Those who are interested in horses and want to make it their career, have a choice between Horse Care, Equine Behaviour and many other subjects, while students interested in Equine Assisted Psychological Therapy can also take a specialised course in this field. These courses are done online.
Naturally, the study of the horse is also included (Mooikrans’ internal courses), because successful Equine Assisted Therapy can only take place if the facilitator has a thorough knowledge of the horse. The pride of Mooikrans, our herd of 50 horses, provides an excellent opportunity for pleasant practical training.
Students choose between Field of Study 1 and Field of Study 2. They cannot be completed simultaneously.
EQUINE SCIENCES
FIELD OF STUDY 1: EQUINE BEHAVIOUR, HORSE CARE AND OTHER COURSES
Online courses at ACS DISTANCE EDUCATION (Australia) are recognised by 9 other countries.
COURSE CHOICES INCLUDE:
Horse Care I, II en III
Business Management.
Equine Behaviour.
Child and adolescent mental health.
Counselling children.
Students may take a maximum of 3 subjects per year.
FIELD OF STUDY 2: EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY
Equine Assisted Therapeutic Riding through PATH Intl. (America) Internationally recognised.
FIRST SEMESTER PHASE 1
Online course requirements:
Video of the student's equestrian championship
Practical riding lessons video report of 25 hours
Therapeutic riding lessons video report with at least 2 riders with special needs is submitted to Path Intl.
SECOND SEMESTER PHASE 2
Submission of application
Personal and professional reference
Evaluation
3. INTERNAL COURSES
Theory and Practice
Anatomy and physiology of the horse. Behaviour, needs, health, diseases, herd behaviour and body language. Unlearning wrong behaviours like kicking, biting and others. Correct learning methods, coaching, schooling.
4. MENTOR
Elna Wahl is an expert in Equine Science and Equine Assisted Therapy and has over 40 years of experience in this field. She writes articles, does radio talks and often acts as a public speaker on this topic.
In 2019 Elna attended an Equine Assisted Therapy workshop in Tallebudgera, Australia. In particular, the course dealt with the physiological experience and processing of trauma using horse-interactive sessions.
All of this ensures that the training offered at Mooikrans is of an international standard.
ARE THESE STUDIES CAREER DIRECTED?
There are many regular horse-riding schools where therapy is also offered, and although great work is being done that has lasting benefits for people with special needs, there is a great need for truly trained and qualified people to offer this form of therapy.
In America, Canada and Australia, equine assisted psychological therapy is very well known and the outcomes are not only extremely successful, but in many cases quite dramatic.
Over the past 20 years we have experienced miracles at Mooikrans. From small children with balancing problems, school children with learning difficulties, teens with high anxiety levels, to adults with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and many more.
Our goal is to train more people so that more people can experience the wonderful healing the horse can offer.
We are convinced that students with this training will make a very big impact in the horse-riding school industry, and especially in the Equine Assisted Therapy industry. We already see this happening with our students working in this field, albeit on a small scale.
