Horsemanship for the Thoroughbred Industry QQI Major Award at Level 5

The focus of the course is to develop the skills to work in the thoroughbred industry, either racing or stud, while at the same time developing learners’ personal, interpersonal and workplace skills. The content includes core modules in work experience and communications as well as a range of vocational modules including stable and yard routine, racehorse care and exercise, horse breeding, horse conformation, equine nutrition and equine anatomy and physiology.

This course will be run part-time, delivered mostly at evenings (in person).

The course is part funded by EQUUIP (Education and training department within HRI). The subsidised fee for the full Level 5 QQI Award is set at €340 (which includes QQI Registration & Certification).

To start your first module there will be a fee of €170. This is the fee per module.

However, if you decide to do the whole level 5 qualification and you are working in the industry there is a reduced fee of €340 for the entire programme and you will pay the remaining €170 when you start your second module. This reduced fee has been subsidised from HRI Equuip funding and completing a full level 5 at another institution will usually cost a fee of €2,000 upwards.

The course is designed to provide professional education and training to learners who love horses and have a particular interest in the thoroughbred industry (racing or breeding). The course will enable them to pursue a career in the thoroughbred industry or continue their studies at higher and/or third level. The course will also be offered as a stand-alone qualification, which can be taken as a part-time course leading to the major award – Horsemanship 5M3371 or can be undertaken on a module-by-module basis.

This is the first course of its kind in Ireland that offers a study of the thoroughbred horse. Successful completion of this course will likely improve career prospects and will open opportunities for learners to access progression to further education courses on the QQI framework.

No, there are non-riding options available.

16 years old and upwards.

Anyone can apply for this course and applicants will have to complete suitability testing in advance of a place being confirmed, to ensure they are suitable to complete the programme.

To gain a place on the course learners should have:

A strong interest in and knowledge of racehorses, professionally working in the thoroughbred racing industry, or through either leisure and family background.

Physically fit and capable of carrying out the range of physical activities required for working around (mandatory) and riding (option depending on module choice) horses.

To Enter this course Learners Should Have

• Some previous experience of working with thoroughbred horses
• Basic IT skills
• A good level of fluency in written and spoken English.

If you have further questions please email: emma.keogh@racingacademy.ie 

1. Complete an application form
2. Complete a suitability test pack (this will be sent out on receipt of a completed application form) – this includes production of a portfolio of material, photographs and research on a specific topic
3. Complete a written test – produce a report based on a piece of reading material
4. For blended learning programmes you will have to submit some materials via an online course page
5. Complete a practical assessment – including basic horsemanship skills and riding for those applying for the Racehorse Care and Exercise module
6. Attend Interview

Written test, practical test and interview will all take place at RACE.

The learner either has successfully completed a programme leading to the Leaving Certificate/Leaving Certified Applied OR equivalent and who can demonstrate the levels of knowledge, skill and competence associated with NFQ level 4 will be eligible to apply for entry to this programme.

Current industry employees or those developing an interest in Thoroughbred horses can access the modules individually, provided they have the required skill and education level.

We will also accept applications from those who do not meet these entry requirements, but who have 3+ years’ experience of working with horses and who can demonstrate an adequate level of computer literacy, literacy and academic understanding of the topics.

To achieve the standard required learners should be able to:

• Read, draft, prepare and understand information across a range of topics.
• Produce, save and submit electronic files (primarily Word).
• Act with a considerable amount of responsibility and autonomy.
• Attend timetabled classes for the duration of the course.
• Complete self-directed hours of learning in the form of research, practice time, revision, preparation and study time.
• Be capable of participating fully in all programme related activities; physically and academically.
• Source and participate in a suitable work experience placement, where a learner cannot obtain work experience on their own, RACE will support them in finding suitable placement.
• As we hope to delivery elements of the programme through blended learning, you will need access to a device with a camera and audio and access to the internet.

Teaching & Learning

The programme is taught by a combination of methods including:

• Classroom-based (both face-to-face and virtual for blended learning programmes)
• Tutorials/ one on one supported learning
• Group discussions/group interactions
• Practical sessions
• Problem based learning
• Role Play
• Use of case studies
• Use of specialist guest speakers
• Work experience/ on the job training

Assessment

The programme is assessed in different ways for different modules, but  methods include:

• Assignments
• Skills demonstrations (practical assessments)
• Examinations
• Portfolio

Access, Transfer and Progression
On completion of this course you will be eligible to progress to a Level 6 Horsemanship (6M3505) award. Currently this qualification is offered by Teagasc and a selection of Community colleges/ PLC’s (Galway Community College and Curragh Post Primary, KWETB).

Learners who successfully complete this course will be eligible to apply for Level 6 ‘Green Cert.’ courses delivered by Teagasc to qualify as a ‘trained farmer’.

Protection of enrolled learners applies to this course. We confirm that we have appropriate arrangements in place for PEL. We have learner protection arrangements in place whereby every learner has an insurance policy which guarantees the repayment to learners of all amounts paid by learners enrolled on this programme should such a reimbursement be necessitated in the event of a cessation of the course.

The course leads to a Major Award in Horsemanship at Level 5 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.

Established in 2003, the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a 10-level, single national entity through which all learning achievements may be measured and related to each other.  Underpinned by quality assurance principles, the Irish NFQ describes qualifications in the Irish education and training system and sets out what each qualification says about what learners know, understand and are able to do. It also sets out qualifications pathways from one NFQ level to the next.

Delivery for all modules will be supported by an online course page, where you can access your learner handbook, relevant course information, notes and copies of presentations and where you will submit assignments.  To access this online course page you will need an e-mail address and a device with access to the internet.

All elements of this course will be delivered face-to-face

Recognition of Prior Learning allows learning gained through work, life experience, or previous training to count toward a formal qualification; without repeating learning you have already done.

At RACE, Recognition of Prior Learning is used for three modules: Stable and Yard Routine, Racehorse Care and Exercise, and Work Experience. If you have relevant industry experience, you may be eligible to have that experience assessed and recognised toward these modules, rather than completing them through classroom-based study.

How it works:

• Identification: Your existing knowledge, skills and experience are reviewed against the module requirements.
• Documentation: You build a portfolio of evidence, such as a CV, references, job descriptions, photographs, and records of work undertaken, mapped to what the module requires.
• Assessment: Your portfolio is graded by a Recognition of Prior Learning Assessor.
• Certification: Successful results are submitted to QQI for certification, the same as classroom-based learning.

Recognition of Prior Learning applications for Term 1 open on 7th September 2026. Term 2 Recognition of Prior Learning opens on 1st February 2027.