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Equine Assisted Therapy
(Statement of Attainment from Diploma of Counselling with Equine Electives)
Become a Professional Equine Assisted Therapist Details of this Heavily Discounted Course Available Soon!
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Are you passionate about using horses to assist in helping people? If you are an instructor, you already know how horses have an ability to connect with people in a way that goes beyond what any other animal can do. The Equine Assisted Therapy course can give you a professional qualification that teaches you how to use horses to assist people. This full course qualification includes establishing and confirming the counselling relationship, applying specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills facilitating the counselling interview skills and reflecting on and improving your own professional practice.

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Equine Assisted Therapy Course Summary

Statement of Attainment from Diploma of Counselling with Equine Electives
Download Course Info Sheet
Recreation Horseriding InstructorTrail Ride Assistant

What Units of Competency are Included?

When available, your Equine Assisted Therapy course (Statement of Attainment from Diploma of Counselling course), the following units of competency are included:
Core (4)
  • CHCCSL001 Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
  • CHCCSL002 Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
  • CHCCSL003 Facilitate the counselling relationship and process
  • CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
  • Other units to be advised
Equestrian Electives (4)
(Qualified instructors may have different electives to be credited into the Diploma of Counselling, below are minimum acceptable units)
  • ACMEQU212 Handle Horses safely
  • ACMEQU214 Prepare to work safely around horses
  • SISOEQU001 Handle horses
  • SISOEQU007 Instruct horse handling skills
There is some flexibility within the above units. If you would like to complete different units within your Equine Assisted Therapy course, then please talk to us. We may have your required units within another one of our courses, and can easily offer you a change of units within your course. If you are not a qualified instructor, you will be required to complete a pre-requisite instructor course first. Your pre-requisites/ co-requisites which can be completed either prior to commencing your course or prior to commencing the counselling component of your course. They are;
 
a) St Johns First Aid (or equivalent) which should be completed by an external provider. There is some more information about this course on this link http://stjohn.org.au/first-aid-training or contact your local St Johns. b) Completion of an an equestrian coaching/ horse riding instructor qualification recognised by the Australian Skills Quality Authority.
 
On successful completion of the Equine Assisted Therapy course you will receive a Statement of Attainment from Diploma of Counselling. There will also be the option in the future to enrol in the full Diploma of Counselling. We want you to be qualified in the latest, most up to date courses. If the Training Package changes while you are enrolled then we will do our best to change your course into the new Training Package as early as possible. Also, we monitor the latest demands of the horse industry and we continually update our courses to meet these demands and to give you the best course possible.

How Long Will My Course Take?

This course has been designed for full time study, over 23 weeks (31 weeks including holidays), with 200 hours recommended teaching experience to be gained during the course. However, it could take less time if you already have a previous counselling qualification or plan to study for more than 23 hours per week or plan to study full time. If you plan to study this course as well as school, college or University then please talk to use about a flexible schedule that allows more study time over your holidays. If you already have previous counselling experience and would like to study full time, this course about becoming a professional Equine Assisted Therapist could take much less. Simply let us know if you would like to ‘fast track’ your course! Of course you may study part time if you like and your enrolment will be valid for up to three years. If you would like to re-enrol for a further two years, simply contact us for your updated enrolment details.

What Part of the Course is Delivered Online?

All theory lessons are delivered online through your secure web portal with a range of resources such as
  • Workbooks
  • Extension Lessons/Homework
  • Video Tutorials
  • Power Point Presentations
  • 24 x 7 Email Support access
  • You will have access to the Online Horse
College team through phone, email and Skype
And Much, Much More!
The theory component is assessed through International Horse College and the practical component may be completed through a variety of methods as outlined below a) group webinars b) live streaming c) videos d) practical workshops (venues to be advised) This ‘Equine Assisted Therapist’ course will be much more straightforward if you have easy access to an equestrian centre environment where you can regularly practice your skills. You will also be able to have regular phone tutorials during the course. These can be booked whenever you need additional support. Although they will need to be confirmed with us, when you complete many of your online assessments then you will know the results immediately!

Are There Any Practical Tasks Within My Course?

Of course! Horses are live animals and learning about horse behaviour, is an essential part of this course. To meet the practical equine assisted therapy components of the course;
  • A combination of practical skills and theoretical knowledge of equine assisted therapy are the main requirements for this qualification and these skills will be developed throughout the course.
  • There are a few options to complete the practical requirements of this course, depending on your location, time available and other commitments.
  • There may be some components of your course that may be completed by RPL from prior qualifications, references or third party reports.
  • Our most popular option is for assessment of practical tasks to be done by video. There are instructions for the submission of video (usually through YouTube.com) within your course content.
  • If any resubmissions are required, you will receive feedback from our qualified trainer assessors.
  • If you need further practical experience with horses before submitting your video, this could be done in your local area or with contacts you already have within the horse industry.
  • Please use our checklist to confirm the requirements of a suitable equestrian environment to gain further practical experience with horses https://www.internationalhorsecollege.com/equestrian-environment-checklist
  • If you already have a horse care teacher or equestrian coach, they may be already qualified to supervise and/ or assess your practical assessments or even give us a Third Party Report. (There is an application process for assessors that must be completed prior to your assessment).
  • Other people who may be qualified to supervise and/ or assess could be your riding instructor, the owner/manager of your stable, or someone-one else you know who has considerable experience with horses. The cost for the practical assessments is paid directly to the assessor or person providing the report/s.
  • If you prefer to study the practical components of your course in an on campus mode, we hold practical workshops during the year at Caboolture (Qld, Australia). There is a discounted charge if you pay for your workshop with your enrolment. It may also be possible to organise workshops at your centre, although there will probably be an additional charge for this.
  • You may also be required to self assess and peer assess your practical activities with horses. A peer may be some-one with around the same experience as you with horses. They act as a mirror and mark off your checklist as you complete your activities.
  • We may also conduct some verbal assessments during a phone call or phone tutorial. Some of the practical assessments may be simulated when it is impractical to assess in a realistic setting.
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Will I be Accepted into this Course?

To be accepted into this course, you should be:
  • fit and healthy enough to meet the practical requirements
    of this course
  • a qualified instructor or willingness to become a qualified instructor prior to commencing the specialist equine assisted therapy parts of the course (there may be an additional charge if you are not already a qualified instructor.
  • at least seventeen (17) years of age to commence this course
  • completed equivalent to Year 10 (Queensland Education)
  • or equivalent to eleven years full-time study in the English language
  • or equivalent to thirteen years full-time study in another language
    • with excellent reading, writing, speaking and listening English language skills
    • with previous qualifications or extensive experience with horses
Alternatively you may have sufficient life experience (at least 18 years) in lieu of the educational qualifications. This course is delivered and assessed in English, so if English is not your first language you should be able to read, write, listen and speak the English language in an excellent manner prior to Enrolment so you can maximise your learning. If you believe you have equivalent pre-requisites to enter this course, or a very good reason why you cannot meet these pre-requisites, please contact us to discuss alternative ways to enter this course.

What Do I need to Supply for this Course?

For you to study this course, you will need to supply
  • A computer with Internet access
  • Microsoft Office suite (preferable but not essential)
  • Printer
  • Scanner (preferable but not essential)
  • Microsoft teams for phone tutorials
  • Other free software as advised during the course
  • An equestrian environment for practical training and assessments, ideally in a commercial setting (see our checklist)
  • Groups of riders where you can gain experience teaching your specialised skills
  • A suitable horse for your practical activities
  • Riders on quiet horses that you teach to gain your practical experience
  • A supervisor who has experience with horses and in particular in the section you are studying. As horse activities are of a high risk nature, it is essential that when you are attempting unfamiliar activities you
    • have completed the theory components prior to attempting the practical components
    • are under the supervision of an experienced counsellor who can perform the task competently. This supervisor should have performed the task many times, is able to advise you on the risks and show you how to minimise the risks. They should continue to supervise you until you have shown that you are doing the task satisfactorily according to industry standards.

Is this the Right Course for Me?

  • Would you like to have a career with horses?
  • Do you love helping people?
  • Would you like to helping people learn about themselves with the assistance of horses?
  • Do you plan to have a career with horses and would like a professional qualification?
  • Are you a business owner and would like your staff to become qualified equine assisted therapists so you can obtain better priced insurance?
  • Would you just like to know that you are using horses to help people learn and live better lives?
If you have said ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, then YES… this is the right course for you!
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What if I Can’t Ride Any More?

Great news! Riding is not compulsory for this course, so you won’t need to ride to become a qualified Equine Assisted Therapist. You can complete your teaching qualification first and then (only if you choose) you can complete the riding at a later date.

Will this Course be Recognised in My Country ?

Our distance learning equine studies all work within the Australian Training Qualifications Framework (AQTF). We provide a Pathway from High School through our Certificate and Diploma courses that give recognised credit into University courses. These distance learning equine courses are registered in Australia, but because they are taught by distance education, students can access them around the world and still receive their educational qualifications. Most countries recognise qualifications delivered and accredited by Registered Training Organisations in Australia. They are often held in higher regard to qualifications issued in their own country! If your country has equestrian and equine qualifications, they may be able to grant RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) into their qualifications from your studies at International Horse College.
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Horse College

What Further Study or Work
Opportunities are Available
on Completion of My Course?

When you have completed the ‘Equine Assisted Therapy’ course, you can enrol in our ‘Specialised Horseriding Instructor’ or ‘Own Horse Business’ courses. The ‘Equine Assisted Therapy’ qualification is recognised as a professional therapy qualification and is suitable to gain insurance for equine therapy. Some of this course may also be credited towards both ‘Specialised Horseriding Instructor’ and ‘Own Horse Business’ courses.

Why Should I Study at International Horse College?

Hundreds of happy students before you would like to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity of studying with International Horse College. Here are top five reasons why students like to study with us
Flexible online courses

Flexible online courses

Equine career pathway

Equine career pathway

Approachable, friendly staff

Approachable, friendly staff

Affordable payment options

Affordable payment options

Internationally recognised courses

Internationally recognised courses

We keep abreast with the latest development within the equine industry and Training Packages and courses are revised, we will re-enrol you in the updated course before the teach-out period at no additional cost to you.

Enrol in the Equine Assisted Therapist Course NOW…

while the price is still within reach!

This Price for this Course will be available soon! Now, if you would like to test our new course, there will be a substantial discount!
Which means your course is well under the recommenced price!
(including $200.00 Enrolment Fee) With a Budget Option soon to be advised!

What you Receive With This Enrolment
  • Complete online course through your dedicated Student Portal
  • Student support (including private tutorials) throughout your course
  • Submit videos assessments for your practical tasks or use one of our other options

Discounted Price

Single Payment of
To Be Advised $15,000
(You Save $???)
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Monthly Payments

12 Monthly Payments of
To Be Advised $1,500
(You Save $??? Monthly)
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Budget Option

80 Weekly Payments
To Be Advised
Easy payment Option
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Yes! Personalised and workplace training/ assessments are available, 
especially if you would like to ‘Fast Track’ your course.

Chat to a Career Advisor about this course and your enrolment options

As you are undertaking an Australian qualification on the National Training Framework, you must provide the following identification

IF YOU ARE IN AUSTRALIA

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP (Either Birth Certificate Medicare Card or Passport for any Country)

PROOF OF RESIDENCY (Drivers Licence / 18+ Card / Bank Statement / Centrelink Card/ Utility Bill / AEC Letter displaying your current residential address)

USI (Unique Student Identifier,) details found on this link www.USI.gov.au

PROOF OF PRIOR EDUCATION OR CERTIFICATES Funded students will require additional identification as stated on your Enrolment Form

IF YOU ARE OVERSEAS

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
(If you are able to provide Birth Certificate or Passport then please contact us)

PROOF of ID (a form of photo identification preferably)

PROOF of Prior Education or Certificates

What Students Say

The course has been very educational and informative … worded so that it is easily read, with all the relevant information … very well put together.
- Lisa H
The course has been good. I don’t have a clear career I wish to go into with horses, as I’m currently focusing on other areas as well while I study this course but I think it has all been good and relevant.
- Lara S
I´m enjoying the format. Good information as always … Very nice to see correctly fitting hanoverian – one of the few! I found the gait info really helpful as this is what I’m working on with my youngster at the moment and it really helped to reinforce what I need to be doing.
- Amanda E
I have found that the videos are useful but i do not learn that way so i have found the power points and the notes more useful
- Wang L
I am aiming towards giving riding lessons to beginners, and one target area I have is mature-aged beginner riders. The sequences give me some good ideas on how to introduce new systems to people that haven’t been doing this all their lives.
- Belinda S
Both questions and answers are written in simple and easy to understand language and also consistent with the workbook.
- Nicole E
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