log on and complete an online enrolment form, email the office immediately giving full details of the course on which you wish to enrol, include details of the payments.
2. Send two further post dated cheques (see previous question for cheque details). Cheques must be posted first class the same day you send the first instalment by Paypal. Include your emailed "Pending" form with the cheques and your full details with course number. Remember to include the Paypal information.We will if possible set the course running the day we receive that first payment.
Q. I dont have a cheque book, how can I pay for instalments?
A. Ask a friend or relative to help out and swap cheques for your cash.
E.mail courses
Q. How does the e.mail course work?
A. Instead of posting printed material to you, each time you request course material we will send it as an attachment on an e.mail. The files are password protected for security and you will be provided with the password on enrolment. It is exactly the same course material. You can print it up yourself or work on it on your the computer. You can save the files to a little USB memory stick (cost just a few pounds) and put it on any computer you have access to.
Q. E.mail courses sound a bit technical.
I am concerned about doing an email course because I don't use the computer much. I am not very experienced at all that sort of thing. How difficult is it?
A. You don't have to use the computer at all really to do an email course. All you need to do is provide us with an email address to which we can send the course material. Then just print up the material yourself (or get someone else to do it for you) and work on it as though it was a postal course! It is much quicker and cheaper by e.mail, so a much better option.
Q. How do I set up the email course on my computer?
A. You simply register and pay the fee. You are then provided with easy to follow procedures. You will automatically be sent an email with the special code to enable you to access the files. If you get stuck with the access to the files just email us - BUT FIRST re-read the welcome mail very carefully because it contains the password to open the files.
Q. I haven't got internet access at home, can I still do an email course?
A. Yes, all we need from you is an email address to which we can send the course material. You will be asked for this when you fill in your details during the enrolment and payment process. It could be another family member's address or a friends etc. They can receive the course files for you. You can then save the course material to a little USB memory stick (cost just a few pounds) and put it on any computer you have access to. (You can carry the whole course around in your pocket on one of those little things)
Q. Are the file attachments big?
A. Nobody has ever found them to be too large.
Q. I use a work email address, would that be OK to use for receiving the course?
A. Usually yes. Some companies, government offices, finance companies, solicitors and large or national organisation's computer networks block certain types of protected files (files with a password). If your company might block such files, we can send the material to any address you name for receipt of the course material. You must ask your IT department before enrolling if password protected pdf files are accepted . If not, then use or set up another email address for the course (e.g. Hotmail or Googlemail) and use that email address at the time of enrolling/registering.
Students Outside UK
Q. I do not live in the UK. Can I still take one of these courses? and if so can I sit the BHS Horse Owner's Certificates exams?
A. Yes we have students all over the world. The BHS HOC exams may be sat at any office of the British Council in your own country providing they offer exam facilities www.britishcouncil.org . You must check the availability of a local office and exam facilities yourself. We cannot confirm this for you.
Help with Course Fees (Funding and Discounts):
Q. Is there any funding available for people on benefits or for those who cannot work right now?
A. We are not able to access funding directly for you. However there are organisations you can approach. For instance, Job Centre can often help if the you are looking for help with training for a career or to gain employment in future. Go directly to your local job centre with a copy of our Prospectus and ask for help with funding. If you believe you might be able to get funding, you must contact us by email or telephone as soon as possible, we will need you to complete an enrolment form first.
Q. Is there anywhere else to get help with course fees?
A. If you intend to become an instructor or run a livery yard you may well be working as a self employed person. You would be be starting your own business. In some areas of the country it is possible to get financial help for a start up business. You might therefore be eligible for funds for starting your business. The first port of call for gaining access to this sort of funding is via a national organisation called Business Link . www.businesslink.gov.uk. The book for sale on this web site: Guide to Professional Equestrian Qualifications is very helpful too.
Other places to try for funding are local Citizens Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org who occasionally know of local organisations and charities which help people get back into work by funding training courses. There are also organisations scattered around the country which help people with disabilities gain access to training. Contact your local CAB in your area for help and advice.
Q. Are there any discounts avaialble on fees?
A. Occasionally we have special offers, especially on newly released courses - check the equine message board for details.
Q. Can I pay for discounted course fees on line?
A. Yes, but not through our web site. Contact us
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Recognised courses and qualifications.
Q. Are the courses recognised?
A. It depends what you mean by recognised.
Lingfield Correspondence is a Trade Member of the British Horse Society and a Member of The British Equestrian Federation. The BHS provides a link from their education section directly to this web site. All the instructors in the Lingfield Instructor Group are qualified. The BHS issue certificates to those who pass the BHS Horse Owners Certificate exams with us. You can also achieve Lingfield Equine Certificates and Intermediate Diplomas.
The courses are well known in the equine industry for providing very comprehensive and good quality professionally produced information. Those who complete the long courses are recognised to have gained a good overal theoretical knowledge on equine care and management.
Q. Do you offer professional qualifications?
A. The Long courses offer the option to sit the BHS Horse Owner's Certificates on completion. The BHS Horse Owner's Certificates are not however, professional qualifications because there is no practical section to the courses or exams. All professional qualifications in UK (enabling you to work hands on with horses) are examined as practical exams. Our courses DO however, provide the theory knowledge on which those taking professional exams would be questioned during the days of each of their various professional exams. Plenty of students are using these courses as a way of gaining that theory knowledge thus avoiding going to college or weekly lectures.
Q. I want to get qualified as a Riding Instructor but cannot afford to go to college and anyway I haven't really got the time. Can you help me find out about gaining professional qualifications on a part time basis?
A. There are lots of ways to get qualified. In the UK, there are a number of different equestrian qualifications - some are useful, some are not. Because so many people ask about this, The Lingfield Instructor Group have produced a guide to How to Get Qualified. This book is invaluable and only £4.75 from our shop or by Paypal on the HOME page of our site. Funding is sometimes avaialble for those starting a business. Information is provided in the guide as well as above - see the question about Help with Course Fees.
Q. I want to run a Livery Yard, how do I go about setting this up?
A. Our Short Course 8 covers a great deal of useful information relating to setting up a livery yard and provides vital information you need to know when it comes to the business management side of running a yard. Be aware that licencing of Livery Yards is to be introduced soon. We suggest however that the Intermediate Diploma programme (ELYM) which includes this SC8 course would provide comprehensive all round coverage of both the equine management and the business management side of running a yard. Topping this up with the Feeding & Nutrition and First Aid courses (SC5 & 4) would cover all aspects of equine welfare for the professional yard owner or manager. You may be able to get financial help - see 'Help with Course Fees' above.
Help, support & advice during my course.
Q. Is there someone on whom I can call for help and advice during my course?
A. Yes, every student has their own course tutor on whom they can contact by email or telephone. There is also a Full Tutor Support system for those who struggle with reading and writing . We also operate a message board where student chat to each other and ask for help and advice. There are study partner arrangements set up between students too. You are not alone so you can use all the help and advice facilities we offer.
Q. Can we share a course?
A. Yes the Level 1 long course can be shared providing you have the same last name and live at the same address. If your circumstances fall outside this criteria, email the office to see if you would be eligible. The fee is just £40 for the sharer - one person must pay the full fee. More infomation on the Fees page
Tips for those with a busy life
Q. How will it fit in with my life?
A. Deciding to study at home for a new skill or to expand your knowledge, will most probably affect your family life in some way, especially if you have children. It is important to get the family on your side so be sure you get time to study without reglecting the family. The best way to ge them on your side is to talk to them about your plan to complete the course and or achieve a certificate.
Explain to the family that you are doing this course so that you can imporive yoiur dknowledge and maybe your work too so that you can all enjoy a better life together. This way they are more likely to understand whn you shut yourself in aother room to study or ask them to sit quietly for a while to give you time.
Given a good explanation of what is going to heppen, when you start your course, even quite young children will understand. For those already at school, it sets an example and shows that you also have homework to do. Sometimes if homework is an issue, it helps them if you can study at the same time and in the same room.
I am worried about studying - I left school a long time ago!
Taking your studies in small achievable steps is always a good plan. Set aside a small amount of time each week to achieve each small step. Rewarding yourself in some way when something has been accomplished helps to keep you motivated. Give yourself a special treat for small achievements - an extra or special ride/lesson - or favourite cake a chocolate bar. Rewarding yourself for your hard work and your family for their co-operation will help to keep you on track and your family firmly on your side! When you complete an assignment, why not take a trip to the family's favourite restaurant - or get that special take away or DVD.
Q. I can't find the answer to my question here - is there anywhere else to look for help?
A. You could look at the How the Courses Work page
or ring Paula on 01398 - 37 11 77 / mail
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