Equine Assisted Learning is a hands on way to help people build life skills through guided, ground based experiences with horses. Sessions are objective driven, the horse is the teacher, and you are the facilitator who helps clients see what the horse is showing them and how it applies to their real life.

If you are feeling called to do this work, chances are you already know it is not about learning a technique.

It is about developing discernment.
It is about knowing when to step in and when to pause.
It is about honouring the horse while supporting the human in front of you.

Our Equine Assisted Learning Certification is for those who want more than a one time training. It is for those who understand that this work evolves and who value continued learning, guidance, and support.

When you join us, you are not just enrolling in a course. You are stepping into a foundation that continues to grow with you. You receive ongoing training because real facilitation is refined over time, not rushed.

You will be supported as new questions arise. You will deepen your skills as your confidence grows. You will never be left guessing or figuring it out alone.

If you are ready to commit to learning this work with integrity, care, and respect for the horse, we invite you to join us.

This is where clarity replaces confusion.
This is where learning becomes embodied.
This is where horses are honoured as teachers.

If that resonates, your place is here.

A facilitator designs the experience, not the outcome.

You set up purposeful exercises, observe the horse closely for real-time feedback, and step in at just the right moment to guide learning. You are not fixing people or doing therapy to them.

Your role is to translate what the horse is communicating so participants can clearly see their patterns, practice new skills, and make informed choices about how they want to move forward.

The horse teaches.
The human learns.
The facilitator holds the space where real insight happens.

No. A therapy license or formal degree is not required.

Equine-assisted facilitation is skills-based learning, not clinical therapy. You are guiding experiences, not diagnosing or treating.

Many therapists and counsellors add this work to their practice because it complements what they already do, but this path is open to educators, coaches, horse professionals, leaders, and heart-led humans from many backgrounds.

No. Equine-assisted facilitation is not therapy.

There is no diagnosis, treatment plan, or clinical intervention. Instead, participants learn transferable life skills like communication, leadership, boundaries, confidence, and trust through real-time experiences with horses.

The horse provides immediate feedback, and the facilitator supports learning within a clear, ethical scope of practice.

The certification is designed to fit real life.

You complete the online theory at your own pace, then choose either a three-day in-person practical or our No Travel Training, which you can complete from home.

Most students finish within a few weeks to a few months, depending on their schedule, work, family, and level of immersion.

Throughout the program, you will learn:

• How to facilitate ethical, skill-based experiences with horses
• How to read and translate horse feedback in real time
• How to guide learning around communication, leadership, boundaries, and trust
• How to hold safe, purposeful space without fixing, diagnosing, or advising

You can download the full course syllabus for a detailed breakdown.

. Download Here

Yes.

You receive a bonus three-day practical training with real horses and real clients at one of our world-class facilities in Canada, the USA, or Australia.

If travel isn’t right for you, you can choose our No Travel Training and complete your practical learning from your own arena. Both pathways lead to full certification.

And here’s the part our students love:
You are always welcome to return to the mothership at the Equine Connection facility in the Calgary, AB, CDN. This is part of your investment and our commitment to reinvesting in you, your growth, and your confidence as a facilitator.

No. You do not need to own horses or have your own property to complete the certification.

Many graduates begin by partnering with barns, riding schools, or private horse owners once they are certified and ready to launch their programs. This allows you to start where you are and grow your business without the overhead of owning a facility.

Yes.

Our certification is recognized internationally, and graduates work successfully in multiple countries while securing appropriate insurance. The training is grounded in skills development and business education, preparing you to build and operate a SAFE and professional equine assisted business.

The certification is supported by our governing body, The EAL Network, which sets global standards for ethics, safety, scope of practice, and horse welfare. We are also partnered with Equine Guelph, the Horse Owners’ Centre at the University of Guelph, for ongoing education and alignment with recognized horse welfare standards.

While this is not a university degree, it is a professionally governed certification est. since 2008 with defined standards, oversight, and continued education. This structure provides credibility, accountability, and professional recognition when working with schools, organizations, insurers, and community groups worldwide.

What makes our Equine Assisted Learning Certification different is not just what you learn. It is how you are supported long after the initial training ends.

Many programs offer a moment of education. We offer a foundation that continues to grow with you.

Equine assisted learning is not static work. Horses change. Humans change. Situations change. Knowledge changes. The ability to discern teaching versus training evolves over time. This work cannot be mastered in a single weekend, a single module, or a fixed set of techniques.

That is why ongoing training is not an add-on in our certification. It is the foundation.

Our certification is built on the understanding that facilitation is a living skill. Knowing when a horse is teaching, when training is required, and when to pause rather than intervene develops through continued learning, reflection, and real world application.

Inside our program, you are not taught to follow scripts or force outcomes. You are taught how to read moments accurately. You learn how to protect horse welfare without silencing the lesson. You learn how to hold space without abandoning structure.

Most importantly, you are never left on your own to figure it out.

Forever training exists because this work requires discernment, not memorization. It requires conversation, observation, and guidance as new scenarios arise. Horses will always present new questions. Humans will always bring new dynamics. Having ongoing access to training means you continue to refine your skill rather than relying on outdated habits or guesswork.

This ongoing support is what allows facilitators to stay ethical, confident, and grounded. It prevents the common mistakes that occur when facilitators are left without mentorship. It ensures horses are honored as teachers, not tools, and that participants receive experiences that integrate into real life rather than end at the gate.

Our certification is not about completing a course. It is about joining a professional standard.

A standard where learning continues.
A standard where horse welfare remains central.
A standard where facilitators are supported as they grow.

This is why our certification does not end.
Because the work does not end.

And because the most responsible facilitators are the ones who keep learning.

No.

You simply need to be able to move safely around horses, follow clear safety guidelines, and be willing to keep learning. This work is about communication, observation, and skilled facilitation - not riding, performance, or physical fitness.

It is everything.

We work with horses, not use them.
You are trained to understand their language, culture, and needs so every session honours their wellbeing - physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Horse welfare is not an add-on or a module. It is the foundation of how we facilitate, design programs, and build businesses.

If it is not good for the horse, it does not belong in our programs.

It means the horse provides honest, immediate feedback.

Horses react to human behaviour, intention, clarity, and congruence. They show us when something is unclear, pushy, disconnected, or aligned. Their responses are not personal. They are informational.

As a facilitator, you learn how to read and translate those responses so the horse can lead the learning experience. The client sees the truth through what happens in real time without you ever having to tell them what to think or feel.

The insight comes from the experience itself.

Yes. Absolutely.

You go far beyond learning activities. You dive into horse behaviour, herd dynamics, body language, stress signals, personality traits, and what makes a true lesson horse.

You also learn how to recognize when a horse needs a break, re-schooling, additional support, or a different role altogether. Understanding the horse is foundational to ethical facilitation.

This certification develops not just better facilitators, but more informed and responsible horse professionals.

Yes.

This industry is largely unregulated, which is why we chose to lead with clear standards rather than wait for them.

Our certification includes defined expectations for horse welfare, safety, ethics, and scope of practice. These are not suggestions. They are built into how we train, certify, and support facilitators.

Our governing body, The EAL Network, establishes global standards for safety, ethics, and horse welfare across our network.

We also partner with Equine Guelph, the Horse Owner’s Centre at the University of Guelph, to ensure ongoing education and alignment with best practices in horse care and welfare.

This structure provides protection for the horses, professionalism for facilitators, and confidence for clients, barns, and insurers.

Yes. This certification is designed for skills development and business ownership, not as a hobby.

Graduates build income through private sessions, group programs, schools, corporate teams, workshops, and community partnerships. How much you earn depends on how you structure your business, the clients you serve, and the time you choose to commit.

We train you to build something realistic, ethical, and sustainable, not overnight success or burnout.

Yes.

This certification goes beyond facilitation skills. You learn how to:

You learn how to:

• Structure programs that people will pay for
• Price your services confidently and appropriately
• Identify your ideal clients and niches
• Set up your business in a professional, credible way

You are not left guessing how to turn this work into income. Business foundations are part of the training.

Yes.

You are guided in understanding:

• How to price programs responsibly and sustainably
• How different client groups are structured and billed
• How to move away from undercharging or “just winging it”

Pricing is part of professionalism. We help you value your skills, your time, and your horses appropriately.

Absolutely.

Many facilitators begin part-time, offering programs evenings, weekends, or seasonally while maintaining other work. This allows you to build confidence, experience, and income without pressure or burnout.

You do not need to leap before you’re ready. You build step by step.

Facilitators work with a wide range of clients, including:

• Youth and schools
• Women in transition
• Leadership and corporate teams
• Families and individuals
• Community organizations

You are taught how to choose a client base that aligns with your values, location, and income goals. There is no one-size-fits-all model, you build what works for you.

This certification is structured as professional skills development and business training.

Many graduates operate registered businesses and work with their accountants to apply training and business-related expenses accordingly. Because tax laws vary by country and individual situation, we always recommend consulting your accountant or tax professional for guidance specific to your region.

What matters is that this is recognized as legitimate business education, not a personal hobby.

Yes.

We offer a 6-month interest-free payment plan with a 10% administration fee. You can start the course right away and attend your bonus in-person training before the balance is paid in full. Certification and full business materials are released once payment is complete.

All prices are listed in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Depending on your country, the exchange rate often means you may pay less in your local currency. You can easily check the current rate by searching “CAD to [your currency]” online.

There is one primary investment for your certification.

After your first year, there is a small annual community fee of $30 CAD. This supports ongoing training opportunities, shared resources, and access to our global platform and professional community.

There are no hidden fees or required upgrades. That’s it.

We are a Canadian company with headquarters in Calgary, Canada, and Terrey Hills, Australia.

We also host in-person trainings in Woodstock, ONT, CDN and at two locations in the United States each year.

You can explore all current and upcoming in-person training locations here

Yes.

The online training platform is simple and designed to be followed step by step. You can pause, rewind, and replay lessons as often as you need, and move through the material at your own pace.

If you ever get stuck, we’re only a message away and genuinely happy to help walk you through it. You will not be left to figure it out on your own.

Yes.

Many students join us after completing other certifications because they are still missing the how to move forward with confidence, how to run clear and ethical programs, and how to build a sustainable business, not just deliver sessions.

This certification provides a complete facilitation model, ready to use curriculum, and a business framework you can actually implement. It helps you bring structure, consistency, and professional clarity to the work you are already passionate about.

Rather than replacing what you have learned, it strengthens it and gives you practical tools to move from certification to real world application.

If you already hold a certification and want to strengthen the business side of your work, The Horse Hotline is the best place to start. It focuses on program structure, pricing, professional positioning, and building a sustainable equine assisted business. Check out the Horse Hotline here.

Once certified, you can work with a wide range of individuals and groups, including youth, adults, women’s groups, men’s groups, schools, faith based communities, non profits, first responders, corporate teams, leadership groups, and families.

Your training helps you identify the population you feel most aligned with and shows you how to build programs that fit your skills, values, and business goals. You are not locked into one path. You choose your focus and grow from there.

Because people already are.

Across the world, individuals, families, organizations, schools, and businesses invest in experiences that build communication, leadership, confidence, and trust. These are skills people actively seek and are willing to pay for when the work is structured, ethical, and clearly communicated.

Your training teaches you how to position your programs as skill based services, not vague experiences. You learn how to identify the right clients, articulate the value of what you offer, and build programs that solve real problems people are already trying to address.

When the value is clear and the structure is professional, clients do not need convincing. They are looking for exactly this kind of work.

No.

We do not promise income or guaranteed success, because results depend on your action, consistency, and willingness to apply what you learn. We cannot do the work for you.

What we do promise is this. We are not successful until you are.

That means we are committed to providing you with a clear facilitation model, structured curriculum, business training, and ongoing support. You are given the tools, the framework, and the standards needed to build a legitimate equine assisted business.

Your success comes from showing up, taking action, and using what you are given. We walk alongside you. You do the work.

Yes.

This work is flexible and can be structured to fit your life. Many facilitators begin casually or part time while maintaining other work, then expand as their confidence, demand, and business grow.

Your training helps you design programs, schedules, and offerings that support the level of commitment you choose. Whether you start small or build toward full time, you are in control of the pace.

You receive ongoing mentorship, continued training opportunities, and access to our private international community. Support does not end when the course finishes.

You are never kicked out or left on your own. We believe certification is the beginning, not the end, and your success genuinely matters to us.

It means you are not left wondering what to do next.

You can ask now what questions as your confidence and business grow. You receive ongoing updates as we continue learning about horses, facilitation, and building ethical equine assisted businesses.

You are also part of a private global professional platform, not a Facebook group. This space is reserved exclusively for our certified facilitators and is designed for meaningful connection, continued learning, and professional support.

Support that sticks means long term guidance, real community, and a place where you belong as a professional, not just during training but as you grow.

Yes.

Your certification is a one time investment. For as long as you are certified with us, you have access to our support, professional community, and ongoing learning opportunities.

We believe certification is a relationship, not a transaction. As our facilitators grow, we grow. As the work evolves, we evolve with you.

You can divorce us at any time. We do not divorce you. Our commitment is to walk alongside you for as long as this work is part of your life.

No.

There is no riding involved in this certification. All exercises are done on the ground beside the horse. We are not trying to control what the horse does. We allow the horse to be the natural teacher they are, offering honest feedback through their choices and responses.

You cannot do that from on top of them. Working on the ground keeps the focus on learning, safety, and the horse’s ability to lead the experience.

Yes.

Safety is built into every part of the training and into every program you learn to facilitate. You are taught how to set up the environment, manage groups, read the horse accurately, and step in at the right moment so everyone feels safe, supported, and respected.

The number one thing a horse needs to feel is safe. When you learn how to partner with the horse and honour their needs, you naturally create safety for your clients as well. This work is always about the horse first. We are not trying to figure out the humans. We allow the horse to lead, and safety follows from that partnership.

Clients are empowered to find their own solutions to the challenges they are facing. Through their experience with the horses, they build confidence, communication skills, boundaries, leadership, problem solving, and self awareness.

The learning transfers beyond the session into everyday life. People stand taller, speak more clearly, and leave with a deeper belief in their own ability to navigate situations differently. Many say, I had no idea I could do that.

As a facilitator, you are part of something purposeful by providing this kind of experience to your community. You are not giving answers. You are creating space for real and lasting change.

It is both real and fun.

There are powerful aha moments, lots of laughter, some tears, and plenty of surprises. People get to play, try, make mistakes, figure things out, and feel proud of themselves along the way.

The experience is not about emotional overwhelm. It is about learning through doing in a way that feels alive, engaging, and meaningful for both humans and horses.

By always putting the horse first.

We follow a horse maintenance protocol that has been intentionally designed by us with horse welfare as the priority. Horses are never pushed, overused, or expected to carry emotional weight for humans. Sessions are built around choice, rest, variety, and clear boundaries so horses remain willing and regulated.

You are trained to recognize stress signals, honour when a horse needs a break, and rotate roles so no horse is asked to do more than they are suited for. Some days a horse participates fully. Some days they observe. Some days they do not work at all.

When horses are supported through thoughtful care, clear protocols, and respect, they remain engaged, healthy, and willing partners in this work.

This is a real career path.

You learn a proven facilitation model, receive a globally recognized certification, and gain access to a complete business package designed to help you launch and grow. This is not about collecting another certificate.

You are building a professional future with your horses, your clients, and your community, grounded in skills development, ethics, and sustainability.

In many ways, yes.

This certification is similar to completing a specialized degree in equine assisted facilitation and horse based business. You gain structured education, a proven model, practical application, and professional standards.

The difference is what happens after. You do not finish and disappear. You receive ongoing support, mentorship, and community long after certification. You cannot call your professor five years later and ask what do I do next. You can call us.

Certification provides clarity, structure, and accountability in an industry that is largely unregulated.

It shows that you have been trained within a defined model, follow ethical and safety standards, and understand both horse welfare and professional scope of practice. Certification also gives clients, parents, organizations, and insurers confidence that the work is being delivered responsibly.

This certification is supported by global standards, ongoing education, and a professional community. It is not just about knowledge. It is about responsibility, consistency, and doing the work with integrity.

Yes.

We share what has worked for us and for hundreds of facilitators worldwide. You receive templates, examples, and guidance to support insurance conversations, waivers, and practical program set up so you are not reinventing the wheel.

We also have established relationships with insurance agencies familiar with this work, which helps streamline the process and reduce guesswork.

This support allows you to move forward with confidence while still meeting the requirements of your local region and insurers.

We would love to talk it through with you.

There is no pressure and no pushing. Just real conversation and honest answers so you can feel confident in your decision for yourself, your horses, and your future.

This is not about us convincing you. It is about you feeling clear, grounded, and supported in choosing what truly fits your life and where you are right now.

 
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