LECTURER Ria McLean says a partnership between Wiltshire College & University Centre and an acclaimed equestrian centre is helping her students flourish.
For more than six years Rein & Shine Equestrian Centre, at Buryhill Farm, Baydon, near Swindon, has provided the college’s equestrian students studying at the college’s Lackham campus with the chance to hone their skills working with horses in a professional environment.
Students studying Level 2 Equine Care and Level 3 Equine Management combine classroom learning with half days at Rein & Shine, which is owned by Johanna and John McDonald.
“We’re really fortunate in being able to bring our students here,” said Ria. “We’ve are able to use the excellent facilities of a centre that has been highly commended by the British Horse Society. We’ve also got use of their BHS-trained staff and we get to work with the wide range of horses they have here.”
She said the chance put classroom theory into practice is invaluable. “Although we travel to an offsite provider, we use the time on the bus to discuss and research the topics we will cover that day, and then from the minute we get off it they are learning, developing and practicing their skills,” she said. “I think that makes our course unique.”
Student Izzy Skuse, who is just finishing her first year, agrees. “It helps so much being able to get that hands-on experience, it’s about being able to handle the horses and do it properly,” said the 16-year-old from Wick, near Bristol. “The thing with horses is that not everything can be taught through a screen.”
Fellow student Tyla van der Westhuizen, 19, from Chippenham, said having a variety of horses to work with means she is gaining valuable experience. “We work with Dartmoor ponies to sport horses and all the mixes in between to the 19.2 hand Shire horse Arthur,” she said.
“Getting to work with so many different types of horses will be so helpful for us in the future.”
Students also have the chance to use the centre’s £80,000 Racewood Eventing Simulator, which can help improve their riding technique. “Our courses have riding and coaching modules so students are really fortunate to be able to use the simulator to identify their own and others’ riding position strengths and areas to develop,” said Ria. “It can help clarify why rider performance may be plateauing or decreasing. It allows students to develop the position and confidence that will improve their riding and coaching.”
The practical elements of caring for horses and coaching riders are just a few aspects of a course that aims to open students’ eyes to a world of possibilities within the equestrian industry.
“We ensure each student is aware of the vast array of opportunities out there if they have a passion for horses,” said Ria. “Parents or guardians can worry that being a groom or working at a yard might be the limit of what is out there for their children but there is so much more and the modules that we cover display that.
“We look at how equine businesses operate, how to run events with all the health and safety and marketing, the science of nutrition, health and welfare, every aspect.”
A third of students go into higher education from the course while two thirds find employment. Students have gone on to study or take up apprenticeships to be farriers, course designers, nutritionists, equine vets or therapists. Others take up role as coaches or riding instructors.
“The thing I love about my job is seeing students join and not really know where they want to go in their career but all of a sudden they’ve been introduced to something, they know that’s what they want to do and they go off and do it,” said Ria.
“Others join with a real passion for one thing and just to see them complete their journey with us and go into the area they wanted to follow from the get-go is just really nice. As staff we are here to get the best out of our students, and having this partnership with Rein & Shine really helps us to achieve that.”
About Rein & Shine
Rein & Shine is a professional riding school and livery yard based at Buryhill Farm in Braydon, North Wiltshire, just a few miles from Swindon. For over six years, Equine students from Wiltshire College & University Centre have been attending the centre as part of their practical training – developing hands-on skills and gaining real-world experience in a safe, supportive and industry-focused environment. Full-time students typically spend two days a week at Rein & Shine, benefiting from the expert facilities and dedicated staff. We’re proud of our ongoing partnership and the opportunities it provides for our learners.
