At Askham Bryan College, horse welfare is at the heart of everything we do. Our equine facilities operate in line with the British Horse Society (BHS) welfare standards, ensuring that every horse receives the highest level of care. Student participation in daily yard duties is essential to maintaining these standards, as it provides hands-on experience in feeding, grooming, health checks, and stable management. By engaging in the day to day running of the yard, learners develop practical skills and a deep understanding of welfare principles, preparing them for careers where responsible horse care is paramount.

To meet these needs of the horse, we facilitate a regular turnout plan in our equine paddocks, which all have equine safe fencing, perimeters and access to fresh water and constant forage. We ensure horses are grouped accordingly to meet the guidelines of the five domains in equine welfare.

We are firm believers that horses should be horses and in line with this, we ensure our horses are taken off college grounds during holiday periods to have some down time, with the opportunity of living as naturally as possible.

We offer a structured work plan for our horses, matching their ability, age, and fitness level. This will range from rehab work through to flat work, jumping, and hacking.

Please visit our finance page for further details on the most recent scholarships and bursaries we can offer.

College Student Finance

UCAB Fees and Finance

As part of the curriculum at Askham Bryan College, all learners are required to complete a set number of work placement hours with a business within the equine industry.

These placements provide invaluable hands-on experience, allowing students to apply their classroom knowledge in real world settings and gain insight into professional practices. Working in a different environment outside of college helps broaden their understanding of the sector, develop practical skills, and build essential connections that enhance future career opportunities.

Askham Bryan College has a strong relationship with The British Horse Society, as part of our center’s accreditation. The department also offer a range of equine events, whether it be dressage or show jumping clinics at our Centre.

Every year we hold affiliated British Eventing Horse Trials which students are a huge part of in the run up to and the running of the event. This gives students the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals, gain positive links with suppliers and contractors, as well as meeting and working alongside event sponsors and traders. These events play a vital part of the curriculum, linking business and events management modules.

To help you prepare for studying with us, you may want to check you have the required PPE (personal protective equipment). The list below highlights some key items of equipment you will need for when you start at college.

• Riding Hat: must meet current BHS/BETA safety standards. This link will take your to the BHS hat standards BHS Approvals Guide
• Pack of Hairnets.
• Gloves—dark coloured, for leading and riding.
• Jodhpurs/Breeches: Dark for everyday, white/cream for assessments. Ordinary leggings are not allowed.
• Boots and Chaps: clean long riding/jodhpur boots; chaps in black or brown.
• Whips: Long whip for flat lessons; max 75cm for jumping lessons.
• Tops: College tops preferred, or dark-coloured polo shirts/sweatshirts. No hooded tops
• Body Protector:  Must meet  current BHS and BETA 2018 standard

Prior to starting your course, it is advised to start your search for a potential work placement. This needs to be Equine related. Once you have found a potential placement, please ensure they have both employer’s liability and public liability insurance. You will then be able to inform your course manager and employability team when you start with us. Once your placement has been checked, you will then be able to start your placement hours.

We offer tailored student DIY livery packages for those who wish to bring their horses with them during their study period. We provide a separate, quiet yard for livery horses which are set away from the main college yard. All livery packages include:

• 12×12 stable in an American barn set up with automatic water drinker and rubber mats
• Ad-lib hay/haylage
• Access to turnout paddocks
• Use of all facilities, including arenas; wash bays, solarium, horse walker, weigh bridge and much more – subject to availability
• Miles of hacking, on and off road
• On-site professionals including vets/farriers
• Private lockable tack room
• All yards are operated by CCTV
• Training opportunities, including clinics/competitions on site

Price as of January 2026 is £60 per week with a £100 stable deposit, refundable at the end of the academic year provided no money is owed or damages are to be covered. All horses should be vaccinated accordingly and no horses under 5 years old can be on site due to our licensing.

All livery enquiries: Shaun.malpass@askham-bryan.ac.uk

– Degree level students (link to Student Finance England)

– Under 19s in full-time education (no cost)

College Student Finance

UCAB Fees and Finance

All our students at L2 and L3 complete 150 work placement hours as part of their study programme. This placement is selected by the student and can include: livery yards, riding stables, racing yards, RDA centres, rehabilitation yards, stud yards, professional yards, physiotherapists, veterinarians and many more.

As our L3 students move into their second year, they develop their industry skills further by completing an extended placement of 315 hours. This provides an opportunity for students to put into practise skills learnt within the college environment and develop these within the industry.

The college offers a range of assistance and guidance through our Assisted Services Team.

College Inclusive Services

UCAB Student Support Services