Equine Assisted Learning
EAL is a unique approach to experiential learning, where clients are offered safe experiences on the ground with horses for the purpose of learning social-emotional skills, personal development, and professional development skills (e.g. leadership and team building).
Who is this training For?
Do you love horses and want find out more about the life-changing benefits they have to offer? Maybe you wish you could work alongside your own horses or donkeys to help people improve their lives, achieve personal goals, make professional progress or experience well-being?
This course is for people from all walks of life who love horses and helping people. You may already work with horses and be curious about adding an extra dimension to the services you offer or have a background as a therapist, coach or teacher. Equally, your lived experience may uniquely qualify you to help other people in a way that only you can. Why not start your journey towards becoming a certified equine assisted professional today?
How is the training delivered?
Accredited by the Institute for Outdoor Learning, the course is designed to begin with two introductory distance learning modules that you work through from the comfort of your own home to take the first steps towards your career as an equine assisted professional. The first module, Introduction to Equine Assisted Services gives you an overview of the industry and an introduction to commonly used terminology. Module 2, Equine Advocacy, teaches you how to ensure that the horse is an equal and valued partner in all of your interactions. You can work your way up through each step, studying when you are available, fitting your learning around a busy life, stopping or pausing when necessary. Our distance learning trainers will offer help and support virtually throughout. Working through these online units ensures that everyone is on the same page, has the same knowledge and starts on a level playing field.
To progress further, you then attend intensive residential training at our flagship centre in the Scottish Borders (ensuite bed and breakfast accommodation is included in the cost). First, you attend a four day Horsemanship and Coaching Skills course (typically over the course of a long weekend) where you can gain practical equine handling skills, learn the core concepts of coaching and explore how to develop ground-based experiential learning activities. Then, the following year or later that same year for fast-track candidates, you attend a five day Practitioner Certification Intensive. Here you hone your facilitation skills and complete a minimum of 10 practice hours of EAL sessions under the support and guidance of an experienced With Horses Certified Practitioner and complete a final assessment comprising of a groundwork skills test and an assessed equine assisted learning session. The intensive onsite elements give you the chance to consolidate your learning with immersive, hands-on practice and have the opportunity to network with other trainee equine assisted learning professionals. This includes training from 10am to 4pm for four or five consecutive days. This approach is great for international attendees or those with busy lives as they can block the intensive time into their schedule.
This training program is designed to support you in learning how to work with horses and people for the purpose of learning, growth and personal development, and to plan, deliver and develop high quality equine assisted learning sessions where the horses are treated as an equal and valued co-facilitator. Our training sets a high standard and our aim is to produce world-class equine assisted learning practitioners who are excellent at what they do. We will support and challenge you to grow into your new role. At times you will feel stretched but it will also be immensely rewarding. We invite you to really immerse yourself in your learning, connecting fully with your horses, yourselves and your fellow practitioners.
Learning Objectives
1. Understand the different models used to involve equines in learning and therapy.
2. Understand the experiential learning process.
3. Know the ethical and safety considerations involved when working with equines and people.
4. Understand practical equine handling skills.
5. Understand a range of and evaluate a range of different facilitation methods.
6. Reflect upon methods that can be used to support the personal development of learners.
7. Understand and assess effective communication strategies.
8. Understand and evaluate a range of techniques for managing challenging behaviour.
9. Analyse and evaluate a variety of learning and evaluation tools.
Certification Requirements
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Successful completion of both Introduction to Equine Assisted Services and Equine Advocacy online courses.
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Attend all 9 Days Intensive Onsite Training.
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Submission of portfolio.
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Facilitate one 30 minute practice assessment at the Certification Intensive.
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Satisfactory completion of Horsemanship Skills Test either (must be completed within 3 months of training completion).
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Sign With Horses Code of Ethics
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Includes Required Reading and active participation during training.
Training Dates
For dates, venues and details of all upcoming trainings, please visit the 'Courses' section of our website. The page is regularly updated with new certification, CPD and introductory courses being added to onsite and online provision throughout the year.
Post training support
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Free supervision for the first year of practice.
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Ongoing CPD opportunities with discounts for With Horses Certified Practitioner including monthly training webinars.
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Our range of tried and tested Equine Assisted Learning Curricula
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The opportunity to become an Approved provider.
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Our online hub with videos, downloads, how-to guides and educational resources available to purchase.
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Internships available annually giving you the chance to keep your skills sharp by working alongside real participants and experienced therapy horses.
Why choose With Horses as your training provider?
This course is accredited by the Institute for Outdoor Learning, the professional body for organisations and individuals who use the outdoors to make a positive difference to others. IOL sets standards to improve the quality of Outdoor Learning in the UK and it has assessed this course to ensure that it provides a high standard of teaching, assessment and course material.
We have 20 years of experience in the Equine Assisted Services field with in-depth knowledge of not only how the industry operates in the United Kingdom but also in the USA and Europe. We have trained and mentored several hundred equine assisted learning and therapeutic riding professionals from across the UK and as far away as Sweden and Germany. As well as having the benefit of more than 5000 hours of practice with clients with a wide range of needs and abilities, our training director Lindsey Crosbie has been independently assessed and examined by the Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals. The Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP) promotes independent certification for professionals who incorporate equines into their therapy or education/coaching practice. The purpose of the Board is to promote the delivery of safe and effective services by formally recognising professionals and measuring the level of knowledge required for this certification.She is also a certified equine behaviourist, enabling her to ensure that horses and humans work in equal partnership for mutual benefit during all training sessions.
With Horses is uniquely placed to both train and provide ongoing support and supervision to equine assisted learning practitioners through our network of practitioners, practitioner retreats, CPD opportunities and online hub. We have a range of tried and tested equine assisted curricula available to all of our practitioners that have been developed through hours of hands-on practice with real clients. Many organisations providing training in this field 'talk the talk' but do not have the practical experience to provide thoughtful, thorough and in-depth training courses that equip practitioners to work successfully in the real world. At With Horses, we don't just talk the talk, we have walked the walk and now we want you to benefit from our experience!
What is the Investment?
In terms of time, our professional training pathway usually takes two years to complete but those who have relevant experience or qualifications can choose to fast track, completing the course in one year.
The complete Equine Assisted Learning Practitioner Course costs £1500 per person inclusive of online distance learning courses, course manual and all other course materials PLUS ensuite bed and breakfast accommodation for the onsite residential intensives at our centre in the Scottish Borders. If you would prefer to break the course costs down into manageable chunks, modules can be booked one at a time, allowing you to spread the cost.