EQUINE students at Craven College, Skipton, were amongst the last in the country to sit exams this year just days before the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

Results day was a strange experience, instead of turning up at college with nervous expectations, they received their results virtually, via video calls from their course tutors. But the results turned out to be excellent - with a 100 per cent success rate for all four level three equine course students. Results were well above the national average with 84 per cent of Craven students achieving a merit or distinction grades.

Students on both first and second years of the City and Guilds level three technical qualifications completed their external exams just days before schools, colleges and universities across the country were told to close their doors and move to remote delivery, says the college, which is looking forward to exciting times in its equestrian department following the arrival earlier this year of new principal Lindsey Johnson, who has a MSc in Equine Science and is an equine nutritionist by training.

The exams tested the students across a range of equine related subjects, such as equine health, feeding and nutrition, behaviour and welfare, principles of equitation (riding) and business management.

Like GCSEs and A levels the exams are externally set and marked. They form a core element of the overall qualification along with practical assessment and assignments, and students progress on to a variety of jobs in the equine world, such as working in eventing yards and livery stables, teaching, working in stud yards, and moving on to horse charities. They can also become equine technicians for vets, or move into event management.

Penny Ralph, level three equine course tutor, said: “Our students worked incredibly hard and these fantastic results reflect the effort and determination they put in, we are incredibly proud of them.

“Results day was very different for us this year as we had to give results to students via video call rather than in person. This did mean that we got the chance to meet with families and in some cases pets, which even included some foals out in the field.”

Penny, who has been at the college for just more than two years, has worked previously with new principal Lindsey Johnson and both are looking forward to the development of new equine facilities at the college, which were approved by Craven District Council last year.

“I am delighted we have Lindsey as principal, I am looking forward to working together again and I am very excited about the future of the equine department at Craven,” said Penny.

Amelia Nelson, taking level three, advanced technical certificate, said she particularly enjoyed riding the variety of horses and making new friends. The college uses both student’s own horses, and horses on loan to the college.

“College this year for me has covered many challenging and interesting aspects. The course has a nice divide of practical and academic learning. Some of my favourite areas of study are biology, behaviour and welfare, yard routines and riding exams.

And, she found college life more suited to her than school. “The setting and monitoring of individual targets has helped me take responsibility for my own learning, and between the students and tutors there is a friendly, personal and mutual respect.”

Amelia said she found work experience at a livery yard valuable. “It broadened my knowledge of working with youngsters. It gave me the opportunity to ride the owner’s competition horses and interact with the vets and farriers. Watching the vet scan the mare for a foal was particularly fascinating. Since finishing work experience, I have visited this season’s foals,” she said.

“After working hard throughout the year, I was delighted to have achieved higher grades than first predicted. Getting a distinction meant everything to me. Although I am not fully sure of which area of the equine world I will work in initially my career aspiration is to one day to have my own livery yard working with backing of youngsters.”

Michelle Walker, taking her level three advanced technical diploma, said she has loved horses since she was very young, so a career in horses made sense.

“After completing my first year on the course, I have no regrets. I have riding lessons each week, which I love, and our tutor, Penny allowed us all to feel safe and comfortable in every lesson, and helped me develop my riding skill, and my confidence along the way. There are so many delightful characters within all the horses, and it’s great to care for and ride such a variety, and it’s really useful to build experience too.

Michelle also enjoyed the difference between school and college. “The main difference is the freedom you are given to make your own decisions and go off campus during breaks. This also meant becoming more independent in my work and encouraged me to reflect on my own ideas and create my own preferences on inconclusive ideas within the equestrian community. It was very rewarding receiving a distinction in my first-year exam, after putting lots of time and effort into class and revision at home. I hope to continue this standard into next year, which I’m really looking forward too.”

Charlotte Nunn is sad to be leaving after completing her advanced extended technical diploma with a merit grade, and spent some time doing work experience at a competition yard in Gargrave.

“This last year at college I have struggled with confidence, and the tutors have been amazing at helping me through it and coming out of the other side. Over the course of the three years, I have gained so much experience with horses and the knowledge of horses. This has been from both my work experience at a competition yard in Gargrave, as well as in college and assisting on the yard in my free lesson time. I can certainly say I will miss being at college this next year but I will certainly be back to visit.”

Ella Stuttard will also be leaving after completing her level three advanced extended technical diploma, with a distinction, and is moving= on to study Bio-veterinary Science at University.

“I have really enjoyed studying at Craven College, and while there, I competed in British Dressage competitions and I am hoping to take my competition mare to university with me to continue to train and compete her. I also bred my first two foals. It was helpful to complete some work experience within my level three course as I was able to observe a stud vet at work to help me consolidate my choice of degree as I would like to move into the equine reproduction sector in the future.”

Plans to build stables, an arena, exercise yard and car parking next to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal were approved in January, last year.