Level 2 Certificate in Equestrian Coaching

Develop the skills and confidence to coach independently

The Ofqual accredited Level 2 Certificate in Equestrian Coaching is designed for people who want to develop the knowledge, practical skills and professional understanding needed to work as an equestrian coach.

The Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS+) is a recognised provider of this qualification, delivering courses at selected equestrian venues across England.

Unlike the Level 1 Coaching Assistant qualification, Level 2 prepares learners to coach independently within an equestrian coaching environment. It is particularly suitable for people who already have experience of delivering or supporting equestrian activities and are ready to take greater responsibility for planning, delivering and reviewing coaching.

What will I learn?

The qualification takes a modern, participant-centred approach to equestrian coaching while placing the welfare of the horse firmly within good coaching practice.

Learners explore how to:

• develop their role and professional practice as an equestrian coach;
• understand individual participants, their motivations, needs and goals;
• build and manage effective professional relationships;
• create safe and inclusive equestrian coaching environments;
• plan progressive coaching sessions and programmes;
• deliver effective, progressive coaching;
• review and evaluate coaching sessions and use feedback to improve future practice.

The qualification comprises eight mandatory units, covering the complete coaching process from understanding your role through to planning, delivery, evaluation and continuing development.

Horse welfare and ethical coaching

Horse welfare is embedded within the qualification rather than treated as a separate subject.

Learners consider the horse’s fundamental physical and mental needs, appropriate and ethical training practices, tack and equipment, equine learning theory, and the recognition of horse body language and behavioural responses including relaxation, tension, fear, discomfort, fatigue, stress and conflict.

The qualification specifically introduces recognised welfare frameworks including the Five Domains and considers how these apply to training, everyday horse care, management and work.

This makes the qualification particularly relevant to the ABRS+ approach to developing coaches who consider both the person and the horse when making coaching decisions.

Developing the individual

Good coaching is about much more than teaching technical riding skills. Learners explore how to understand the people they coach, including their previous experience, aspirations, motivations, stage of development and individual needs.

The course considers physical, learning and communication needs and how barriers can affect participation. Coaches learn to use this information to adapt their sessions and programmes and create an inclusive coaching environment.

Learners also develop skills in goal setting, participant progression, observation, feedback and evaluating performance.

Planning progressive coaching

An important part of Level 2 is learning to move beyond delivering individual activities to thinking about progressive coaching programmes.

Learners consider participants’ short and longer-term goals, ability and experience, available resources, facilities, safety and welfare when designing their coaching. They also learn how to adapt programmes when circumstances change and ensure sessions remain safe, inclusive and appropriate.

Developing your own coaching philosophy

The qualification also encourages learners to think about why and how they coach.

Learners develop their own coaching philosophy, considering their coaching style, motivations, aims and objectives and how these influence everyday coaching decisions. They are encouraged to reflect on and continually develop their practice.

Assessment

The qualification is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis through a combination of a portfolio of evidence and practical demonstration/assignment. Six of the eight mandatory units use portfolio evidence and two include practical assessment.

This enables learners to demonstrate both their underpinning knowledge and their ability to apply it within a practical equestrian coaching environment.

Who can take the qualification?

Learners must be at least 17 years old when registering and 18 years old when certificated.

The qualification comprises 90 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and 128 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT).

It is intended for learners who already have experience of delivering activity within an equestrian coaching environment and want to develop the skills required to coach independently.

Where can it take me?

Successful completion qualifies learners to become an equestrian coach and can lead to paid or voluntary independent coaching roles in professional and grassroots equestrian environments, as well as educational settings including schools, colleges and universities.

Learners may subsequently progress to the 1st4sport Level 3 Certificate in Equestrian Coaching or the 1st4sport Level 3 Certificate in Coaching.

Courses with ABRS+

ABRS+ delivers the Level 2 Certificate in Equestrian Coaching at venues across England, providing opportunities for aspiring and developing coaches to undertake the qualification in a practical equestrian environment.

View forthcoming course dates and venues in the Events page, or contact ABRS+ (office@abrs-info.org) to find out when a course will be running in your area.