Senior equine groom
Level 3 · AdvancedAgriculture, environmental and animal care 1.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Senior Equine Groom takes on advanced responsibility for the care, health, and welfare of horses in racing yards, stud farms, equestrian centres, or performance horse facilities. Apprentices develop expertise in health monitoring, training support, and stable management, and may take responsibility for a string of horses. This level 3 qualification leads to head groom, yard manager, or specialist roles such as stallion handler.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Advanced horse health monitoring and recognising signs of illness or injury
Equine nutrition, feed management, and condition scoring
Clipping, trimming, and advanced horse presentation skills
Assisting with veterinary and farriery procedures
Stable management systems and record-keeping for individual horses
Training support - lunging, working in hand, and fitness monitoring
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Carry out daily health checks and monitor horses for changes in condition
Feed, groom, and prepare horses to a high standard
Assist with veterinary visits, treatments, and medication administration
Exercise horses by riding out, lunging, or walking in hand
Manage bedding, stable hygiene, and daily yard routines
Support or supervise less experienced grooms and apprentices
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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