Equine apprenticeship

Summary

Tynefield Stud is offering a fantastic opportunity for an apprentice groom to join a family-run business specialising in offering bespoke livery and stud services. We pride ourselves on attention to detail and the relationship we have with our clients.

Wage

£12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Equine groom (level 2)

Hours

Working 40 hours per week, final shift pattern to be agreed with the successful applicant. Please expect to work at least 1 weekend day.

30 hours a week

Start date

Saturday 3 October 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

General yard duties will include:

• Mucking out
• Tacking up and tack cleaning
• Bringing in and turning out
• Clipping/pulling/trimming/plaiting
• Bathing
• Schooling
• Exercising horses (including lunging, horse walker, long reining)
• Bandaging
• Rug changing
• Holding for vet/farrier/dentist
• Paddock maintenance

Where you'll work

HUNDRED ACRE FARM
COMPTON
CHICHESTER
PO18 9NN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SHELDRAKE TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Equine groom (level 2)

What you'll learn

• Work safely and efficiently at all times and comply with current health, safety and security policies and procedures (including PPE). (core)
• Carry out all typical yard and field routine duties to include mucking out, skipping out, tidying and cleaning the yard, watering and feeding. (core)
• Assess suitability of stabling and grassland environments for horses including checking for hazards etc. (core)
• Assist with the arrival of a new horse to the yard, following current yard procedures and measures to prevent and control the spread of disease. (core)
• Recognise, identify and describe horses including sex, height, type, colours and markings. (core)
• Identify anatomy of the horse to include the bones of the lower limb, points of the horse and the position of the major internal organs. (core)
• Recognise signs of good and poor welfare (including ill health) and check for injuries. (core)
• Report relevant information and assist with medical treatment and other industry specialists, including Senior Groom, Dentist, Farrier, Veterinary Surgeon. (core)
• Ensure the horses’ welfare before and after exercise or travel. (core)
• Handle a variety of horses in the workplace to include tying up, leading, trotting up, turning out and catching in. (core)
• Recognise different types of feed and hay and check their quality. (core)
• Groom a horse including checking feet and shoes. (core)
• Demonstrate trimming and plaiting. (core)
• Fit a variety of common saddlery, equipment and horse clothing. (core)
• Remove, clean and store common saddlery and equipment. (core)
• Check the safe and effective working condition of all saddlery, equipment and clothing. (core)
• Prepare horse(s) for travel using appropriate clothing and equipment. (core)
• Assist with loading and unloading before and after travel. (core)
• Prepare for and provide a variety of appropriate non-ridden exercise including fitting and use of lungeing equipment. (core)
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, supervisors, visitors and clients whilst showing good interpersonal skills. (core)
• Ride appropriately to follow school rules and regulations in relation to flat groom duties. (flat)
• Adopt an appropriate basic riding position on the flat. (flat)
• Ride an experienced schooled horse, according to instruction, independently or as part of a group, in an enclosed area. (flat)
• Ride in a balanced secure position, showing control at walk, trot and canter, working with and without stirrups whilst demonstrating movements (for example, circles, turns etc.) (flat)
• Ride on the road or in public places according to laid down procedures, Highway and Country Codes. (flat)
• Open and close a gate whilst mounted. (flat)
• Ride a quiet horse whilst leading another quiet horse or pony. (flat)
• Walk and trot over poles positioned on the ground in a steady and consistent rhythm. (flat)
• Ride in the open, according to instruction, with control, security and balance over varied terrain, negotiating everyday obstacles/ hazards. (flat)
• Adopt an appropriate basic riding position when jumping. (jump)
• Ride in a balanced, secure forward seat over a short course of fences, with control, security and balance. (jump)
• Ride a quiet horse whilst leading another quiet horse or pony. (jump)
• Ride in the open, according to instruction, with control, security and balance over varied terrain, negotiating everyday obstacles/ hazards. (jump)
• Open and close a gate whilst mounted. (jump)
• Ride on the road or in public places according to laid down procedures, Highway and Country Codes. (jump)
• Walk and trot over poles positioned on the ground in a steady and consistent rhythm. (jump)
• Ride an experienced schooled horse, according to instruction, independently or as part of a group, in an enclosed area. (jump)
• Ride appropriately to follow school rules and regulations in relation to jump riding. (jump)
• Provide pre and post race care including compliance with industry regulations. (racing exercise)
• Handle Thoroughbred racehorses in and out of full work. (racing exercise)
• Prepare and lead up a Thoroughbred racehorse at the races in accordance with industry practice and the Rules of Racing. (racing exercise)
• Fit a variety of specialist racing equipment and tack. (racing exercise)
• Ride appropriately to follow agreed industry protocols and regulations in relation to a racing exercise groom duties. (racing exercise)
• Provide ridden exercise regimes to Thoroughbred racehorses according to instructions, safely and in control, with a good, secure and balanced position, in line with yard and industry practice. (racing exercise)
• Carry out the specific routines required in a racing yard. (racing exercise)
• Implement technique and methods to maintain industry weight and fitness requirements for riding racehorses in training. (racing exercise)
• Prepare and lead up a Thoroughbred racehorse at the races in accordance with industry practice and the Rules of Racing including pre and post race activities. (racing yard)
• Provide non-ridden exercise regimes to Thoroughbred racehorses safely and according to instruction. (racing yard)
• Assist and support Racing Grooms and provide non-ridden exercise regimes. (racing yard)
• Fit a variety of specialist racing equipment and tack. (racing yard)
• Handle Thoroughbred racehorses in and out of full training. (racing yard)
• Assist with storage of supplies and stock rotation. (non-riding)
• Contribute to the organisation and routine maintenance tasks within the workplace. (non-riding)
• Engage with customers and identify their needs. (non-riding)
• Assist with appropriate office duties including answering the telephone, processing information and use workplace IT systems. (non-riding)
• Contribute to yard-based records including passports, vaccinations, worming, farriery, dentistry etc. (non-riding)
• Prepare for and lunge a horse for exercise in an enclosed area according to instruction. (non-riding)
• Contribute to yard-based industry record keeping, operate equipment, machinery and technology appropriately to assist with the effective organisation and maintenance of the commercial business premises. (non-riding)
• Handling equines used for breeding purposes including leading a mare through the stocks. (breeding)
• Demonstrate catching a mare and foal or young stock from grass/ stable with due considerations for health and safety. (breeding)
• Restraining a foal during mare inspection or cover. (breeding)
• Assist with the preparation and show off equines of varying ages, as directed, for commercial and or private sale or grading including standing a horse up correctly for inspection as per the requirements of the breed, (breeding)
• Show a horse correctly in hand at walk and trot. (breeding)
• Act as a groom and or back-stepper in exercising, show, and (or) trials. (driving)
• Harness up and put to with an assistant a single turnout in both a two and four wheeled vehicle. (driving)
• Exercise horses/ponies in a non-driving environment, to be able to lunge or long rein in an enclosed area, in a circle for exercise purposes. (driving)
• Drive a quiet pleasure single turnout in an enclosed area demonstrating safe rein handling, turns to the left and right, in the walk and trot. To be able to halt, mount and dismount in a safe manner. (driving)
• Demonstrate safe use of the mandatory driving aid as a communication tool. (driving)
• Take a horse out of a vehicle with assistance, and unharness horse in a safe manner. (driving)
• Dismantle, clean and put back together all the parts of a leather or composite harness. (driving)
• Clean a wooden and (or) metal vehicle (two and four-wheeled) and store safely. (driving)
• Work safely and efficiently at all times and comply with current health, safety and security policies and procedures (including PPE). (core)
• Carry out all typical yard and field routine duties to include mucking out, skipping out, tidying and cleaning the yard, watering and feeding. (core)
• Assess suitability of stabling and grassland environments for horses including checking for hazards etc. (core)
• Assist with the arrival of a new horse to the yard, following current yard procedures and measures to prevent and control the spread of disease. (core)
• Recognise, identify and describe horses including sex, height, type, colours and markings. (core)
• Identify anatomy of the horse to include the bones of the lower limb, points of the horse and the position of the major internal organs. (core)
• Recognise signs of good and poor welfare (including ill health) and check for injuries. (core)
• Report relevant information and assist with medical treatment and other industry specialists, including Senior Groom, Dentist, Farrier, Veterinary Surgeon. (core)
• Ensure the horses’ welfare before and after exercise or travel. (core)
• Handle a variety of horses in the workplace to include tying up, leading, trotting up, turning out and catching in. (core)
• Recognise different types of feed and hay and check their quality. (core)
• Groom a horse including checking feet and shoes. (core)
• Demonstrate trimming and plaiting. (core)
• Fit a variety of common saddlery, equipment and horse clothing. (core)
• Remove, clean and store common saddlery and equipment. (core)
• Check the safe and effective working condition of all saddlery, equipment and clothing. (core)
• Prepare horse(s) for travel using appropriate clothing and equipment. (core)
• Assist with loading and unloading before and after travel. (core)
• Prepare for and provide a variety of appropriate non-ridden exercise including fitting and use of lungeing equipment. (core)
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, supervisors, visitors and clients whilst showing good interpersonal skills. (core)

Training schedule

All training will take place at the employers workplace as Sheldrake Training offer a 100% WBL programme.

Equine groom Level 2 (GCSE).

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 4 or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

We are based in a rural location that is not serviced by public transport so please consider how you will get to and from work before applying. There is no accommodation available. This role will also require working in all weather conditions, so any applicant must be willing and able to do this.