Equine Groom Apprentice - Busy Riding School - JULY START

ARNISS EQUESTRIAN LIMITED

FORDINGBRIDGE (SP6 2JX)

Closes on Wednesday 26 August 2026

Posted on 10 July 2026

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Summary

Do you want to learn more about working with horses and develop your horse care knowledge and skills? Do you enjoy working with people and interacting with others? Want to work in a stunning part of the Country? The role includes assisting with the riding school, mucking out and feeding.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Equine groom (level 2)
Hours
40 hours per week over 5 days to include weekend work, 8am to 6pm with breaks. Exact working days TBC.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Arniss Equestrian are looking for an apprentice to work on the riding school and livery yard grooming and caring for the horses, escorting rides in the New Forest and supporting the business by working and interacting with clients.

Arniss Equestrian is a BHS approved riding centre and livery yard, with facilities including arenas for dressage and jumping, cross country schooling fences and direct forest hacking.

There are 38 horses, and they offer a first-class livery service as well as running a range of activities catering for children, adults, novices and the more experienced rider. As a member of the team, you will have the opportunity to develop your skill set through regular training both towards your apprenticeship and BHS stages if desired.

Main duties include:

  • Assisting with the riding school
  • Mucking out
  • Feeding
  • Tacking up
  • Riding for the right candidate

Where you'll work

ARNISS FARM
GODSHILL
FORDINGBRIDGE
SP6 2JX

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Equine groom (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Work safely and efficiently at all times and comply with current health, safety and security policies and procedures (including PPE).
  • Carry out all yard and field duties to include mucking out, skipping out, tidying and cleaning the yard, watering and feeding. Assess suitability of stabling and grassland environments for horses including checking for hazards etc. Assist with the arrival of a new horse to the yard, following current yard procedures and measures to prevent and control the spread of disease.
  • Recognise, identify and describe horses including sex, height, type, colours and markings. Identify basic anatomy, to include points of the horse. Recognise signs of good and poor welfare (including ill health) and check for injuries. Report relevant information and assist with medical treatment and other industry specialists, including Senior Groom, Dentist, Farrier, Veterinary surgeon. Ensure the horses’ welfare before and after exercise or travel.
  • Handle a variety of horses in the workplace to include tying up, leading, trotting up, turning out and catching in. Recognise different types of feed and hay and check their quality. Groom a horse including checking feet and shoes. Demonstrate trimming and plaiting.
  • Fit a variety of common saddlery, equipment and horse clothing. Remove, clean and store common saddlery and equipment. Check the safe and effective working condition of all saddlery, equipment and clothing
  • Prepare horse(s) for travel using appropriate clothing and equipment. Assist with loading and unloading before and after travel.
  • Prepare for and provide a variety of appropriate non-ridden exercise including an introduction to lungeing.
  • Demonstrate basic safe competence in handling equines used for breeding purposes including assisting with teasing and covering. Observe the onset of, and assist if required, foaling of an equine and following on procedures. Demonstrate an awareness of reproductive status; including the interpretation of teasing results and the specialist care of breeding equines at all stages of the reproductive cycle. Recognise the importance of; and participate in, the maintenance of disease control within an equine breeding population. Assist with the work of breeding industry specialists; using equipment, machinery and technology appropriately as directed. Assist with the preparation and show of equines of varying ages, as directed, for commercial and/or private sale.
  • Harness up and put to with an assistant a single turnout in both a two and four wheeled vehicle. Act as a groom/ backstepper in exercising/show/trials (select one discipline). Exercise horses/ponies in a non driving environment, to be able to lunge or longrein in an enclosed area, in a circle for exercise purposes. Drive a quiet pleasure single turnout in an enclosed area demonstrating safe rein handling, turns to the left and right, in the walk and trot. To be able to halt. Mount and dismount in a safe manner. Demonstrate safe use of the whip. Take horse out of vehicle with assistance and unharness horse in a safe manner.
  • Handle Thoroughbred racehorses in and out of full training. Fit a variety of specialist racing equipment and tack. Carry out the specific routines required in a racing yard and in taking horses racing, complying with industry regulatory requirements, policy and practice. Provide exercise regimes to racehorses as directed and effectively care for horses prior to and after strenuous work and racecourse performance. Prepare and lead up a Thoroughbred racehorse at the races in accordance with industry practice and the Rules of Racing. Provide after race care including compliance with industry regulations and post-race dope testing procedures.
  • Adopt an appropriate basic riding position. Ride an experienced/schooled horse according to instruction, independently and as part of a group in an enclosed area. Ride in a balanced, secure position showing control in walk, trot and canter, working with and without stirrups whilst demonstrating movements i.e. circles, turns, etc. Ride in the open, in a forward seat according to instruction with control, security and balance. Ride with a balanced, secure, forward seat over ground poles at trot to enable progression to ride, where practical, over a short course of fences with control, security and balance. Ride on the road or in public places according to laid down procedures, Highway and Country Codes. Open & close a gate whilst mounted. Negotiate everyday obstacles/hazards with control, security and balance. Ride a quiet horse whilst leading another quiet horse or pony.
  • Assist with storage of supplies and stock rotation. Contribute to the organisation and maintenance of establishment. Engage with customers and identify their needs. Assist with appropriate office duties including answering the telephone, processing information and use workplace IT systems. Contribute to yard based records including passports, vaccinations, worming, farriery, dentistry etc. Assist and support Riding Grooms and provide non-ridden exercise regimes. Prepare for and lunge a horse for exercise in an enclosed area according to instruction.

Training schedule

  • A Level 2 Equine Groom certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the apprenticeship
  • All training will take place within the workplace
  • Your dedicated trainer coach will visit you at work every 4 weeks
  • Functional Skills in English and maths if required

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

There is no accommodation available with this position and due to its rural location, not accessible by public transport, so please make sure you can get there and back daily before applying. There is the possibility of livery for own horse for the right candidate.

About this employer

We are a family run business situated in the village of Godshill on the edge of the New Forest National Park, just outside Fordingbridge. Jan Tupper welcomes you to visit the centre to see the facilities that we offer and to meet our staff and horses. We have direct access to a very large area of the finest riding country in the south of England, and from our yard you can ride out in to the New Forest without using public roads.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

The successful candidate could be offered a Level 3 Senior Groom Apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

Emma Openshaw

emma.openshaw@haddontraining.co.uk

07749577150

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000016573.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 26 August 2026