Beaulieu College Equestrian Academy: Johannesburg

Situated in the Kyalami area, Beaulieu College offers equine studies to pupils in Grade 8-12. This forms part of a National Senior Certificate (NSC) qualification. The college also houses an equestrian academy, offering a whole range of part-time courses. These part-time modules are run in line with the Sanef qualification system and cover subject matter aligned with their examination requirements, as well as the new NQF qualification scheme syllabus:

• Module 1: Basic Stable Yard Skills.
• Module 2: Advanced Stable Yard Skills.
• Module 3: Horsemastership.
• Module 4: Preliminary Riding Instruction.
• Module 5: Horsemastership and Riding Instruction.

Day courses with specialists are presented weekly at the college

These courses are revised regularly to ensure that syllabus content is in line with the requirements of the Sanef examination system and the unit standards for NQF’s. Students should be aware that a degree of experience and practical competence should be acquired in conjunction with the underpinning knowledge and practical guidance supplied by these courses, in order to be successful examination candidates.

Day courses run on Wednesdays, once a month. These cover a range of subject specific equine themes. Where possible, each day course will include input from at least one specialist speaker.

Two-day workshops take place throughout the year, covering a range of practical and training issues appropriate to various levels of horsemanship and horse and rider training. Our stud courses aim to provide students with knowledge relating to the care of breeding stock and the breeding process.

More information: Kim Hughes, tel 011 468 3321 or e-mail equestrian@beaulieucollege.co.za.

Equestrian Academy of Cape Town

The Equestrian Academy of Cape Town (EACT) is fully registered with the Western Cape education department as an independent, co-educational, English medium, day/boarding secondary school catering for grade 10- 12 learners. The academy also caters for post grade 12 students who have an interest and passion for horses and equestrian sports by off ering two full-time equestrian career training courses, namely a ten-month course for riding instructors and an eight-month stud management course. The complete school curriculum will be off ered at our college and classes will remain small with maximum twenty pupils per class.

The EACT is situated at Klein Zevenwacht Wine and Equestrian Estate in Kuils River, Cape Town North. Facilities include an equestrian centre with 32 indoor stables, club house, changing rooms and bathrooms, a tack room with lockers for each horse’s tack and equipment, dressage, jumping and lunging arenas, post and rail paddocks, horse wash bays, sick bay/ veterinary treatment stable, feed room, farrier stall and scenic hacking trails. The EACT offers a specialised school curriculum which includes equine studies as one of the choice subjects from grade 10. The academy follows the curriculum of the WCED with IEB exams done for equine studies. Equine studies focus on horses and horse riding. The curriculum for equine studies encompasses four main areas of study, namely equine nutrition, equine anatomy, riding proficiency and equine health care. The subject consists of a theory and a practical aspect.

More information: EACT director, Melanie Cerqueira, cell 083 338 8803, tel 021 903 3328, 021 903 9568 or e-mail melanie@equizone.co.za.

Plettenberg Equestrian Academy

The Plettenberg Equestrian Academy in Plettenberg Bay, is a division of the International Hotel School, and produces students who will have the knowledge, confidence and practical experience to be able to work successfully in any sphere of the horse industry. Situated in the Harkerville Forest belt, between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, the academy accommodates students on the farm, while they study for their Sanef exams and take part in all the farm activities.

What the students say

Seamus Kelly: “I believe this course has shown me my strengths and my weaknesses; which I’m working on. This course at PEA has been the most challenging and most difficult I’ve experienced. If you want to learn who you are as a person and work with your passion, PEA is for you!”

Larochelle de Klerk: “During this year I’ve learnt a lot of things, and also made some very good friends. We’ve had good and bad times at the academy, which taught me good life skills and made me a better person. But as with all things, you need to learn from the bad and appreciate and treasure the good.”

Stephanie Lombard: I learned to deal with confrontation and also how to work in a group. I learned so much about horses, and felt my eyes were opened to a whole new horse world! It really helped me to plan my future and showed me how to make a good living from horses. ”

More information: Chantelle, tel 044 532 7590 or e-mail chantelle@nooitgedachthorsestud.com or www.equestrianacademy.co.za

Shumba Valley Equestrian Centre: Eastern Free State

What we offer students on this informative course is not only a full introduction to becoming a horsemaster, but an introduction, by professionals in their fields, to a huge variety of careers in the equine world. With this information the student can progress with direction and vigour, and not be left wondering what to do next!

We cover the following in the horsemasters’ diploma: stable management (theory and practical); equine nutrition and pasture management; anatomy and physiology; conformation; and much more. During the course we visit twelve different stud farms, many of whom allow the students to ride their horses, introducing them thoroughly to the various breeds and their characteristics and correct conformation requirements. We visit an AI-centre and have visitors discussing career choices. Some highlights include a visit to the famous Summerhill Stud, riding an Erasa endurance ride, participating in shows and a Le Trec event, if time permits.

We also assist in placing the student in a job or assisting them to get into colleges overseas or getting them into a job overseas as a start. Shumba Valley has a wonderful selection of horses for students. Horses are at varying stages of training, in various disciplines, so students really get to learn how to work with an assortment of temperaments and breeds and abilities. Each student has private lessons and a considerable amount of personal time is spent on each one.

More information: Di Armour, 084 562 9818 or e-mail barmour@worldonline.co.za or www.shumbavalleyfarm.co.za