EMILY TAYLOR
Case Study – the apprentice
Emily, 17, works at Boskell Riding Centre, Trethowel close to St Austell. Home to 28 horses and ponies, the premises have a lot to offer staff in training. The centre includes working liveries, riding instruction and plenty of hacking out for visitors and locals alike.
Brought up with horses, Emily always wanted a career in the equine industry and, while at school, opted for a two-day per week placement at Boskell Riding Centre to study Level 1 Horse Care.
“I’m dyslexic and I didn’t enjoy school work, being outside with the horses is so rewarding and I really like practical tasks. The school placement option enabled me to start gaining equine care skills and improve my CV for working in the equine sector.
“So when I left school, I became fully employed by Boskell Riding Centre and progressed onto the Horse Care Apprenticeship at Level 2. I liked the fact that my level 1 was assessed by a range of methods, such as interviews with my assessor and testimonials from my work colleagues. This meant I did not have to record everything in writing and I could play to my strengths.”
“The group sessions at Duchy College were great because you get to make new friends. I also liked the ridden work at college, such as supervised jumping classes. These were filmed so I could watch them afterwards and work on my technique.”
Emily also gained two days of ATV training through Duchy College and now regularly uses a quad bike in her work role at Boskell Riding Centre.
The assessor
Jane Francis, NVQ Assessor, said: “Many level 1 students are school pupils that want to pursue training in a topic outside the scope of the national curriculum. Level 1 enables learners to benefit from complete supervision in the workplace, so, while Emily was very experienced with horses, the course is also suitable for beginners.”
The employer
Marsha Yelland BHSA1, said: “We are a family run business and teach riders to be safe and have fun. I am delighted Emily has achieved so much through her apprenticeship. The level 2 training has helped her develop excellent horse care skills and gain self-confidence.”
