The Level 3 Diploma in Equine Assisted Services (EAS) is designed to be a credible entry level qualification for EAS facilitators, suitable to satisfy local authorities, funders and other stakeholders as to the safety and competence of the facilitator.

Features:

• On the Ofqual register (the UK govt register of regulated qualifications)
• Hosted by a national awarding body: OCN London
• 34 credits (340 hours of learning)
• Not tied to a specific EAS methodology
• Entry level, solid foundation

Units:

• Care and welfare of horses
• Care and welfare of participants
• Business and compliance
• Horsemanship
• Coaching

The qualification is suitable for a limited scope of practice:

• Unmounted EAS
• Service users with moderate wellbeing needs

Additional training(s)/qualifications may be required to cater for service users with specific psychological, physical, educational or social needs/outcomes and these may be in the form of:

• Specific EAS methodologies
• Professional qualifications such as Psychotherapist, Social worker, Teacher
• Focused CPD or training modules

This EAS facilitator qualification was created in 2023 through a collaboration between TheHorseCourse, HorseWorld, Sirona, and Equilore – all four are charities with a reputation for delivering high quality equine-assisted services (EAS), and gave their expertise as a gift for the sector. Additional consultancy was provided by Julian Campbell (Education Development Technical Manager, The British Horse Society) and Anna Collins (Project Manager, Human Equine Interaction Register UK), to ensure the qualification meets appropriate standards. The rigorous process to be accepted onto the Ofqual register was supported by the national awarding body which now holds the qualification, OCN London.

How do I get trained or assessed for this qualification?

Look at the Guidance and Units on the OCN London website

Contact OCN London for an up-to-date list of training/assessment centres. We hope many centres will offer this qualification in future, making it affordable and accessible throughout the UK.

Can I train with TheHorseCourse?

TheHorseCourse is taking a first cohort through the Level 3 Diploma in Equine Assisted Services training starting in May 2023. This training is fully booked but please let us know if you want to be advised of future trainings. In future we plan to offer a menu of options from assessment-only to full training, at affordable rates. We will be better able to establish costings, and advise on portfolio materials once we have taken the first cohort through the qualification. By summer 2023 we will be happy to share the curriculum that we are working to. This may evolve and change slightly over time but will give you the opportunity, if you wish, to start building your own portfolio for future assessment. Please email to register your interest in joining any of our trainings in the future so that we can make you aware of opportunities as they arise.

Can I become a training / assessment centre for this qualification?

Any competent organisation can apply to OCN London to become a training and assessment centre for this qualification. Contact OCN London to apply. Centre application button is alongside the Guidance and Units on the OCN London website.

TheHorseCourse modality success relies strongly on the style and quality of the horsemanship. If you are a Parelli level 3/4 student or a Parelli Instructor, you can apply now for our fast track facilitator training which we run twice each year. Depending on your aptitude and experience, you could complete the training in as little as 3 weeks. Training will be demanding and assessments will be ongoing and rigorous. If you do not pass an assessment you will receive clear feedback on areas to work on before a re-assessment.

This training is free of charge as our charitable aim is to spread the benefit of our work as widely as possible. We also support those who have the skills and potential to open and run their own centres. 

There are often opportunities for Approved TheHorseCourse Facilitators to get freelance work at our HQ in weymouth or one of our supported centres, see Contact.

Starting in May 2023 we are encouraging all our TheHorseCourse Approved Facilitators to take the Level 3 Diploma in Equine Assisted Services as well as our bespoke training. This will demonstrate the core skills and competencies needed by all EAS facilitators. You can complete this with us or elsewhere.

We are completely redesigning the way we train people to become approved facilitators at TheHorseCourse.

For those who are unable to access our fast track training, we recommend that you work towards the OCNL Level 3 Diploma in Equine Assisted Services first (see above), as we will require this as a pre-requisite for our slow track training when it opens.

If you are over 18, horsey and passionate about helping people turn their lives around through an evidence-based horsemanship intervention – this could be your dream opportunity! We will be looking for horsey people who are calm and confident and who connect well with other people. It is not essential that you have experience with natural horsemanship but that would be a plus. We are designing a blended learning programme for the future which will combine online resources, home study and video or face-to-face horsemanship coaching. It is unlikely that this training will be suitable for candidates who do not have regular independent access to suitable horses.

Training will be demanding and assessments will be ongoing and rigorous. The length of time to gain this qualification through the new blended learning approach will depend on aptitude and prior knowledge and experience. We anticipate that it will take from 3-12 months of part time study and practice to complete, but it could take longer. If you would like to register your interest, we hope to have the new programme available by late 2023.