Equestrian Training Programme

National Equestrian Academy

Equestrian Training Courses The equestrian training programme takes place at the National Equestrian Academy, based at the North Canterbury Community College in Rangiora. The College provides education and practical training in a rural atmosphere on a 4 ha site, situated in East Belt, adjacent to the Rangiora High School.

This equestrian training programme has a very high success rate, with 95% of our equine students getting great jobs in polo, racing, endurance, sport horse, stud farms and other areas of the equine industry in New Zealand, England and Australia.

The programme is not just an introduction to stable practice; it is a 36-week experience that provides students with a solid grounding in all aspects of horse management and care required for a career in the equine industry.

Around 65% of the programme is practical, with students riding and working with our twenty plus horses on-site. Our horses are selected to provide a variety of riding experience and understanding of the different qualities of individual horses or breeds. The practical day-to-day experience with the horses provides significant advantages in understanding the theoretical elements of the programme.

The indoor-outdoor classroom provides a pleasant and practical working environment for our students. On-site facilities include a lunging area, loosebox, tack room, exercise track, all-weather arena, classroom and cafe. Off-site the New Zealand National Equestrian Academy has access to one of Canterbury's finest cross-country courses and all-weather dressage and show jumping arenas courtesy of the Rangiora Pony Club. Local industry support for the programme is strong with industry professionals providing additional expertise, resources and work placements for the students. Major events such as a 3-day trek and college event days provide exciting focus points for this equestrian training programme.

Equestrian Training Programme: The Qualification

On successfully completiion of the Equine programme, students will be awarded the National Certificate in Equine (Stable Practice) - Level 3 with one of the four strands, Harness Racing, Sporthorse, Thoroughbred Racing, and Track Riding. They will be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills related to the specific strand and care and attend to horses situated in and away from their usual environment, whilst under supervision. The NZQA unit standards and national certificate awarded, provide nationally recognised certification of the skills and standards achieved.

Having completed the Stable Practice programme, students can continue on to complete the National Certificate in Equine (Community Coach) - Level 3. This certificate is awarded to people who have demonstrated competency in a range of skills to care for horses and coach riders at an introductory level. The qualification recognises a combination of equine care, equine health, and equitation skills required for coaching, which meet the horse management skills and knowledge required by the industry.

Enrolment material for 2011 Equestrian Training Programme available soon.

If you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat, download the latest version.

Tutors

Ashley Whitting

Programme Co-ordinator and Lead Tutor Ashley Whitting joined the Academy in 2008 after moving to New Zealand from England where she studied breeding and horse care management at Hartbury College in Gloucestershire and Environmental Science at the University of Gloucestershire. An accomplished eventer and showjumper, Ashley comes from a "huge hunting background" and has hunted all her life.

Her varied equine career includes working in hunting, eventing and polo yards, where she trained and broke in young stock and trained young riders. She also spent a season grooming for high goal polo, has had the opportunity to play young horses in chukkas, and has track riding experience.

She says the Academy is a great place for students to turn their passion for horses into a career and she finds it rewarding to be able to assist and mentor her students towards their goals.

Nicolette Geldermann

Tutor Nicolette Geldermann started with the Academy in 2006. Trained as a "Horse Care Specialist", Nicolette has experience in horse breeding and keeping, as well as preparing and presenting horses for shows, and breaking in and schooling young horses. She holds a Diploma in Education from the University of Cologne.

In 2002 Nicolette began spending six months a year in New Zealand working for a horse trekking operation at Punakaiki, while spending the other six months in her native Germany as a student supervisor at the German Institute of Equine Osteopathy, where she gained skills in Equine Physiotherapy. She also rode and trained horses there.

Nicolette is now permanently based in New Zealand, and enjoys the supportive, team environment at the Academy. She believes the high skill levels gained by the students on the equestrian training course enables them to work in the industry anywhere in the world.

Nicolette and Ashley are assisted by industry professionals who add variety and understanding on topics such as fencing, pasture control, vet services, natural horsemanship, farrier work and other specific areas of the industry.

Tom Twidle

Tom has 15 years experience in breaking horses in; preparing horses for sales; agistment and management; as well as taking an advisory role in breeding. Tom holds both a Trainers Licence and a Trials Licence. Our students benefit greatly from his experience.

Stuart Muir

Stuart holds a Master Farrier Certificate and is Cytex accredited. Stuart has been working in the farrier sector for nine years and has overseas shoeing experience. Students benefit from real and direct input from an industry professional such as Stuart - improving both their skills and understanding of this important sector.

The 3-Day Trek

Equestrian Training Courses - Trek This event, which takes students through the North Canterbury hinterland, is not only the highlight of the programme but serves to provide an opportunity for students to test their skills and stamina. Ashley says that so much personal growth takes place during these three days that she considers it a fitting culmination to the programme and well worth the time and effort involved in planning.

Testimonials

Hannah Scott - Endurance

"I attended the National Equestrian Academy in 2003. Having spent my earlier working life with animals I knew that this was something I wanted to do as a career and when I saw the advertisement for the National Equestrian Academy at Rangiora it seemed to be the perfect answer. This programme was much more than I thought it ever would be. Being a real hands-on person, the programme was ideal for my style of learning as I am definitely a seeing and doing learner. There was great balance between riding, which was everyday, and spending time in the classroom. I got to learn about the many strands of the equine industry before deciding which suited me. As there are so many opportunities out there it was good to be able to experience them before making a decision. I have met so many great people through the programme and have made close friends. My confidence grew and grew with all the encouragement and support provided by the tutor, who is wonderful, and the rest of the class as a whole.

I am now employed by Kevin James who trains endurance horses all over the South Island which are then sent to Dubai for Sheik Muhammad Rashid. Kevin telephoned the Academy looking for employees and after a trial I was accepted. This meant that I had a job before the programme finished. Nearly everyone else on the programme was also employed before the programme ended. This is another great benefit of attending the well-known and established Academy.

My riding takes me through forests, through high country stations and along beaches, what could be better! All my accommodation costs and entry fees to races etc. are fully covered so my wage is wholly mine. This is the best job in the world, which I would never have had, had I not made the decision to come to the National Equestrian Academy".

Kendall Green - Thoroughbred Racing

"I attended the National Equestrian Academy in 2002 and graduated in May 2003. I heard about this programme through a friend of mine and had previously been working with children but never lost the love of horses. This seemed the ideal way to be back around horses and possibly turn it into a career.

Visiting the campus only confirmed that this was the right direction for me to be heading. I had not been on a horse for a while but once I got back in the saddle I soon realised that I had not forgotten anything I had learnt previously. The programme was pretty much what I had thought it would be and the classroom stuff was a breeze even though I am a more hands on person. If I was ever stuck, Kate (the Tutor) soon gave me a hand. The thing that really blew me away was being shown the range within the equine industry and the employment opportunities within it.

During the programme it is not uncommon for potential employers to phone looking for qualified staff and I was fortunate enough to be able to spend weekends riding endurance horses. This involves riding between 40 - 120 kilometres through the most amazing scenery and seemingly impossible terrain. As part of the programme we were required to go on work experience and as a result of one of those days I was offered a job at the end of the programme, in an establishment working with hunters and show jumpers through the winter. In the summer I was contracted to Waieyre Farm which is a stud farm. It was a whole new world for me with heaps of hands on stuff from births and foal handling right through to working with the yearlings. Once that contract had finished I came to Ngapuke Stables in Loburn where they specialise in thoroughbred race horses and have now been here six months, have a great boss and am still learning.

If I had not made the decision to come to the National Equestrian Academy I have no idea what I would be doing now. Not only have I gained a great job, a gorgeous horse, but also met a good man. Life is pretty cool thanks to the National Equestrian Academy".

Colleges that offer the equestrian training programme:

Community College North Canterbury