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Home /Grooms life/England%e2%80%99s first equine coaching apprenticeship

England’s First Equine Coaching Apprenticeship

13th May 2026

Grooms looking to expand their skills and earning potential through coaching now have the option to take up a Coaching Apprenticeship.

The National Horseracing College (NHC) has launched England’s first Level 2 Equine Coaching Apprenticeship, designed to help grooms build confidence, develop new skills and progress their career without leaving their job.

Delivered by the NHC, the apprenticeship is not limited to horseracing. It is open to anyone working within the wider equine industry in England, including riding schools, livery yards, competition yards and breeding establishments.

This apprenticeship is built around real yard life, so students can learn while they work and start using their new skills straight away.

The apprenticeship runs over 12 – 18 months, with around six hours per week dedicated to training and development.

It’s fully funded for those aged 16–21, with support available for older learners.

As the first programme of its kind in England, this new Level 2 Equine Coaching Apprenticeship offers a clear pathway to build future coaching skills and open up new opportunities within the industry.

The course starts with a 4-day in-person event at the National Horseracing College in Doncaster on Monday 8th June to Thursday 11th June 2026, and this is the only required attendance outside of the workplace.

 

“This programme has been designed to support people already working within the equine industry to develop the confidence, communication skills and professional knowledge needed to become effective coaches.

Importantly, although the apprenticeship is delivered by the National Horseracing College, it is open to individuals from all equine disciplines.

With full funding available for many learners, we hope this will make professional development and career progression more accessible to people across the industry, while also helping employers develop skilled, knowledgeable and confident members of staff.”

Emma Cassidy, Work-Based Learning Manager, National Horseracing College

Learners will develop the confidence to:

· Plan and deliver structured coaching sessions

· Work with riders of different ages and abilities

· Communicate clearly and motivate others

· Improve sessions through feedback and reflection

· Apply safeguarding, wellbeing and professional standards in their role

Find out more on the National Horseracing College website 

 



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What the personal accident policy covers you for:

  • Whilst at work
  • All stable duties – mucking out, grooming, washing off, turning out
  • Clipping
  • Riding – including hacking and jumping
  • Hunting
  • Lunging
  • Breaking in
  • Holding horse for a vet and other procedures
  • Travelling horses both in the UK and abroad
  • Competing in line with your job including: jumping, dressage, eventing
  • Injuries that may happen to you whilst you are teaching - but you must also be grooming as part of your duties and not be a sole instructor

What the personal accident policy doesn’t cover you for:

  • Riding in a race, point to point or team chase
  • Stunt Riding
  • Accidents occurring whilst travelling to and from work
  • Riding and competing your own horse (but you can upgrade when applying for membership to include this)
  • Public Liability – this is a separate insurance policy - the Freelance Groom Liability Insurance
  • Care Custody and Control – this is a separate policy - the Freelance Groom Liability Insurance

If you require additional cover then please contact KBIS directly.

   GROOM  RIDER  EMPLOYER

When you are working for other people you do most of the following; muck out, turn out/catch in, tack up, groom horses, exercise Horses (including hacking, jumping and schooling), in the care of your employer/client.

 
YES

 
NO

 
NO
Predominantly ride horses for other people including schooling, exercising and competing.   
NO		  
YES
YES
 Provide grooming services for someone else either full time or on a freelance basis i.e. an employer or a client.   
YES
NO
NO
Employ staff – have an employers liability policy in your name NO NO YES
Buy and sell horses NO YES YES