BRAND NEW

Diploma in Equine Training and Coaching

Ready to look at an equine career as a horse trainer?

The first pathway, specifically for equines, that meets the Animal Training Instructor (ABTC-ATI) standard set by the UK Animal Behaviour and Training Council!

This course gives you a unique opportunity to gain accreditation with the ABTC as an Animal Training Instructor for Equines. This course is the first of its kind to meet ABTC standards. You will learn how to successfully apply behavioural science and learning theory to the practice of training horses, ponies and other equids by using a variety of techniques and you will learn how to teach owners and handlers how to apply these techniques too. The Diploma in Equine Training and Coaching is formally recognised by the ABTC as meeting their ATI Standard and is a pathway for those looking to become a registered ATI for equines on the ABTC register.

Ready to start your journey and become an Equine Training Instructor?

This course has now closed for enrolment. You can join the waiting list to be the first to be notified when enrolment opens for 2023.

Starting Late 2023

Course Information

The Diploma in Equine Training and Coaching is accredited by National Open College Network as an endorsed programme, accredited by UKRS and is Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) Recognised for ATI. This means that on successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to join the ABTC register as an Equine ATI – the first of its kind!

This distance learning course in equine behaviour provides you with the opportunity to become a certified horse trainer by learning how to successfully apply behavioural science and learning theory to the practice of horse training using a variety of techniques and is recognised as meeting the criteria from the ABTC ATI Standard. It is a pathway for those looking to become a registered ATI for equines on the ABTC register.

After completing the course, you will be able to apply to join the ABTC register. Following a successful assessment of the ATI performance criteria, you will be able to join the ABTC Register as a fully fledged ATI.

Start your horse trainer career today!

Course Specification

Entry Requirements:

You must have at least one year’s experience working in the equine industry or owning/caring for horses full-time and/or give proof of a relevant level 3 equivalent qualification.

The relevant level 3 qualification may be, for example, Science, Psychology or similar at A-Level. A level 3 qualification in a relevant subject will be ideal as, having previously studied to level 3, you are therefore likely to get the most out of the level 4 equivalent course. If you are coming from the equine industry without relevant qualifications, we are happy to welcome you.

You must have access to at least three horses for assignment work. If you have any queries about this, please get in touch with us at info@naturalanimalcentre.org.

Assessment Methods:

You will be assessed through a variety of methods, with 8 assignments throughout the course duration. Assessment methods include but are not limited to:

– Written Reports

– Video Submissions

All assignments are graded and a percentage is given per assignment. Individual assignment grades are then used to calculate a your final overall course grade.

Academic Level: Level 4 equivalent

Number of Modules: 4

Total Hours: 525 Guided Learning Hours

Course Duration: 1 Year Course

This course is non-regulated and is not listed on the Register of Regulated Qualifications. The course has been accredited by Ofqual-regulated awarding body NOCN as an endorsed programme which means it has undergone rigorous quality assurance testing to ensure the highest standard of educational provision for learners.

Delivery Method:

The ETI Pathway is an e-learning based course delivered on our own Natural Animal Centre Virtual Learning Environment. The course includes online content and assignments as well as live lectures, tutorials and discussion groups – providing an inclusive and interactive experience, even when studying remotely.

You will need good computer and internet access. Plus a device to video training and coaching sessions for assignments.

Course Syllabus

Module 1

Evolution
Domestication
Safety in numbers
Communication methods
Effect of management on behaviour
Social structure
Tinbergen's four questions
The four f's
Selfish gene theory
Resource holding potential

Module 2

Assessing equines for training
Horse-owner relationship
Owner's needs and goals
Horse's needs
Behavioural priorities
Management as part of the solution
Health and Safety
Training equipment

Module 3

Shaping ladder
Creating training plans
Factors that influence training progress
Setting up horses mentally + physically for success
The other 23 hours in a day
Preparedness
Operant Conditioning
Classical Conditioning
Reinforcement Schedules
Advanced learning theory
Measuring progress
Training techniques

Module 4

Duty of care
Understanding owner motivation
Transactional Analysis introduction
Client relationships
Recognising your own limitations
Contraindications
Building rapport
Business and professionalism

Payment Options

Course Price: £3,250+VAT

Payment plans are available.

Enrolment for 2022 has now closed.

The ETI Pathway enrolment will open in September 2023.

If you would like to be notified as soon as the next enrolment period opens, please join our waiting list below.

Course FAQs

Looking to learn more about our Equine Training Instructor Pathway? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions we receive.

If you have any further questions about the course, please feel free to get in touch with us by going to the contact us page and we will be happy to help.

What are the entry requirements?

All entry requirements can be found on the course’s main page on our website. For the Equine Training Instructor Pathway there is no need to have a degree, just a minimum of one year’s experience with horses and/or a UK level 3 equivalent education (or international equivalent).

An example of a level 3 qualification could be an A-level in Psychology or it could also be a level 3 diploma in equine management from a land-based college. A level 3 qualification in a relevant subject will be ideal as, having previously studied to level 3, you are therefore likely to get the most out of the level 4 equivalent course. If you are coming from the equine industry without relevant qualifications, we are happy to welcome you.

How many hours do I need to dedicate to the course weekly?

The total contact hours on the course is 525. The total recommended hours is 750, the additional 225 hours includes any further reading or study.. Contact hours include everything from watching live lectures, studying the course content, participation in discussion groups, reading recommended text books and resources, and the hours spent preparing and writing your assessments.

Each module varies in length with some being longer than others, so an exact number of how many hours a week study is required will vary across the course, and everyone has different factors that will influence the amount of hours they need to dedicate such as prior learning and varying daily routines, but it averages out at approximately 16.5 hours a week.

The entry requirements say I need access to three horses. Why is this, and how much do I need to do with them?

Both module 3 and module 4 require you to carry out practical training with horses and to coach owners in reinforcement-based training approaches. Module 3 requires you to train three horses each, in a separate task (you will have the opportunity to choose from a set list of behaviours) and module 4 will require you to submit three separate ten minute coaching videos of you teaching owners or handlers, this can either be with their own horses or a horse that you have access to. The tasks will not be overly complex, and it won’t include strenuous exercise, they are purely to assess your training and coaching skills against the course criteria.

Will I be able to ask the tutor(s) specific questions or ask for specific help?

Of course! We want to make sure that you feel as supported as possible throughout the course. Our course includes a forum page in which you can post any questions/queries and the tutors will give you advice, including allowing you to talk things through with fellow students.

There will also be weekly discussion group sessions on Zoom that will give you the opportunity to ask any questions ‘face-to-face’ and have live discussions with the tutors and your fellow classmates, having had the opportunity to read and digest content discussed within the session, in the weeks prior.

If you have any particular needs that might impact your learning on the course, please let us know during enrolment so that we can discuss how best to support you through the course. Access arrangements can be set up for students where necessary. This may include reasonable adjustments to assignments and deadlines.

What if I don’t pass an assessment? Will I be given the chance to improve and try again?

The NAC aims to provide an outstanding level of service wherever possible to our learners and in line with that we have an appeals policy. Students must submit sufficient evidence that an appeal is justified.

Your assignments and course work are marked internally, and they are externally verified, as well as being moderated by the ABTC; in addition students will have access to the marking framework for each assignment when it is given so you will have an idea of the level of work you need to achieve to reach each grade.

How flexible is the course structure: can I work through the assessments at a flexible pace or are there required deadlines?

The course is eight months long, during which time all work and assignments will be completed. In order to further support the growth of our students, we provide access to the learning platform for up to twelve months after the start date of the course (i.e. a further 4 months after the course has finished) to allow students to go back over course content, read assignment feedback, notes, etc.

In terms of assignments, there are deadlines. Each module is opened fully as you work through the course so there is opportunity to read ahead if you wish. For example, all of module one will be open at the start and you may read through all the way to the end.

There will be weekly discussion group sessions, before which you will be asked to have read up to at least a certain point in the module so that you can engage in the discussion and everyone can move through the course as a cohort. Similarly, there will be some lectures that relate to assignment topics. Certain topics may require further study and support throughout this horse training course and therefore we include live lectures and recorded lectures throughout the course content to enhance your studies.

You can submit your module assignment early if you wish, but we recommend waiting until the cohort is at that point in the course and all the content up to that point has been covered, to give you the best chance of achieving good grades..

For example, once module 2 has opened you can read through the whole module’s content and submit your assignments ahead of the deadline if you wish, but that won’t allow you to progress past module 2 until the course timeline aligns with the start of module 3. Equally, you can request extensions to deadlines under certain circumstances; however if you miss a deadline without having agreed an extension you will not have the opportunity to submit your work for grading.