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With an equine course at Lackham you'll have regular access to some of the best equine facilities in the region, giving you a unique and immersive learning experience whether you are a rider or non-rider.

We proudly partner the delivery of our Equine courses with Rein & Shine Equestrian Centre, basing all our practical learning across Level 2 and Level 3 provisions at this fantastic facility.

Rein & Shine are a BHS highly commended livery yard and riding school, with multiple arenas (including outdoor, indoor and grass surfaces), they strive to deliver high quality, professional riding instruction to our equine students. As a full-time student, two of your days at College every week will be spent at Rein & Shine, where you'll build skills and confidence in handling, grooming, tacking up and riding. Alongside your practical learning, performing yard duties will give you the experience necessary for a career in the competitive and exciting equine industries.

Your hands-on skills will be supported with essential learning in areas including anatomy, physiology, stable yard and stud management, nutrition, animal behaviour and welfare. The College holds strong links to local and national industry providers: each year our students undertake a residential trip at the Badminton Horse Trials, working alongside Kelvin Bywater to build the showjumping area.

As of 2022, Rein and Shine have installed the Racewood Eventing simulator – as a student you will have the opportunity to utilise this in your learning with the most up to date motion control technology, which will undoubtedly help you develop into a more balanced and effective rider. We are looking forward to furthering our relationship with Rein & Shine to continue to create students who are ready for the fast-moving and vast equestrian industry.

Meet your lecturer

Ria McLean,
Lecturer in Equine Management,

Ria joined the College in February 2019. She previously worked at Berkshire College of Agriculture as HE Equine Coordinator for over 3 years, in which she achieved her BHSAI and Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training. She completed her MSc in Equine Science at Aberystwyth University, winning the UFAW scholarship for her dissertation and presenting her findings at the British Society of Animal Scientists and University Federation of Animal Welfare. Ria has worked in several equine establishments; however, her main interests lie in SJ and reproduction and stud management. She worked for an International show jumper as sole groom, a stud farm as Head Groom and a relief groom for Lluest Equine Centre. Ria also enjoyed numerous successes competing in SJ and ODE, being Northern Ireland Riding Club Junior Open Champion and All Ireland School Champion 2009-2010. She continues to compete unaffiliated SJ and ODE when she travels back to NI.

Cathy Pilgrim,
Lecturer in Equine Management,

Having ridden throughout my childhood at Grovely Riding School, it was no surprise that I would choose a career with horses once I had finished school over 20 years ago. Whilst working at a training, livery, showing and riding school, I was lucky enough to be involved in breeding, producing and riding some of the most successful show horses in the country, training once a week at Wiltshire College Lackham for my NVQ in Horse Management.

My next position of Head Groom furthered my knowledge and skills in starting and schooling young sports horses, hunting and riding at Horse of the Year Show, whilst gaining additional British Horse Society qualifications. After many years within this role I set up my own business in producing young horses. My new role taught me a diverse range of business skills including interpersonal communication, finance and staff management.

With a passion for teaching and training I decided to study for a BSc (Hons) Degree at the Royal Agricultural University. Alongside this, I achieved additional teaching qualifications and experienced many more industry roles such as an operating theatre assistant, rehoming and marketing. After finishing my degree, I became an Equine Management lecturer teaching National Diploma courses at the Lackham campus.

I have maintained my passion for the practical industry by competing my young horses and continuing new challenges such as currently playing polo and point to point race riding. In 2016 theCollege launched its equine programme at the Salisbury campus and at specialist equine centres, where I am currently the Programme Lead.

Dawn Parker-Watkins,
Lecturer in Equine Management,

Dawn has been dedicated to teaching equine studies in FE colleges since 2006; before that she gained industry experience working on prestigious eventing, dressage and hunting yards.

She is a horse owner and over the years has competed in many spheres including showing, show jumping, dressage and endurance; she has also competed internationally, representing Great Britain Riding in the ladies' Military Skills at Arms team. Dawn continues to support the British Tentpegging Association by attending international competitions as the Team Manager and qualified as an International Tentpegging Judge.

Dawn holds numerous qualifications, including: BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Business Management at The Royal Agricultural College, HND Equine Studies Horse and Rider at Pershore and Hindlip College, Worcester; A1 Award and V1 Award, BHSAI and BHS stage 4 Senior Yard Manager.

In her spare time Dawn also takes an interest in alternative therapies including Equine Touch and Zoopharmacognosy, and she is a Reiki Master.

Our Facilities:

Equine Teaching Facilities

Your practical learning will take place at Rein & Shine, one of the best equine facilities in the region.

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