Topics covered

• Care & Requirements of the stabled horse
• Breeds & Types
• Colours & Markings
• Psychology
• General care relating to stress
• Modern bedding materials
• Methods and Systems
• Importance of routine
• Safety in the stable and yard
• Safety when handling, riding and caring for horses
• Importance of regular Farrier visits
• Basic reasons for shoeing and problems caused by irregular attention
• Grooming - Reasons and Principles
• Quartering and Strapping
• Method and order
• Signs of Health and Ill Health
• Know the norm. Keeping Records
• First Aid. When to call the Vet
• Minor Ailments - preventative treatments
• Feeding and Watering
• Rules
• Types of feed and their uses
• Feeding for Light Work
• Hay and other forage
• Vacuum packed forage - storage and use
• Care of the horse at grass
• Suitability of fields and paddocks
• Worming. Modern approaches
• Drugs and full programmes
• Administering worming products
• Tack in common use
• Correct fit and fitting of tack
• Problems caused by ill fitting tack
• Bits and Bitting
• Rugs and Rugging
• Preparation for riding on roads
• Returning from a ride
• Care of a hot horse - modern approaches
• Road Safety
• How to go about buying your first or second horse or pony
• Livery Yards: Contracts and What to expect
• Lessons and Classical Riding
• Reversing a trailer

• The more unusual colours and markings
• Points of the Horse

• Fitting a second hand saddle
• Problems caused by second hand saddles*

Practical:

• Taking apart, checking for safety, cleaning and re-assembling a saddle and bridle. Naming parts