Level 4 Diploma
Therapeutic Riding Instruction for Mental Health
We are excited to launch our Level 4 Diploma approved by Ofqual and accredited by Crossfields Institute.
We created this diploma to tackle the following challenges in our industry:
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More and more clients are looking to for alternative ways of managing their mental health
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Riding schools and instructors are seeing the impact of mental health needs in their clients.
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Therapists in equine assisted services may want to bring riding into their process without delivering riding lessons.
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There are very few therapeutic riding qualifications based on supporting clients with mental health, rather than physical health, difficulties.
This qualification is based on our own successful Therapeutic Riding Programme, which we have been delivering to hundreds of clients at Hope Meadows over the last 3 years.
Our own programme is always being developed and reshaped to fit the needs of our clients, horses, and team. So, this diploma is not intended to be a step by step 'how to' guide (though it is full of practical interventions and strategies), but instead a reflective education into how therapeutic riding can support the wellbeing of the client, the horse, and the instructor.
This course might be for you if you're looking to bring therapeutic riding into your own practice in a way that is creative and flexible, yet ethical and safe.
General Entry Requirements
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At least 21yrs old
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Clean DBS check
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Safeguarding training within last 2yrs
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First aid training within last 2yrs
Professional Entry Requirements
This qualification is open to both riding instructors and therapists. The following criteria apply.
Riding instructors:
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Minimum CIEC Level 2/BHS Stage 2, or be able to evidence equivalent experience via a reference.
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Be currently working as an instructor, either freelance or employed, and have the ability to begin delivering therapeutic riding sessions throughout the course of the qualification.
Therapists:
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Hold an appropriate qualification in counselling or psychotherapy, and have current registration with regulating body (e.g. BACP, UKCP, HCPC).
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Be currently working in an equine assisted setting, and have the ability to begin delivering therapeutic riding sessions throughout the course of the qualification
Considerations will be made on a case by case basis, as long as ethical practice within the scope of competence can be demonstrated. Please get in touch with us if you are unsure.
2025 Dates:
26/27th January
23rd/24th February
30th/31st March
27/28th April
29/30th June
27/28th July
28/29th September
26/27th October
23rd/24th November
Days will be 9.30am - 4pm, onsite at Hope Meadows in Lincoln, UK.
Modules
1
Ethical Practice - including terminology, horse welfare, risk management and duty of care.
2
Working with Difference & Diversity - Setting the foundations for further modules, this covers the ways in which difference, diversity, and power can impact therapeutic riding.
3
Mental Health & Therapeutic Relationships - Introducing common mental health concerns, this module will provide you with the theory behind supporting people in distress and therapeutic relationships.
4
Introduction to Riding Instruction - The basic elements of riding instruction, to allow you to run a therapeutic riding session safely and with an awareness of the risks involved.
5
Creating a Therapeutic Environment - You will learn about the factors that make an environment therapeutic, allowing you to explore the environments you create and the impact this has on therapeutic riding sessions.
6
The Therapeutic Riding Horse - This module will cover matching horses to riders, allowing the horse to express themselves authentically, and managing a therapuetic herd.
7
Physical Experiences - The physical experience of riding will be explored and you will understand the usefulness of touch, movement, energy and body language in relation to mental health.
8
Assessment, Intervention & Evaluation - How to set therapeutic goals with the client, plan interventions accordingly, and measure the impact that therapeutic riding is having, including in the context of reporting to funders.
Course Team
