Chesterfield-based Stubbing Court Training (SCT) promoted its Work Based Learning opportunities in the Horse Care Industry at high profile events in Derby and Chesterfield last month.

The Derbyshire Skills Festival - organised by the Derbyshire Learning and Skills Council - was held at Pride Park in Derby and at the Chesterfield Hotel in Chesterfield.
Aimed at local 14-16 year olds, the event showcased a wide variety of exciting career opportunities available following compulsory education. The whole Festival saw in excess of 8,000 visitors from 56 Derbyshire schools and the wider community.

SCT took three ponies to the two-day event in Derby - Pepsi, Locky and Badger - accompanied by existing SCT Advanced Modern Apprentices and staff. These included Ruth Hancock (19) employed at Poplar Farm, Duckmanton, Charlotte
Hobster (18) from Brook Farm Livery Stables, Somercotes, Maria Kavanagh (19) from
Barleyfields EC, Derby, Sarah Troke (24) and Debbie Williams (24) from SCT.

Young people were able to get a better understanding of the career options open to them in the equine industry in addition to getting 'hands on' experience in handling and grooming the ponies. Some youngsters were even brave enough to have a go at picking out feet - a job which has to be done on a daily basis to remove any dirt and stones that may get into the ponies feet.

Advanced Modern Apprentice, Ruth Hancock, from Poplar Farm, Duckmanton, Chesterfield said:

"The Skills Festival was a great way to give teenagers a realistic experience of what it is really like to be around horses and the kind of care that they need. I was amazed
that some of the young people who came to have a go, had never been near a horse before."

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