Skip to content
Join
back to home

Review of the National Occupational Standards

Welcome to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) Review Consultation in Equine Care and Management.

National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to do a particular job to a nationally recognised level of competence.

A review of some functional areas within equine care and management is taking place. We are currently looking for feedback in these areas. It is a UK wide consultation.

The functional areas for review can be viewed here. The NOS that are in scope for this review make up these functional areas.

An initial review has identified four key areas of change for the revised NOS:

  1. Updating wording to reflect current practice for example, references to the 5 Domains, 3Fs (friends, freedom, forage) and mental wellbeing of horses where relevant. Updating wording relating to social licensing considerations.
  2. Reducing duplication by removing ‘common knowledge’ within the NOS, for example where the knowledge is implied by completing the performance criteria and, where appropriate, combining/merging NOS.
  3. Addressing gaps in content, such as working efficiently, biosecurity, clean sport initiatives, learning theory.
  4. Adding content in scope/range to ensure application across a variety of yards and disciplines. 

We are particularly keen to gather feedback on the proposed merged NOS.

 

To support this consultation please follow these steps.

 

Step 1. Check the summary of functional areas and NOS in scope for this review. This is so you are fully aware of the NOS in and out of scope for this review.

 

Step 2. Read the proposed NOS which fall within your area of expertise. This may be more than one area. NOS have been split into the following areas:

General horse care and management, lungeing and riding NOS. These NOS may be applicable to a variety of workplaces where grooms are employed.

Breeding horses NOS. These NOS may be applicable to workplaces where grooms are employed within a stud or breeding yard.

Trekking or Riding School NOS. These NOS may be applicable to workplaces where grooms are employed within a riding school or trekking centre.

Horse racing NOS. These NOS may be applicable to workplaces where grooms are employed within a horse racing yard.

 

Step 3. Complete the survey. The survey will close on Sunday 9 November 2025.

 

Thank you for your support.

If you have any questions regarding the review please contact laura.hood@bhs.org.uk