“Horsing Around” in Barcelona

Ten lucky students from SERC’s Level 3 Extended Diploma Animal Management course spent 2 weeks at the prestigious Club Real de Polo, Barcelona as part of an Erasmus+ Further Education VET project.  

The students, most of whom had never experienced equine care previously, worked with the spanish grooms at the Club Real de Polo in central Barcelona, assisting with mucking-out, grooming, exercising and overall care of the horses. 

This placement contributed to the required working hours as demanded by their course and presented an opportunity for them to gain a unique insight into the health & welfare requirements of thoroughbred horses and how this is achieved in a top-quality working stable yard. 

As well as technical skills, the students improved their communication and team working skills whilst gaining valuable experience of working in a different country and learning how to cope with the inevitable language barriers. They gained confidence in their abilities and most would now consider work abroad as a viable career option.  

Chris Kernaghan, Lecturer in Animal Management said, “Club Real de Polo is recognised worldwide as a leader in the equestrian sport industry. Therefore, having work experience at the centre is a great addition to the students CV and has improved their ability to confidently carry out tasks in an industry standard environment. The students who took part in the mobility to Barcelona were fantastic ambassadors for SERC and have raised the profile of the college and the Animal Management course.”   

The students agreed that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would impact on their career choices and improve their chances of employment, giving them the edge over other graduates. 

Applications are now open for courses commencing in September 2019. Click here for more information about SERC's Animal Management course.