Clearing is how you can apply to study one of our available courses and join Hartpury University in September 2025.
Visit our Clearing hub to learn more about Clearing, our degrees, guaranteed accommodation for first years, support services, and details on how get in touch with our team to discuss your options.
You'll develop a personal coaching philosophy grounded in reflection upon both practice and ‘self’, tailored to the needs of the equestrian athlete. You'll be optimally placed to positively influence the equine industry as equestrian coaches, with a solid underpinning in coaching theory which they can practically apply to a range of coaching scenarios.
By graduation, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, and industry insight to lead the way in modern equestrian coaching, shaping the future of horse-rider partnerships from grassroots to elite.
You can use all of this to evidence your coaching expertise, experience and coaching philosophy to employers when you graduate.
UCAS | A typical offer for this course is 112 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.
GCSE | A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 9 to 4, (or A* to C grades if relevant) or equivalent, to include English Language, Mathematics and a Science.
A-level | Typical offer is BBC or equivalent. This must include a minimum of two A-levels.
Vocational Award | Typical offer is DMM in an Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
Access | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
IB | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in an IB Diploma, to include a minimum of two Highers at H3 or above. This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Standard Level S3 if equivalent GCSEs have not been obtained.
Scottish Highers | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in Scottish Highers. This must include a minimum of one Highers and one Advanced Higher.
Irish Leaving Certificate | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in the Irish Leaving Certificate. This must include a minimum of two Highers. This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Ordinary Level.
OCR Cambridge Technical | Typical offer is a DMM in a Cambridge Technical Extended Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
T Level | An overall grade of Merit, to include grade C or above in the Core component.
The minimum academic entry requirement for this programme is 72 UCAS tariff or equivalent providing this is combined with relevant experience.
We welcome students with equivalent qualifications. Please contact us to discuss.
We may interview mature applicants and those with non-traditional qualifications to ensure this is the right course for you.
Practical competency
In addition to the above, applicants are required to hold a minimum of BHS Stage 2 ride, care and lunge or Pony Club B test, or provide signature of a BHS Stage 3 Coach in Complete Horsemanship (UKCC level 2 or equivalent) to confirm that the applicant is able to;
Please contact us for further information.
International students
Please read the entry requirements for your country and contact our admissions team if you have any questions.
Industry opportunities on this course are diverse to ensure you develop the skills, experience and connections needed for your graduate career. Many of our students secure graduate roles with their work placement employers.
Embedded placement modules within this programme enable you to experience and develop your coaching practice anywhere in the world, with previous students experiencing coaching pathways in China, Hong Kong and America to name a few.
You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Employability, Skills and Careers) centres.
You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.
Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.
You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.
Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career. The course is taught in English.
You'll develop a personal coaching philosophy grounded in reflection upon both practice and ‘self’, tailored to the needs of the equestrian athlete. You'll be optimally placed to positively influence the equine industry as equestrian coaches, with a solid underpinning in coaching theory which they can practically apply to a range of coaching scenarios.
By graduation, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, and industry insight to lead the way in modern equestrian coaching, shaping the future of horse-rider partnerships from grassroots to elite.
You can use all of this to evidence your coaching expertise, experience and coaching philosophy to employers when you graduate.
UCAS | A typical offer for this course is 112 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.
GCSE | A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 9 to 4, (or A* to C grades if relevant) or equivalent, to include English Language, Mathematics and a Science.
A-level | Typical offer is BBC or equivalent. This must include a minimum of two A-levels.
Vocational Award | Typical offer is DMM in an Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
Access | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
IB | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in an IB Diploma, to include a minimum of two Highers at H3 or above. This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Standard Level S3 if equivalent GCSEs have not been obtained.
Scottish Highers | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in Scottish Highers. This must include a minimum of one Highers and one Advanced Higher.
Irish Leaving Certificate | Typical offer is 112 UCAS tariff points in the Irish Leaving Certificate. This must include a minimum of two Highers. This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Ordinary Level.
OCR Cambridge Technical | Typical offer is a DMM in a Cambridge Technical Extended Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
T Level | An overall grade of Merit, to include grade C or above in the Core component.
The minimum academic entry requirement for this programme is 72 UCAS tariff or equivalent providing this is combined with relevant experience.
We welcome students with equivalent qualifications. Please contact us to discuss.
We may interview mature applicants and those with non-traditional qualifications to ensure this is the right course for you.
Practical competency
In addition to the above, applicants are required to hold a minimum of BHS Stage 2 ride, care and lunge or Pony Club B test, or provide signature of a BHS Stage 3 Coach in Complete Horsemanship (UKCC level 2 or equivalent) to confirm that the applicant is able to;
Please contact us for further information.
International students
Please read the entry requirements for your country and contact our admissions team if you have any questions.
Industry opportunities on this course are diverse to ensure you develop the skills, experience and connections needed for your graduate career. Many of our students secure graduate roles with their work placement employers.
Embedded placement modules within this programme enable you to experience and develop your coaching practice anywhere in the world, with previous students experiencing coaching pathways in China, Hong Kong and America to name a few.
You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Employability, Skills and Careers) centres.
You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.
Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.
You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.
Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career. The course is taught in English.
Graduates will have an applied understanding of equitation science, enabling them to educate horse riders in the use of evidence-based welfare-centric training methods and principles. You'll be able to constructively challenge current practices, communicate information to athletes and clients that they encounter and explore new concepts, in order to safeguard the horse. You'll appreciate the complexities involved in facilitating human behaviour change and communicate challenging topics to a range of audiences effectively.
On successful completion of your modules you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain in your second and third years may contribute towards your final degree classification.
You will focus on key topics relating to equestrian performance and coaching to gain knowledge and fundamental study skills that underpin your course and will equip you to study at higher levels. You will also study equine anatomy and physiology, and the quine industry, whilst beginning to explore human behaviours and interactions to gain skills for influencing future change.
Equitation Science for Coaches
This module maps against the BHS ridden requirements for the coaching pathway whilst also exploring how horses learn through evidence-based principles, including how environment and training methods influence behaviour, welfare, and performance across equestrian disciplines.
Equestrian Practice
This module maps against the stable management practical competencies on the BHS coaching pathway, developing acceptable industry standards of practice and explore the principles behind them.
Equestrian Coaching and Teaching Portfolio (Theory)
An introduction to learning theory and human behaviour in relation to developing an understanding of reflection of self and how humans interact and influence others.
Equine Structure and Function
Learn about the biological systems of the horse, how they interact, and how they can be managed.
Equine Industry
Discuss the scope and management of the equine industry in the UK and Europe.
Equitation (Theory)
Students will develop their knowledge of equitation and their ability to assess the horse’s way of going.
While you continue to develop your coaching skills, you'll focus in detail on the complex horse and rider relationship and how this influences performance. You'll begin to cover more in-depth topics, taking the fundamental knowledge learned in year one to explore the key factors and principles which underpin management practices, rider fitness and performance measurements in more detail. You'll also be supported to continue with your personal coaching develop portfolio whilst completing practical time as a mentor on the Hartpury yard during the second year of study, giving you the opportunity to develop your own leadership skills and gain first hand understanding of the challenges.
Coaching and Teaching Portfolio (Pedagogy)
Students will evaluate their own ability to educate others in equestrian sport.
Equine Performance, Fitness and Training
Explore how exercise physiology, fitness training, and biomechanical principles apply to performance horses, linking conformation and movement to athletic ability, discipline-specific demands, and injury risk.
The Other 23 Hours
This module evaluates the management practices of horses outside of ridden activity, with the aim of promoting a good life for horses. This module will include 100 hours of industry placement.
Equestrian Research Methods
An introduction to research methods and analysis in equestrian performance, welfare & coaching, helping to prepare them for conducting research projects in the future.
One Welfare in the Equine Industry
Explore the interconnected wellbeing of horses, humans, and the environment through the One Welfare framework, and learn how to assess equine welfare in both ridden and non-ridden contexts.
Integrated Placement Year (Optional)
An integrated placement year before your final year allows you to put your knowledge and skills into practice and gain valuable industry experience. Many students get their graduate careers with the organisation with which they completed their work placement.
An optional integrated placement year between your second and final years allows you to put your knowledge and skills into practice and gain valuable industry experience in a coaching or related role, ready for your career. Many students get their graduate role with the employer with which they undertook their placement.
Your final year, while developing more advanced coaching skills, you'll undertake a research project in an area of your own interest, enabling you to develop specialist expertise to benefit your own career as well as industry practice. You’ll further develop your own coaching portfolio and understand the fundamental concepts to be able to set up your own business, while you will also be exposed to contemporary challenges and developments involved to ethically train horses, gaining an insight into where current research is focussing to promote one health and welfare to horses, humans and the environment.
Coaching and Teaching Portfolio (Reflection)
Critically reflect on your own coaching abilities and how they have developed over time.
Undergraduate Dissertation
Partake in independent research and analysis in a related area of your choice.
Challenging Equestrian Culture
Explores how equestrian practices and policies evolve over time and equips students to critically evaluate current norms and contribute to the transition toward more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable equestrian cultures.
Optimising Rider Performance for Equine Welfare
Examine the physical and biomechanical demands placed on riders across disciplines, and explore how rider fitness, balance, and training practices impact equine welfare.
Applied Business Management
Understand the essential operations of a small business, including, organisational culture and marketing.
Graduates will have an applied understanding of equitation science, enabling them to educate horse riders in the use of evidence-based welfare-centric training methods and principles. You'll be able to constructively challenge current practices, communicate information to athletes and clients that they encounter and explore new concepts, in order to safeguard the horse. You'll appreciate the complexities involved in facilitating human behaviour change and communicate challenging topics to a range of audiences effectively.
On successful completion of your modules you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain in your second and third years may contribute towards your final degree classification.
You will focus on key topics relating to equestrian performance and coaching to gain knowledge and fundamental study skills that underpin your course and will equip you to study at higher levels. You will also study equine anatomy and physiology, and the quine industry, whilst beginning to explore human behaviours and interactions to gain skills for influencing future change.
Equitation Science for Coaches
This module maps against the BHS ridden requirements for the coaching pathway whilst also exploring how horses learn through evidence-based principles, including how environment and training methods influence behaviour, welfare, and performance across equestrian disciplines.
Equestrian Practice
This module maps against the stable management practical competencies on the BHS coaching pathway, developing acceptable industry standards of practice and explore the principles behind them.
Equestrian Coaching and Teaching Portfolio (Theory)
An introduction to learning theory and human behaviour in relation to developing an understanding of reflection of self and how humans interact and influence others.
Equine Structure and Function
Learn about the biological systems of the horse, how they interact, and how they can be managed.
Equine Industry
Discuss the scope and management of the equine industry in the UK and Europe.
Equitation (Theory)
Students will develop their knowledge of equitation and their ability to assess the horse’s way of going.
While you continue to develop your coaching skills, you'll focus in detail on the complex horse and rider relationship and how this influences performance. You'll begin to cover more in-depth topics, taking the fundamental knowledge learned in year one to explore the key factors and principles which underpin management practices, rider fitness and performance measurements in more detail. You'll also be supported to continue with your personal coaching develop portfolio whilst completing practical time as a mentor on the Hartpury yard during the second year of study, giving you the opportunity to develop your own leadership skills and gain first hand understanding of the challenges.
Coaching and Teaching Portfolio (Pedagogy)
Students will evaluate their own ability to educate others in equestrian sport.
Equine Performance, Fitness and Training
Explore how exercise physiology, fitness training, and biomechanical principles apply to performance horses, linking conformation and movement to athletic ability, discipline-specific demands, and injury risk.
The Other 23 Hours
This module evaluates the management practices of horses outside of ridden activity, with the aim of promoting a good life for horses. This module will include 100 hours of industry placement.
Equestrian Research Methods
An introduction to research methods and analysis in equestrian performance, welfare & coaching, helping to prepare them for conducting research projects in the future.
One Welfare in the Equine Industry
Explore the interconnected wellbeing of horses, humans, and the environment through the One Welfare framework, and learn how to assess equine welfare in both ridden and non-ridden contexts.
Integrated Placement Year (Optional)
An integrated placement year before your final year allows you to put your knowledge and skills into practice and gain valuable industry experience. Many students get their graduate careers with the organisation with which they completed their work placement.
An optional integrated placement year between your second and final years allows you to put your knowledge and skills into practice and gain valuable industry experience in a coaching or related role, ready for your career. Many students get their graduate role with the employer with which they undertook their placement.
Your final year, while developing more advanced coaching skills, you'll undertake a research project in an area of your own interest, enabling you to develop specialist expertise to benefit your own career as well as industry practice. You’ll further develop your own coaching portfolio and understand the fundamental concepts to be able to set up your own business, while you will also be exposed to contemporary challenges and developments involved to ethically train horses, gaining an insight into where current research is focussing to promote one health and welfare to horses, humans and the environment.
Coaching and Teaching Portfolio (Reflection)
Critically reflect on your own coaching abilities and how they have developed over time.
Undergraduate Dissertation
Partake in independent research and analysis in a related area of your choice.
Challenging Equestrian Culture
Explores how equestrian practices and policies evolve over time and equips students to critically evaluate current norms and contribute to the transition toward more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable equestrian cultures.
Optimising Rider Performance for Equine Welfare
Examine the physical and biomechanical demands placed on riders across disciplines, and explore how rider fitness, balance, and training practices impact equine welfare.
Applied Business Management
Understand the essential operations of a small business, including, organisational culture and marketing.
The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops and practical sessions – alongside independent learning. You’ll be expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour. Your course may also include work placement learning as part of some modules.
The course is taught in English.
| Year | Contact learning | Placement learning | Independent learning |
| Level four (year one) | 24% | 0% | 76% |
| Level five (year two) | 25% | 0% | 75% |
| Integrated placement year (optional) | 1% | 80% | 19% |
| Level six (final year) | 18% | 0% | 82% |
You will be assessed through a mixture of written exams, practical exams and written assignments. Many of the modules will be marked based on a mixture of assessment types, whilst others will be based solely on one type of assessment. Feedback will be given via a mixture of written bullet point-style feedback and/or oral feedback.
| Year | Written exam | Practical exam | Coursework |
| Level four (year one) | 25% | 52% | 23% |
| Level five (year two) | 0% | 52% | 48% |
| Integrated placement year (optional) | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| Level six (year three) | 0% | 25% | 75% |
Each year of this course is taught over two semesters, normally consisting of 12 weeks of scheduled teaching and then assessment weeks, with an overview below:
Please visit our finance page for information on tuition fees and student loans, as well as non-repayable grants, bursaries and scholarships, eligible to different groups, to support with study costs.
Below, you'll find extra costs associated with studying this course.
Clothing and footwear
You’ll need some specialist kit and clothing for the course, such as yard boots, riding hats and gloves to be prepared for your practical sessions on the programme.
We’ll let you know exactly what you need to bring before enrolment.
Hartpury University branded clothing is also available through our online shop, for those who wish to purchase it, however, this is not essential.
Optional field trips (up to circa £1800)
You are encouraged to engage in various trips and visits as part of the course. These are often included as part of the modules. There is the opportunity to engage in additional study trips, which would incur minimal fees relating to travel and/or expenses.
Livery
We have stabling for 230 horses on campus. If you're interested in having your horse at Hartpury on DIY livery while you study, please visit our livery page for details and costs.
Equine Academy
If you have the talent and drive to develop your skills as an equestrian athlete alongside your studies, you may be eligible to join our Equine Academy. For further details including costs, please visit our Equine Academy page.
Accommodation and living costs
Please visit our student accommodation page for details.
Our Resource Library is where you'll find all the essential details about Hartpury University's courses. It includes Programme and Module Specifications, along with Course Information Sheets for every course. You can easily download a complete revision history for each of these, clearly showing the dates changes were made.
Course Information Sheets: These are PDF versions of the course webpages. They provide an overview of the course, what to expect during your studies, and the topics covered.
Programme Specifications: These are detailed, validated documents containing academic specifics for each programme. They include descriptions of the programme, its aims, learning outcomes, year and module structure, as well as teaching, learning, and assessment strategies.
Module Specifications: Each Programme consists of several Modules. Our Module Specifications outline the topics covered and the expected outcomes for students studying each Module.
If you’re playing sport competitively, or you have the talent and drive to do so, you may want to join one of our Sports Academies. Over 200 international athletes have developed their talents with us over the past 10 years. You could be our next success story. We're a semi-professional sports environment offering world-class facilities and professional coaching and support services.
Settle into an accommodation option to suit your taste and budget – at Hartpury University, undergraduate students can choose to live on-campus surrounded by Gloucestershire’s beautiful countryside or off-campus in the heart of Gloucester City centre. Enjoy the best of both worlds.
We can help you understand how it all works, and what you need to do next. Find out everything you need to know about tuition fees, student loans and bursaries and scholarships. In 2021/22, we provided assistance to over 1/3 of our students through bursaries, scholarships and grants, totalling a little under £1million.
Our undergraduate provision has been awarded Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold in all aspects - Overall, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes.
Ranked in the top 10 universities for teaching quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).
95% of graduates are in employment, further study or other purposeful activity (Graduate Outcomes 2025).
We’re a top 10 university for academic support (NSS 2025, UK universities).
"Completing my work placement at Hartpury’s summer equine events was a great experience. I learnt how to run events, secure sponsorship deals, organise volunteers, and ensure arenas and stables are ready for competitors. I even got to compete in an event myself. I built contacts and connections with a range of people, including the Hartpury Equine management team, which lead to my role as Yard Technician today."
Clarissa Burnell-Price
"Completing my work placement at Hartpury’s summer equine events was a great experience. I learnt how to run events, secure sponsorship deals, organise volunteers, and ensure arenas and stables are ready for competitors. I even got to compete in an event myself. I built contacts and connections with a range of people, including the Hartpury Equine management team, which lead to my role as Yard Technician today."
Clarissa Burnell-Price
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are reviewed and developed regularly. Changes or cancellation of courses may be necessary to ensure alignment with emerging employment areas, to comply with accrediting body requirements, revisions to subject benchmark statements or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make necessary changes and will notify all offer-holders of changes as and when they occur.
The Horseracing Industry degree has been designed to help those within the industry broaden their horizons and open up opportunities to sustain a lifelong career in horseracing. It has been designed to allow you to complete it alongside your current work commitments.
Winning or welfare? Can’t it be both? Lead the future of equestrian sport through performance, One Welfare and evidence-based thinking. If you're passionate about the human-horse relationship from an equine welfare perspective and want to understand how horses interpret our world to enhance their performance and wellbeing, then this is the ideal course for you.
Winning or welfare? Can’t it be both? Lead the future of equestrian sport through performance, One Welfare and evidence-based thinking. If you're passionate about the human-horse relationship from an equine welfare perspective and want to understand how horses interpret our world to enhance their performance and wellbeing, then this is the ideal course for you.
