North Highland College have been offering equestrian courses since 1990, last September they moved into a newly converted farm which utilised the farm buildings into stabling, classrooms and a new purpose built indoor arena.

Dale Farm near Halkirk Dale Farm is situated approximately six miles from the main campus in Thurso. It was originally a mixed farm, but its owners have now rented the property and ground to North Highland College for their equestrian students. There large stone built sheds have been transformed from being once derelict to a busy, active premises. Internal stabling has been added with spaces for up to 20 horses and there's room to expand, two new classrooms have been made in the old grain rooms, a new student common room, kitchen, boots room, lockers area and modern offices take in some of the existing buildings.

Out the back a 60m x 30m indoor arena has been built, and the same size of outdoor arena has also been made.

Courses are the national certificate horse care, higher national certificate equine studies, higher national diploma equine studies and bachelor of arts equine business management on a full and part time basis. There's also an equestrian skills flexible study programme is available at a number of equestrian centres throughout the Highlands and islands and beyond, it allows people in work to get a qualification and still work.

"Anyone over the age of 14 can start the NC course," explained James Munro, BHSII head of equine studies at the college.

"The open learning course has been very popular – there's around 300 students from throughout Scotland and currently it takes two years compared to a one-year full-time course. We've had Pony Club mums, people who start the NC and then continue onto the HNC here and helpers from the Argyll branch of the RDA group to learn more."

Currently there's 17 horses, they are all stabled from October to Easter, and now are turned out overnight. The students are able to bring their own horse if they wish, although there's a number of loaned horses to the college. Many of the horses here are ex-competition or actively competing in a range of disciplines, to give the students experience of riding all types of horses. Everything goes home for the summer, and there's a waiting list of horses that can be used.

Most of the students live in Thurso near the main campus. A mini bus collects the students at 9am from the main campus and brings them to Dale Farm before collecting them at the end of the day. Generally the NC course is mostly practical work, the HNC course is 70% practical and the HND course shared equally between practical and theory.

Other staff include Alasdair Matheson and Diane Ross who are both full time lecturers, Liz Alexander and Mary Elder are part-time and Marion Chretien looks after the horses and deals with the farrier, vet and supervising of students.

In addition this September there will be four modern apprenticeship places offered which work alongside the rural courses offered by the college, including gamekeeping, green keeping and golfing.

"We want to turnout practical students," said James, adding the students from the college are now working in equestrian businesses in Europe as well as some opening their own businesses.