Eleanor
Evans

Eleanor Evans' poster to show her favourite memories of year 1 at Brackenhurst

"I’ve been an avid rider from an early age, and I’ve always known that horses were going to be a part of my future career. I discovered Brackenhurst through an online search, and after attending an Open Day, I knew it was a perfect fit for me."

"The course I’m studying offers a combination of theory and practical work, both of which I enjoy, but I especially love the practical side. I love being outdoors and getting hands on, and of course spending time with all the beautiful horses is always a bonus! My personal favourite module is the Competition Grooming, where I learnt how to care for performance horses. I’ve developed so many useful skills, from plaiting to bandaging, and I’m looking forward to applying them when I go into the industry."

"I was home educated for five years, so starting college was quite a daunting experience for me. I had finished my IGCSEs, and was looking for something more practical based to further my education. As horses have been a passion of mine since I was little, I knew that no matter what the next step was in my education, I wanted it to involve horses. After looking into countless equine courses, Brackenhurst ticked all the boxes for me."

"All of my course tutors are wonderful. They have each taught me so much during my first year, and are always great fun to be around. They are all really supportive and helped boost my confidence, especially during the first few weeks."

"During my first year, I was lucky enough to attend the Osberton Horse Trials, which was a fantastic experience. As well as being able to see some top class riders in action, I was also lucky enough to walk the XC course and see all of the fences up close, which was rather daunting, but amazing. We were also taken to visit Southwell Racecourse, which was my personal favourite trip. As a big racing fan, it was amazing to see the horses and jockeys up close in the parade ring, as well as get a taste of what goes on behind the scenes in the jockey’s weighing room."

"I am due to start my first placement in my second year coming up, which I am really looking forward to. I believe external placements give students an incredible opportunity to not only learn more about the industry and develop new skills, but also to meet like-minded people and make valuable connections."

"When I visited Brackenhurst Campus on my Open Day, one of the first things that caught my eye were the amazing facilities and beautiful surroundings. It has so much to offer, and it really is a beautiful place to learn. Being an equine student, I have quite a long walk from the yard up to the main building, but being surrounded by countryside always makes it more enjoyable. I always find it really peaceful, especially after a hard morning’s work on the yard."

"The Brackenhurst library is another one of my favourites. If I’m not working on the yard or in a lecture, I’m catching up on work in the library. It’s a lovely space, and has pretty much every book under the sun that you could possibly need to help you with assignments, plus lots of help available from other students and staff. It is always there for me when I need some quiet time to myself."

"Despite having developed so many useful skills to help me excel in the equine industry, the most valuable thing I have learnt isn’t actually horse related. Personally, my experience at Brackenhurst has taught me to step out of my comfort zone and take risks. When I first started at Brackenhurst, I was a very shy and quiet person. I still am, but my confidence has grown tremendously since being here, and I’ve accomplished things I would never have dreamt of doing a few years ago. Life is short, and great things never came from comfort zones!"

"I would highly recommend this course to all equestrians out there, no matter their level of experience. The great thing about Brackenhurst is that it caters to everyone, so you don’t need to own your own horses or have been riding for several years before starting. Every student is given an equal opportunity to learn, the tutors are all great fun to be around, and the horses are beautiful – each with a unique character."

"You’ll learn everything you need to know about managing your own yard and horses in the future, and will develop so many useful skills to help you excel in the equine industry. The facilities are fantastic too, from the Mary King indoor arena, to the mechanical horse – this is available to all equine students, and is great if you want to work on any weak points you may have in your riding, such as your balance or position."