Level 3 Equine Groom Apprentice: Hands-On Training

Closes in 16 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

Barguse Riding School are offering an exciting opportunity to join their team as a Level 3 Equine Groom apprentice! Barguse caters for all levels of ability and ages and is Pony Club accredited. Barguse is a great place to work if you would like to progress in riding or teaching / coaching.

Wage

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

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Hours 30-40 hours per week on a rota basis. Shifts and days to be confirmed.

30 hours a week

Monday 5 October 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

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

The ideal candidate will be willing to work across 5 days including weekends and is positive and flexible. The main duties are:

• Mucking Out and Field Maintenance - manure picking, fencing, weed control etc.
• Turning out / bringing in horses
• Feeding, grooming
• Exercising horses and ponies, both ridden and in-hand
• Assisting with general running and managing yard duties
• Assisting with client’s events
• Assisting with lessons i.e.; leading
• Supervisory and leadership responsibilities

Where you'll work

Training

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

• Promote, monitor and maintain safe working practices at all times and comply with current health, safety and security policies and procedures (including PPE). Contribute to risk assessments.
• Organise, supervise and carry out all yard and field duties, day to day rotas and routines including liaising with vet, farrier and other visiting specialists. Maintain and organise basic yard based records including farrier, worming, vaccinations, etc.
• Monitor, maintain and assess quality of stocks and supplies of feed and bedding. Evaluate, prepare and maintain stabling and grassland for horses. Manage horses stabled and at grass. Implement measures to prevent and control the spread of disease. Coordinate waste minimisation, environmental and sustainable working practices. Supervise admission of a new horse and carry out an initial assessment, to include record keeping and health status
• Identify and discuss main superficial muscles and structure of the lower leg and foot. Assess and evaluate a horse including conformation, action, condition and fitness. Assess welfare (including health), recognise and treat common minor ailments and injuries. Administer first aid and treatments under veterinary advice to include, poultices, dressings and bandages. Administer permitted oral and topical treatments under direction. Take temperature, pulse and respiration rates of the horse.
• Identify and use appropriate methods to handle or restrain a horse. Prepare a range of horses for different types of work or competition to include grooming, clipping, trimming, pulling and plaiting. Recognise and discuss hoof balance. Demonstrate the correct procedure for removal of a shoe in line with current legislation.
• Plan and implement diets and feeding regimes. Organise the feed room and stock rotation.
• Coordinate the preparation for travelling horses including supplies, equipment etc. Plan the transportation of horses by road taking into account current guidelines, documentation requirements and procedures. Prepare a horse for transport, load and unload safely following current health and safety protocol. Supervise and care for horses during and after transportation.
• Prepare and lunge a horse for exercise using various types of equipment appropriately.
• Use correct terminology, paperwork, pedigree knowledge and hygiene practices within regular stud work. Assist with recording breeding information as appropriate. Be able to tease and make recommendations on subsequent actions. Assist with the preparation for coverings. Prepare a foaling environment and assist during normal foaling, to include examination of the placenta. Recognise non-normal foaling events and the actions to be taken. Manage, monitor and maintain routine care, well-being and handling of breeding and youngstock. Assist with successful weaning processes and implement fostering programmes and care of orphan foals. Monitor, maintain and manage the health and well-being of breeding and youngstock. Present a male horse correctly for inspection.
• Prepare a turnout for exercise and competition. Harness up and put to with an assistant a pair turnout. Drive a single turnout in a training area and on the highway demonstrating safe rein handling and whip use. School the turnout in basic correct way of going. Exercise horses/ponies in a non driving environment, including being able to lunge or Long rein in an enclosed area to improve the horse and to maintain and embed the horse in correct way of going, using a variety of equipment. Prepare comprehensive equipment lists for shows and events for drivers, horses, carriages and portable stabling.
• Discuss and initiate methods of loading and transportation of equipment. Design, coordinate and review a fittening and feeding programme for competition turnout including physiotherapy where necessary. Evaluate the use of specialist equipment in the fittening and training of driving horses.
• Handle Thoroughbred racehorses in and out of full training including young horses and those with training problems. Contribute to the early education and effective training of the horse to prepare for, and improve racecourse performance
• Assist in introducing young horses to equipment and tack. Ensure compliance with all industry regulatory requirements at the races or sales. Prepare horses at the race and assist with saddling up and the parade ring procedures
• Clean and prepare equipment for work and competition to the appropriate standard. Prepare horses for work and competition including selecting and fitting correct discipline specific saddlery and equipment. Exercise a variety of horses in all paces with and without stirrups maintaining an established position showing balance, independence and a supple seat. Ride horses of varying levels of fitness and training for exercise, understanding the type of work needed to maintain fitness. School a variety of fit horses with refined and coordinated aids showing feel, respect and an understanding of the horse’s way of going to develop the horse appropriately and according to instruction. Ride appropriate exercises including transitions, variation of pace, lateral movements to improve and develop work. Ride a variety of exercises over ground poles at canter, to enable progression to ride, where practical, over a course of show jumps and cross country fences, showing confidence and control, in a balanced and secure position. Design, implement and review work and fitness programmes.
• Clean and prepare equipment for work and competition to the appropriate standard. Prepare horses for work and competition including selecting and fitting correct discipline specific saddlery and equipment. Coordinate and supervise maintenance programmes for the establishment. Monitor the choice and quality of supplies and suppliers. Promote the business through word of mouth, advertising, social media and the internet. Plan, organise and implement a variety of events/ shows or activities, whilst constantly looking for ways to diversify and improve the business. Deliver, monitor, review and improve customer care and satisfaction. Carry out office duties including using IT for budgets and record keeping. Implement, record and review a programme for recovery, recuperation or rehabilitation. Design and review work and fitness programmes and implement non-ridden exercise regimes. Prepare and long rein a horse for exercise.
• You will gain a level 3 apprenticeship qualification in Senior Equine Grooming and also an Emergency First Aid qualification
• You will need to attend our Duchy Stoke Climsland one day a week, with the rest of your working week in the workplace at Barguse

Requirements

GCSE in:

• Maths (grade 4/C)

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

Skills

• Customer care skills
• Logical
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Resilience
• Strong work ethic
• Reliable

Other requirements

This is a riding equine role. You will need to be able to demonstrate strong skills and experience within equine or have a qualification.

You will need to have suitable transport to and from work and college.

About this employer

Barguse Riding School is located on the edge of Bugle surrounded by open countryside and fields a lovely peaceful spot in a safe and child friendly location. Barguse caters for all levels of ability and ages.Barguse has an interest in Biometrics and the correct way of training horses from ground work to ridden. Barguse is Pony Club accredited. Barguse hold and run internal and external shows. Barguse has a Cross Country Jumps course. Barguse is a great place to work if you would like to progress in riding or teaching/coaching

There might be an opportunity to progress to a full time position with the company.

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CORNWALL COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship isVAC .

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

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