Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Riding Instruction For Mental Health
Let us equip you with the theory, framework and practical skills to change lives through riding, whilst keeping equine welfare at the forefront.
The 3 Foundations of Therapeutic Riding
This 12 month course is based on 3 core foundations that we will visit and re-visit through 8 modules of taught content, practice hours, and assessments. We take a relational approach - facilitating relationships between clients, horses, and ourselves in an ethical and reflective way.
Equine Welfare
We will teach you how to keep your equine team happy and enjoying their work. You will learn about species-appropriate living environments, minimising emotional load, and be confident using positive reinforcement/rewards-based training methods.
Skill & Learning
By the end of the course, you will feel confident in running ridden therapeutic sessions. You will know how to support clients to develop their riding skill, why this is important, and how to maintain high levels of safety for all involved. You will also have an understanding of developing the horse's skills, and how this might happen in parallel.
Therapeutic Benefit
At the heart of the course is helping you understand and deliver therapeutic benefit for your clients. You will learn how to promote wellbeing and confidence, and we will teach you how to implement therapeutic techniques whilst staying within your scope of competence.
Professional Standards
This course is accredited by Crossfields Institute and registered by Ofqual. This means it meets the standard of regulation for a Level 4 Diploma in the UK. We are committed to excellence and professionalism at Hope Meadows, and if you complete any training with us you can be assured we will uphold these high standards.
This course is recognised by the Association for Animals, Horticultural and Equine Practitioners Register. You are therefore eligible to join the register on completion of the diploma.
Entry Requirements
This course is open to people from riding instructor backgrounds and therapy backgrounds.
The entry requirements are as follows:
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Minimum 21yrs of age
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DBS checked*
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Safeguarding trained*
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First aid trained*
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Qualification in either riding instruction (or evidence of experience via a reference) or BACP/UKCP/HCPC accredited counselling/psychotherapy training.
*Requirements can be completed during the course
2026/2027
There are 4 in-person training blocks and 1 assessment block, each is 4 days long, 10am - 4pm, in Lincoln, UK.
2nd - 5th October 2026
4th - 7th December 2026
2nd - 5th April 2027
4th - 7th June 2027
10th - 13th September 2027 (Assessment)
There are 5 online group reflective practice sessions, these will be evenings or weekends to suit the cohort.
November
February
March
May
August
Each student will also have a minimum of 4 one-to-one coaching calls or in-person training with one of the team throughout the course.
Tutors
Your teaching team is comprised of experienced and committed tutors who are passionate about this way of working and bring their own specialisms to support your learning.
The team is led by Emily, who set up Hope Meadows' therapeutic riding programme 4 years ago and oversees its delivery.
