Careers, Education and

STUDY AT HOME FOR A NEW CAREER WITH TOCES

Whether you are looking to start a new career, increase your experience within a current role or looking to gain knowledge as a new horse owner, The Open College of Equine Studies (TOCES) has a course to suit your needs.

TOCES is the world’s leading equine distance learning college for students both in the UK and internationally and is based in the heart of rural East Anglia near Newmarket, Suffolk. This location provides easy access to equine centres of excellence such as Rossdales Equine Hospital and The National Stud. Courses run from a basic level 1 through to higher education level 6 and are open to students aged 14 upwards. Some courses can be studied by tutor supported e-learning 100% from home (distance learning) and some courses involve study week attendance to supplement the distance learning (blended learning). The list of courses on offer can be filtered by level. The foundation/novice courses are aimed at those with little or no experience of horses, the intermediate level courses are ideal for anyone looking to further their career with horses, and advanced level courses are suitable for those aspiring to study a subject in depth and/or work within an equine profession. So why study with TOCES? TOCES has an outstanding reputation and is associated with more world-renowned equine organisations than any other equine distance learning college. Every student has a dedicated course adviser who will make contact following enrolment. The calibre of course tutors and lecturers is second to none with most tutors holding an Honours Degree, Masters Degree or a PhD in equine subjects. Course material is delivered online, presented in a user friendly, easy to read, distance learning format consisting of textual information, interactive activities, pre-recorded webinars and videos, Test Your Knowledge quizzes and assignment guidance. TOCES has its own virtual ‘Coffee Shop’ where students can upload posts and contact each other to share experiences. Courses available There is a course available through TOCES to suit all levels from basic level through to degree level, whether you are a happy hacker or pony owning parent or are aspiring for a complete change of career, perhaps into veterinary nursing or equine therapeutics. The veterinary nursing and physiotherapy courses delivered by TOCES are highly regarded within the industry, with the college having trained nurses from 70 practices from both the UK and overseas. Many students often already work in veterinary practice in administration or support roles and wish to train to further their career. The Level 3 Equine Veterinary Nursing programme works very well for busy practices, as students are able to continue in full-time employment while completing their studies through blended learning. Veterinary nursing students are required to attend eight study weeks at the college to supplement the theoretical

The veterinary nusring and physiotherapy courses delivered by TOCES are highly regarded within the industry.

knowledge with clinical training and assessment. Study weeks also form part of the syllabus for the equine physiotherapy and equine sports massage courses, where students gain hands-on experience and have their practical skills taught and assessed. Although hard work, study weeks are also great fun and provide an opportunity to get to know other students on the same course. A number of specialist short courses such as first aid or equine nutrition are ideal for those wanting to focus on a particular subject without committing to a full course. TOCES offers students a great learning experience where they have access to full tutor and administrative support throughout their course, which has gained the college a reputation for having a friendly and personal approach with students. TOCES courses are recognised by leading organisations and industry bodies, including the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the Register for Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP), the British Horse Society (BHS), Lantra, City and Guilds (C & G), Pearson (Edexcel – BTEC) and the Accreditation Committee for Veterinary Nurse Education (ACOVENE).

To view the full range of courses available visit www.equinestudies.co.uk Are you looking to take that leap and study for a career you have always dreamed of? TOCES is accepting enrolments now for the Level 6 Equine Physiotherapy Diploma Programme, which is a fouryear blended learning course.

Aimed at higher education students that are looking to start a career in equine physiotherapy, the programme is accredited by the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP), Institute of Registered Veterinary & Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP) and International Association of Animal Therapists (IAAT). The Equine Physiotherapy Diploma aims to: Instil an understanding of the ethical and legal principles applicable to the application of equine therapy. Equip learners with the skills and knowledge required to: 4 Administer first aid to horses following injury. 4 Maintain or restore health and soundness in the horse via the use of manual therapies. 4 Enable them to plan and implement optimum rehabilitation programmes. 4 Promote effective communication and liaise with owners, veterinary surgeons and other professionals when planning and implementing treatment and rehabilitation programmes for equine patients. 4Develop the academic and professional skills that will allow learners to identify

further specialist training needs and areas for professional development. 4 Encourage learners to explore and evaluate the scientific evidence and recent developments relating to the use of a range of therapeutic modalities in treatment and

rehabilitation programmes. The programme is delivered using a combination of printed materials, e-learning, live and pre-recorded online lectures and webinars alongside practical study weeks at TOCES.

A CAREER IN... Equine Physiotherapy

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The next start date for the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing is Monday 26th September, with an induction study week 26th to 28th September, followed by weekly online study days starting every Thursday from 6th October. Enrolment includes membership of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).

A CAREER IN... Equine Veterinary Nursing

TOCES also offers equine veterinary nurse training to UK and international students leading to the award of the Lantra Awards Level 3 Work Based Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Equine).

The 2-year Level 3 Equine Veterinary Nursing programme works well for busy practices, as student veterinary nurses (SVNs) can continue in full time employment while completing their studies through blended learning. Weekly online study days are supported with attended study weeks held at TOCES’ purposebuilt equine education centre near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The new facilities provide a high-quality teaching and learning environment for clinical skills and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) training. SVNs must be employed or undertake a placement, paid or unpaid, for a minimum of 15 hours per week within an approved RCVS Training Practice (TP). As an approved RCVS centre, TOCES can arrange the approval process for UK and overseas practices. Subject to meeting approval criteria, international veterinary practices can become TPs enabling overseas students to train for this globally respected qualification which entitles the holder to enter the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses and thus use the post-nominals ‘RVN’. Veterinary practices may enrol their SVNs with TOCES if the practice is already a TP with another Primary Centre or they have other SVNs training with another college. TOCES’ veterinary nursing team consists of experienced SVN advisors, lecturers, and tutors, all of whom have either worked, or are still working, in the equine veterinary nursing profession. The combination of on-going tutor support, high-quality study materials, live remote teaching, pre-recorded webinars, and hands-on clinical skill and OSCE training at study weeks, has resulted in TOCES enjoying very high success rates which have been commended by the RCVS. The SVNs’ clinical supervisors (formerly clinical coaches) are also supported to help throughout the completion of the SVNs’ nursing progress logs (NPLs).

www.equinestudies.co.uk

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Students will also undertake independent practical study to develop their skillset; occupational experience by shadowing other members of the equine health management team to generate an understanding of influences on equine health outside of equine physiotherapy; and manual therapy-specific experience by shadowing professionals qualified in differing industries within equine manual therapy. On completion of the course students will be fully equipped to start their career in the field of equine physiotherapy and take referrals from Veterinary Surgeons. Enrol now and start the pre-course induction reading to get a head start with the theoretical content before the official start date in September 2022.

FIND TOP UK VETERINARY NURSE OF ‘22

Blue Cross has opened nominations for its annual search for the UK‘s 'Veterinary Nurse of the year' and is calling on animal owners and veterinary practices to put forward their star vet nurses.

The charity’s award recognises the dedication of the country’s vet nurses and their invaluable support to their veterinary teams, the nation’s pets and animal owners. To nominate a vet nurse who has gone the extra mile, complete the nomination form on the Blue Cross website www.bluecross.org.uk/bvna Dr Tamsin Addison is an Irish paradressage rider who has been riding

since she was 5-years-old.

Tamsin evented for most of her younger years until she was given a recently gelded dressage horse to ride. Whilst training progressed up the levels for Tamsin, there were setbacks, however one turned out to be advantageous in the most unexpected way. “My best failure was to turn up to a competition and not have my paperwork in order. It was the best failure I have ever had as it resulted in me being lent a horse to ride from Joyce Fern and she hasn’t managed to shake me off since!” Joyce is now Tamsin’s trainer and accompanied Tamsin to the Tokyo Paralympics in 2018. Tamsin’s current horse is Fahrenheit (Fursty), a Danish Warmblood. Tamsin says, “I would love to do the European Championships next year and it would be amazing to dance around the gardens of Versailles in Paris Paralympics of 2024.” Fursty also has a lot of help with his physical performance from McTimoney Animal Chiropractor Jin Langstone who treats a range of competition horses, including supporting the Irish dressage and para-dressage teams at WEG in 2018. Tamsin explains, “Among her considerable talents is the ability to assess each horse as an individual – to get to know them and treat them with such huge care and attention. I see her visits as a way of my horses being able to talk back to me and give me feedback on how its working for them as an athlete.” Any animal that competes is challenging its body and for high level horses this includes the travel, routine changes and optimizing performance for a specific competition. As an International Equestrian Federation Permitted Equine

IMPORTANCE OF TREATING COMPETITIVE HORSES PHOTO McTimoney Animal Chiropractor Jin Langstone COMP! Therapist (FEI PET) Jin is able to treat her equine clients at From horses, cats and dogs to hedgehogs, guinea international competitions as well as at home, which gives her a fantastic insight into how thepigs and sheep, under- competitions affect the horses19s can enter their eye- as well and enabling her to tailorcatching pictures into treatments accordingly. Jinthe popular RSPCA explains, “McTimoneyYoung Photographer chiropractic treatment is criticalAwards. to allow the horse to work The judges are looking bilaterally symmetrical withforward to another year of minimal energy expenditure impressive entries. through their body. Therefore, itwww.rspca.org.uk/ypa is critical to know the horse at the competitions and at home, and why the ability to adjust the poll, spine, pelvis and pasterns is important in maintaining symmetry.”

www.mctimoneyanimal.co.uk