Undertake and Review Work Related Experience in the Land-based Industries
This element equips learners with the skills to identify suitable work placement opportunities in the land-based industries, prepare effectively for professional practice, and critically reflect on the experience to enhance future career development and employability.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The City & Guilds Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Horse Management is a comprehensive vocational qualification designed for students aiming to pursue a career in the equine industry. This diploma covers essential aspects of horse care, health, nutrition, stable management, and riding instruction, providing a solid foundation for roles such as yard manager, riding instructor, or equine business owner. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills, ensuring students can apply their learning in real-world settings.
This qualification is part of the wider Animal Care & Veterinary sector, focusing specifically on equine science and management. It is equivalent to 1.5 A-levels and is highly regarded by employers and higher education institutions. Students will develop expertise in areas like equine anatomy, physiology, behaviour, and welfare, as well as business and communication skills necessary for managing a livery yard or equestrian centre. The diploma also includes work experience placements, allowing students to build industry connections and gain hands-on experience.
Mastering this diploma is crucial for anyone serious about a career with horses. It not only provides the technical skills needed to ensure horse health and safety but also teaches the business acumen required to run a successful equine enterprise. By the end of the course, students will be confident in handling horses, managing their environment, and educating others about horse care.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Equine anatomy and physiology: Understanding the structure and function of the horse's body, including the skeletal, muscular, and digestive systems, is fundamental for assessing health and performance.
- →Nutrition and feeding: Knowledge of different feed types, nutritional requirements for various life stages and workloads, and the importance of forage-based diets to prevent digestive disorders like colic.
- →Stable management and biosecurity: Proper stable design, bedding choices, mucking out routines, and disease prevention protocols to maintain a healthy environment.
- →Equine behaviour and handling: Recognising normal and abnormal behaviours, safe handling techniques, and the principles of learning theory for training and riding.
- →Health and lameness: Identifying signs of illness, injury, and lameness; understanding common conditions such as laminitis and colic; and implementing first aid and veterinary care.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Understand the opportunities in the environmental and land-based industries, Be able to prepare for a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based industry, Be able to undertake a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based industry, Be able to review a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based sector
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the range of roles and career pathways available in the land-based industries, including animal management.
- Present a well-structured plan for the work-based experience, including goals, learning objectives, and evidence of proactive communication with the placement provider.
- Provide evidence of active engagement in the work placement, such as a logbook, supervisor feedback, and reflective journal entries.
- Critically evaluate the experience, identifying strengths, areas for improvement, and how the experience has influenced future career aspirations.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡Use a reflective model (e.g., Gibbs or Kolb) to structure the review of your work experience, ensuring you cover description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan.
- 💡Collect a variety of evidence during your placement, including witness testimonies, photographs, risk assessments, and direct observations, to support your portfolio.
- 💡Link your reflections explicitly to the learning objectives you set and to the wider industry standards or occupational requirements.
- 💡Regularly update your supervisor about your progress and seek formal feedback to include as part of your review.
- 💡Use specific examples from your work experience or case studies to illustrate your answers. Examiners reward practical application of theory, so mention real horses you've cared for or situations you've managed.
- 💡When discussing health issues, always link back to prevention. For example, if describing colic, explain how management practices (e.g., regular feeding, access to water) reduce risk. This shows a holistic understanding.
- 💡Pay attention to the command words in questions. 'Describe' requires detail, 'explain' requires reasons, and 'evaluate' requires judgement. Structure your answers accordingly, using paragraphs for clarity.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Assuming the land-based industries only relate to animal care, neglecting other sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, and environmental conservation.
- Failing to set clear, measurable learning objectives before the placement, leading to a lack of focus and limited reflection.
- Submitting purely descriptive accounts of the work experience without critical analysis or evidence of learning.
- Not keeping a contemporaneous logbook, resulting in incomplete evidence and weak reflective analysis.
- Misconception: Horses can be fed large amounts of grain without issue. Correction: Horses are designed to eat small, frequent meals of forage. High-grain diets can lead to colic, laminitis, and behavioural problems. Forage should form the majority of the diet.
- Misconception: A horse that is lying down is always sick. Correction: Horses lie down for short periods to rest or sleep, especially in a safe environment. However, prolonged recumbency or signs of distress (e.g., rolling, sweating) indicate a problem.
- Misconception: All horses need to be shod. Correction: Many horses can go barefoot if their hooves are healthy and they are not working on hard surfaces. Farriery decisions should be based on the individual horse's conformation, workload, and hoof quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for CITY & GUILDS LIMITED Undertake and Review Work Related Experience in the Land-based Industries
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •A basic understanding of horse care, such as that gained from a Level 2 qualification or practical experience, is beneficial but not mandatory.
- •Good literacy and numeracy skills are essential for completing assignments and managing yard finances.
- •A genuine interest in equine welfare and a willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions are important for success.
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Understand the opportunities in the environmental and land-based industries, Be able to prepare for a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based industry, Be able to undertake a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based industry, Be able to review a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based sector
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