The next step in your equine career

This apprenticeship has been designed for the job role requirements of the Senior Equine Groom. This programme is aimed at those with some experience of working with horses in an equine business, who wish to acquire an advanced level of horse care understanding, alongside developing the ability to coordinate the day-to-day care of horses, and the skills to manage a team in the workplace.

This apprenticeship can be tailored to different specialisms including riding, yard-based (non-riding), breeding, and racing.  It will give a solid foundation in horse care and a strong start to a career working with horses.

“My apprenticeship is by far the best thing I have ever done, I wish I could do it again!”

Nyah Milward, Former Advanced Apprentice 


This apprenticeship will:

  • Ensure you are trained to become a fully competent senior member of staff.
  • Provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to be consistent in your level of work.
  • Increase your confidence working with horses, in a team and in the workplace.
  • Allow you to work at the commercial speed equine employers expect.
  • The role of a Senior Equine Groom

    The role of a Senior Equine Groom is wide-ranging, including:

    • A clear grasp of horse anatomy and physiology.
    • Assessing and promoting equine health.
    • Treating common minor injuries and ailments.
    • Grooming, plaiting, clipping and presenting horses to a professional standard.
    • Managing a small to medium-sized equine yard and supervising a team.
    • Offering advice, support and guidance to a team.

    The Senior Equine Groom will provide for and coordinate the day-to-day care of the horses in the workplace. They will possess all the necessary skills to lead by example and will have the knowledge required to implement effective systems relating to the running of the yard. They will be capable of organising and monitoring the quality of work and ordering and maintaining supplies.

    All apprentices will be entering professional employment in this popular industry; receiving a contract of employment and being paid in line with the Apprentice National Minimum Wage and current Government guidance.

  • Entry requirements
    • To apply for this apprenticeship you will need to be of school leaver age.
    • To complete the Senior Groom Apprenticeship you will ideally have a Level 2 qualification in Horse Care or the equivalent experience.
    • If you haven’t already received a GCSE Grade 4 to 9, or a Level 2 Functional Skills qualification in English and Maths, you will develop English and Maths Functional Skills up to a Level 2 standard.

    If you are still in full-time education; school, college, university, on another apprenticeship, or just unsure of your suitability just contact our friendly team to discuss.

  • Teaching, learning and assessment

    Throughout your journey, you will learn the core apprenticeship components, taking part in monthly sessions with your Trainer-Coach, accessing different learning systems and spending time learning and enhancing skills, knowledge and behaviours whilst at work. If required you will also be supported to develop your maths and English, in preparation for your functional skills qualifications. You will then be assessed by a final end point assessment (EPA) for your overall apprenticeship.

    Every four months you will practice your tests and assessments in preparation for EPA. Your EPA consists of a knowledge test, observation at work and a professional discussion. These are all designed to prove competence in the workplace and you are fully supported in your preparation for this.

    All our Trainer-Coaches are experts in the equine industry and will be on hand to support you throughout your apprenticeship. They will check your knowledge and understanding through a variety of methods including assignments, workbooks, tailored resources, and observations before agreeing with you and your employer that you are ready to take your final endpoint assessment.

  • Next steps

    After completing a Level 3 Apprenticeship it is possible to be hired as a fully qualified and highly competent member of staff.

    You may wish to study our Level 3 learning mentor apprenticeship in order to support and guide others on their learning journey.

    If you want to move into higher education the apprenticeship does not carry UCAS points but it does give you industry experience and a thorough understanding of horse care, which will help enhance your application to do a Foundation Degree or full Degree.

    The equine industry is vast. In your career with horses, there’ll be scope to move up the ladder, across disciplines and it can even take you abroad.

    Visit our Learner page for more details on undertaking an apprenticeship


If you have a passion for horses, apply today or view our current vacancies here.

Please click the tabs to view the varying apprenticeship pathways open to Haddon Training apprentices

Take this route if you wish to ride horses as part of your apprenticeship. This can be across any discipline.
At Level 3 you will cover such things as understanding and preparing horses for work/competition, understand and fit a range of specific saddlery and equipment for different work requirements, exercise a variety of horses using the scale of training and appropriate exercises connected to this, competently ride over a course of show jumps and cross-country fences and learn the importance of following owner’s, employer’s and manager’s instructions for schooling or exercising.

The non-riding pathway is for those who want to gain in-depth horse care knowledge and at the same time develop skills to organise and manage a yard and business.
By the end of your apprenticeship, you should be competent in such things as understanding and implementing equine maintenance programmes, promoting the business through various channels, plan and organise events/activities, deliver and monitor customer care and needs, budgeting and record-keeping as well as completing several non-ridden exercises to aid in horse rehab and fitness work.

You can complete this pathway with a competition horse or thoroughbred horse stud.
Your apprenticeship will include understanding of equine reproduction, understanding various methods of natural and non-natural covering methods, preparing and assisting with foaling as well as understanding of to care for mares and neonates, including fostering and how to manage an emergency foaling situation and weaning methods. You will also learn about Pedigrees, stud contracts, Codes of Practice, veterinary certificates and the importance of accurate, confidential recording in a global industry.

This route is for those with an interest in providing care for racehorses both at home and at the races, whilst gaining a greater understanding of the racing industry. Within this pathway, there are two further options of riding and non-riding.

More information can be found on links Racing England or Racehorse Care Wales.

  • Pathways

    Please click the tabs to view the varying apprenticeship pathways open to Haddon Training apprentices

  • Riding

    Take this route if you wish to ride horses as part of your apprenticeship. This can be across any discipline.
    At Level 3 you will cover such things as understanding and preparing horses for work/competition, understand and fit a range of specific saddlery and equipment for different work requirements, exercise a variety of horses using the scale of training and appropriate exercises connected to this, competently ride over a course of show jumps and cross-country fences and learn the importance of following owner’s, employer’s and manager’s instructions for schooling or exercising.

  • Non-riding

    The non-riding pathway is for those who want to gain in-depth horse care knowledge and at the same time develop skills to organise and manage a yard and business.
    By the end of your apprenticeship, you should be competent in such things as understanding and implementing equine maintenance programmes, promoting the business through various channels, plan and organise events/activities, deliver and monitor customer care and needs, budgeting and record-keeping as well as completing several non-ridden exercises to aid in horse rehab and fitness work.

  • Breeding

    You can complete this pathway with a competition horse or thoroughbred horse stud.
    Your apprenticeship will include understanding of equine reproduction, understanding various methods of natural and non-natural covering methods, preparing and assisting with foaling as well as understanding of to care for mares and neonates, including fostering and how to manage an emergency foaling situation and weaning methods. You will also learn about Pedigrees, stud contracts, Codes of Practice, veterinary certificates and the importance of accurate, confidential recording in a global industry.

  • Racing

    This route is for those with an interest in providing care for racehorses both at home and at the races, whilst gaining a greater understanding of the racing industry. Within this pathway, there are two further options of riding and non-riding.

    More information can be found on links Racing England or Racehorse Care Wales.