THE following courses are offered at Teagasc Kildalton Agricultural College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. These programmes are practically based and industry focused.

Equitation

Level 5 Certificate in Horsemanship – Equitation and the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horsemanship are aimed to equip the learner with the knowledge and skills for employment opportunities in the industry.

The courses provide students with the knowledge and skills relating to riding, in the areas of dressage, showjumping and cross country.

Ground work including lunging, loose schooling and driving help to prepare the students for breaking and training horses.

Stud Management

The Level 5 Certificate in Horsemanship – Stud Management and the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Equine Breeding courses are aimed to provide the learner with the knowledge and skills to lead and manage an equine enterprise in the thoroughbred or sport horse industry.

The course provides tuition in handling young stock, business management, enterprise management and has a 12-week practical learning period on renowned stud farms.

Course timing and content

The Level 5 Equitation course consists of 30 weeks course work at Kildalton College.

The Level 5 Stud Management course is also 30 weeks in duration, broken down into three days at Kildalton College doing course work and a practical learning period for two days a week at prestigious stud farms.

During this time, students on both courses develop knowledge and skills in:

On successful completion of an equine related QQI Level 5 course, students may apply online to join a Level 6 course: https://www.teagasc.ie/education/going-to-college/apply-online/

These programmes are designed to train people to find employment in the Sport Horse or Thoroughbred industry.

Handling horses

Students come to Kildalton College for 18 weeks and complete the academic course work and develop their skill and proficiency in handling young horses.

Stud students then spend 12 weeks on a paid practical learning period (PLP) on approved stud farms to give them real-life learning, focusing on the breeding season and gaining responsibility on the stud farm.

On work placement students are involved in all areas of the enterprise, foaling down mares, barren mares, walk-in mares, stallion yards, foal and yearling sales preparation, breeze-ups and pinhooking.

This gives them a broad experience of the industry. Students may also get the opportunity of going to the sales and be involved in buying, showing and selling of stock.

Many students gain employment through work placement.

Equitation

Students spend 28 weeks at Kildalton developing their riding and horse management skills, breaking three- and four-year-olds, training and producing young horses for sales and competitions. The students learn how to manage a team being ‘in charge’ of a group of students and horses and learn how a commercial yard works.

The coaching module encourages students to train towards their BHS and HSI qualifications.

On successful completion of either of the level 6 courses, the student meets the training requirements to become a Young Trained Farmer (green cert). Students at Kildalton College learn to work as part of a team and make friends for life.

Kildalton courses have a reputation for producing highly skilled graduates, with an excellent work ethic. Kildalton has developed strong links with all disciplines in the equine industry ensuring that our students have the best opportunity to find jobs once they have finished. Testimonials

All courses throw up stars and ours is no different. Students that come to mind who have trained at Kildalton are: Adam Benson Byrne – Equitation Course: Adam is currently a riding officer in the Army Equitation School and is competing in showjumping and eventing.

Adam enjoyed his time in Kildalton as he wanted to become a professional rider and said that Kildalton ticked all the boxes for him and he enjoyed how ‘hands on’ the course was. Donnacha Tuohy – Stud Management Course: Donnacha went on his PLP to Glenvale Stud where Ciaran Conway gave him a great insight into stud work and encouraged him to travel.

Donnacha went to Ashford Stud in Kentucky and from there he worked a season in Coolmore Australia prepping yearlings for the sales. On his return he took up a permanent post in Glenvale Stud.

Kildalton is for you if you want to: