Courses
Kyrewood offers the following courses:
All courses are full-time - 6.5 hours each day, five days each week. They include practical lessons, classroom time and written assignments. Where a course includes a riding element, the student's weekly timetable will provide many hours of riding tuition on a range of horses appropriate to their level of ability.
Students are welcome to bring their own horse for the duration of the course, provided it is at a stage of training appropriate to the particular course. This enables students to school their horses under the expert supervision and instruction of the tutors.
It is preferred but not essential that students are at least 18 years of age and have a reasonable level of education. Acceptance for any course is never automatic. The decision of the Directors is final.
When contacting us by email for information on our NZQA courses, please include:
- Postal address - to enable us to forward all necessary documents
- Full name and Date of Birth - to enable us to check your status with NZQA
- Brief details of your experience with horses - will assist us in helping you make the right choice of course.
- Phone number - to enable us to phone you and discuss your individual requirements
Introductory (Level 2)
The Introductory Course is designed for the person with very little prior experience in the handling and riding of horses. This is a 10-week course, but may be divided into two 5-week modules for international students. Students acquire a sound basic training, which will give them an insight into the equine industry and prepare them for more advanced courses.
Community Coach (Level 3)
This 23-week course is ideal for students with some experience riding and handling horses and who have an interest in teaching. No previous teaching experience is necessary. Topics include horse handling and grooming, turnout, saddlery, riding, lunging, stabling, equine health and feeding, jumping and teaching. Kyrewood has a range of horses and ponies available for use by students and regular outside clients, thus giving the Community Coach students the unique opportunity to gain the necessary teaching experience in a hands-on situation.
It is preferred but not compulsory that prospective students' riding should be at a level approaching Preliminary Dressage and jumping to 80-90cm.
On completion of this course, the graduating student will be well prepared for a job as an instructor at a riding school or trekking centre. It is a qualification that can lead to numerous job opportunities both in New Zealand and overseas.
The Community Coach course is now available through part-correspondence, but this is only for those experienced coaches who are already working within the industry. Attendance at Kyrewood Equestrian Centre is necessary for assessment of some of the practical units. Special acceptance criteria will apply.
Stable Practice
This 32/33-week course is designed for the person wishing to gain advanced knowledge and practical skills that will lead to employment in numerous sectors of the equine industry.
It is not essential for the student to have any previous experience with horses.
Subjects in this course include riding, equine care, stabling, grooming, feeding, lameness, health, saddlery and lunging. The student may choose whether he or she wishes to specialise in the Thoroughbred Racing, Sporthorse or Track Riding sections of this certificate.
The outstanding facilities at Kyrewood Equestrian Centre provide the opportunity for all students to gain first-hand knowledge and skills, and the students interested in the racing section will learn to ride racehorses on the Kyrewood training track before progressing to the nearby Awapuni Racecourse.
The Stable Practice Certificate may be taken in modules of 4 to 6 weeks duration in the case of international students who cannot attend Kyrewood for 32/33 weeks at one time. Please contact the Directors to discuss this aspect.
Sporthorse
The Sporthorse Certificate is the most popular course at Kyrewood Equestrian Centre. The 34-week course caters for the students who wish to gain an advanced knowledge of horse management and to become very competent riders. This enables them to gain employment in a wide range of equine establishments. Subjects include dressage, showjumping and cross-country, grooming, turnout, clipping, lunging, conformation, health, physiology, feeding, saddlery, and life skills for the students. The course involves practical lessons, classroom time, work experience, and projects that need to be researched and completed. Opportunities to compete in some local competitions are available, but these are not compulsory.
It is preferred but not compulsory that prospective students' riding should be at a level approaching Novice dressage and jumping to 1.10m.
Students graduating from this course will be well prepared for working as a groom in the New Zealand or overseas Sporthorse Industry. Once practical experience has been gained, holders of this qualification will be well-suited to positions as yard managers. Former students at Kyrewood who gained the Sporthorse qualification have found interesting positions in all parts of the world. The riding skills acquired during their training have opened doors to schooling young horses, and to competitive riding in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and America.
Annyka Overton, nee King, formerly of Oamaru and holder of the first Sporthorse Certificate gained at Kyrewood – now a successful showjumping rider and equine coach in Australia.
RDA Coaching (Level 4)
The RDA Coaching Certificate recognises the requirements of disabled riders as well as the selection and training of suitable horses. This 32-week course caters for the dedicated person who so freely donates his or her time to Riding for the Disabled and is looking for a qualification that recognises their ability.
Grade 1 Coaching (Level 4)
This is a further coaching certificate requiring a higher level of knowledge and riding ability than the Community Coach. The Grade 1 Coaching Certificate aims to give a qualification to the person who is competing and/or teaching at Elementary to Medium level dressage, and eventing or showjumping to 1.20m. It is preferred that the student has completed and passed the Community Coach Certificate before beginning the Grade 1 Coaching certificate.
Thoroughbred Breeding (Level 4)
This certificate combines basic farming skills with an advanced knowledge of stud work, foaling, caring for mares and foals, and educating young horses. The holder of this certificate would be an asset to any thoroughbred or sporthorse stud.
Racing - Where to Begin?
Does the thought of riding trackwork, or even the ultimate experience of being a jockey, sit high on your "wish list", but it's difficult because you've never ridden a horse? That's no problem!
Come to Kyrewood and you will learn riding and horse handling from the very basics up to the stage where you can canter racehorses around the training track, and go to the nearby racecourse to learn to gallop.
Kyrewood Equestrian Centre's Directors Fred and Pauline Gorton have been involved with the racing industry as owners, trainers and administrators. They hold firmly to the belief that students who are looking for involvement in the racing industry should gain a thorough grounding in basic knowledge and ability before embarking on a career as an apprentice jockey, trackwork rider, stablehand or trainer.
New Zealand-born Larry Cassidy is a past pupil of Kyrewood. Larry is now one of Australia's leading jockeys.
Awapuni jockey Bruce Herd also learned the basic skills of riding at Kyrewood before entering the racing industry. His major wins include the Grade 1 NZ Oaks at Trentham and the Winter Cup at Riccarton.
Early riding tuition helps to establish balance, rhythm and 'feel for the horse' before the prospective jockey embarks on a full apprenticeship.
Takashi Hokari came to Kyrewood Equestrian Centre direct from Japan during 2004. He took the Stable Practice course and, despite having no previous experience with horses, made outstanding progress. Within 24 weeks he was able to competently ride fast track gallops at Awapuni Racecourse. He has now returned home to pursue employment in the lucrative Japanese racing industry.
Fred and Pauline Gorton both hold 'Permit to Train' licences. As well as a handful of horses in full training, they have a number of former racehorses whose mission in life these days is to help educate prospective jockeys and trackwork riders in the particular skills required for this type of riding.
A feature of Kyrewood's training facilities is the eight-horse walking machine. This is an invaluable part of the fitness and training for thoroughbreds. The walking machine also provides students with the opportunity to become adept at using a training aid that is increasing in popularity both in New Zealand and overseas.
Bruce Herd, a former student at
Kyrewood Equestrian Centre, is
now a successful jockey.
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Racetrack riding is an exciting
and fulfilling career
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Takashi Hokari, from Japan, practising his race riding technique on the well-bred former racehorse "Authorize."
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Photos by Race Images Palmerston North
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