Equestrian Sports Coaching (Hons)

Overview

You’ll graduate from this Equestrian Sports Coaching (Hons) course from Hartpury College with a strong portfolio of coaching experience. This includes opportunities to work alongside top-level coaches, at international competitions, events and conferences, as well as riders at novice and elite levels. You’ll be able to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career goals.

Different equestrian disciplines will form part of your learning, as you immerse yourself in riders and horses from different sporting areas, as well as para-riders. You’ll benefit from world-class facilities including our Rider Performance Centre that includes horse simulators, strength and conditioning and therapy suites. In fact, our Racewood Event Simulator in the most advanced simulator in the world and enables analysis and monitoring of rider posture and movement for performance and novice sports.

Focusing on both the horse and rider, you’ll understand industry-standard sports coaching theory and how to apply it to the unique area of equestrian sports. You’ll learn how sports psychology can be used to get the best from the rider, as well as how performance analysis techniques can refine the horse-rider partnership and therefore performance.

Throughout your degree you’ll build a diverse portfolio of experience through coaching practicals and equine-specific modules. There’s also the chance to supplement your learning by working towards British Horse Society qualifications, which are industry-recognised worldwide. You can use all of this to evidence your coaching expertise, experience and coaching philosophy to employers when you graduate.

Industry opportunities

You’ll gain industry experience through our links with local, national and international riding schools and training centres. We’re also part of the Equestrian Educational Network (EEN), which means you could have the opportunity to work abroad in places such as Portugal, Belgium and Finland. 

You could also take part in our exchange programme, either with the French Riding School in Saumur, or by studying a semester of your degree at Delaware Valley University, USA. You could also get more extensive industry experience during an optional sandwich year placement.

Graduate destinations

As an equine graduate you may go on to work as an equine scientist, manager or rehabilitation therapist. You could also work in racecourses, event management, teaching or biomechanics. Recent graduate destinations have included:

• Professional coach and rider, Portugal

• Freelance equestrian coach

• Postgraduate study