Landmark partnership opens new pathway for aspiring equine professionals
A LEADING land-based college has secured a landmark partnership that will see the prestigious British Dressage Apprenticeship delivered in Wales for the first time.
Coleg Cambria has joined forces with British Dressage to offer the nationally recognised apprenticeship to learners aged 16 and over who are living and working in Wales.
The programme has already been successfully rolled out in England and Scotland and marks another significant milestone for Cambria’s long-established equine provision. The college has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, work-based learning across North and Mid Wales.
Katy Davies, Work Based Equine and Animal Care Practitioner and Lead at the college, described the partnership as an exciting development for the sector.
“We are proud to support learners across Wales as they develop careers in the equestrian industry,” she said.
“Partnering with British Dressage is an exciting step forward and creates valuable networking opportunities for those starting out in their equine career or progressing to higher levels.
“We already have long-standing, well-established programmes that are popular with the equine community across North and Mid Wales. This new collaboration strengthens that offer further and reflects the growing demand for work-based learning from people who want to upskill, progress and gain recognised qualifications while gaining hands-on industry experience.”
The apprenticeship allows learners to earn a wage while gaining nationally recognised qualifications, supported by Cambria’s experienced assessors and enhanced by specialist input from British Dressage.
While dressage is central to the new partnership, the college says the move also highlights the breadth of equine and land-based career pathways available.
Coleg Cambria delivers work-based equine and animal care apprenticeships across a wide geographical area, supporting learners from Powys to Anglesey and Wrexham. Opportunities span equine and animal care, veterinary nursing, agriculture, horticulture, conservation and arboriculture, reflecting the diversity of roles within the sector.
The college offers equine apprenticeship training from Level 2 through to Level 4. These include British Horse Society and City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in equine horse care, riding, breeding and coaching, alongside a British Horse Society Level 4 pathway in senior care, riding and management. Each route is tailored to suit individual interests and long-term career ambitions.
Work-based Learning Manager Kate Muddiman said the collaboration underlines a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of equine professionals.
“This partnership with British Dressage is a powerful statement of our ambition for the sector,” she said. “By combining Coleg Cambria’s dedicated approach to work-based learning with internationally respected standards in horse welfare and training, we are creating a truly gold-standard route into equine careers.”
Charlotte Osborne, Head of Development at British Dressage, said expanding the apprenticeship into Wales was an important step.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Coleg Cambria as a partner for the British Dressage Apprenticeship programme,” she said. “We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible route into equestrian sport and expanding opportunities into Wales is an important next step. We look forward to working closely with Coleg Cambria to support learners throughout their journey.”
Further details on the British Dressage Apprenticeship in Wales are available via British Dressage, while information on the full range of courses and qualifications can be found on the Coleg Cambria website.
