PLACES on a new horsemanship course, to be delivered in the evenings and at weekends, are being offered free of charge by the Racing Academy and Centre of Education [RACE] in Kildare.

The course is being funded by Horse Racing Ireland’s Careers and Racing Education department [CARE].

The course [Horsemanship for the Thoroughbred Industry QQI Award (Major) Level 5] is designed to provide professional education and training to learners who love horses and have a particular interest in the thoroughbred industry (racing or breeding). The course will enable them to pursue a career in the thoroughbred industry or continue their studies at higher and/or third level

The focus of the course is to develop the skills to work in the thoroughbred industry, either racing or stud, while at the same time developing learners’ personal, interpersonal and workplace skills.

The content includes core modules in work experience and communications as well as a range of vocational modules including stable and yard routine, racehorse care and exercise, horse breeding, horse conformation, equine nutrition and equine anatomy and physiology.

The course will be run part-time over two years, delivered mostly at evenings and weekends for those working full-time.

Participants must be aged 18 or above to enrol. Those who apply for the course will be asked to undergo a suitability test.

To gain a place on the course learners should have a strong interest in and knowledge of racehorses, professionally working in the thoroughbred racing industry, or through either leisure and family background.

They should be physically fit but do not need to have horse-riding experience.

Tel: 045 522468 (Orlagh Rice)

Web: racingacademy.ie