Knowledge and Skills Training Programme – Autumn 2017

Knowledge and Skills Training programme Autumn 2017

18th – 20th September

Level 3 Diploma in Equine Legislation, Welfare and Field Skills – Practical week

In December 2016 The Horse Trust launched the Level 3 Diploma in Equine Legislation, Welfare and Field Skills, a qualification that has been developed specifically for the equine welfare sector by The Horse Trust and Lantra Awards. The qualification is awarded by Lantra Awards and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), which regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.

A large number of organisations are involved in protecting and promoting the welfare of equids in the UK. These include organisations that play a role in: investigating allegations of welfare compromise; enforcing welfare and other equine specific legislation; responding to situations where equids are found in distress or straying, abandoned or fly-grazed; and caring for and rehabilitating equids experiencing welfare compromise.

Until now, people employed or volunteering in these roles could not achieve a regulated qualification relevant to their role: this qualification enables those achieving it to demonstrate that they are able to perform their role professionally, safely and to the required industry standard. To determine what this standard should be, the qualification was developed in consultation with statutory organisations, veterinary surgeons, nutritionists, equine behaviourists, and animal and equine welfare charities.

The Level 3 Diploma in Equine Legislation, Welfare and Field Skills has been developed for:

o    Individuals employed by or volunteering for organisations that investigate, or assist in the investigation, of alleged equine welfare compromise

o    Individuals employed by organisations that enforce animal welfare legislation and/or other legislation affecting equids

o    Individuals employed by or volunteering for organisations that board, care for and rehabilitate equids with compromised welfare, including equids that are the subject of prosecutions.

The first cohort of learners on this qualification started in July 2016 and are now attending The Horse Trust for their first practical week of training, after completing the theory aspects of all mandatory units on The Horse Trusts e-learning platform.

This week will include training and assessment on the following topics: Assessing Equine Welfare, Principles of Equine Nutrition, Handling Equids with an unknown background and Identifying Equidae. They will complete tasks including: assessing risks, body condition scoring, weighing, identifying horses, completing passport silhouettes, horse handling and tying up.

This cohort of learners will be the first in the whole of the UK to hold a qualification relevant to working in the welfare sector.