Equine Facilitated Training Programmes

Why train with Athena Herd Foundation?

The Athena Herd Foundation journey started with us developing an environment centred around our herd of horses. We focused on our horses physical and emotional health and well being. As a result, we have created an authentic safe environment for you. We are passionate about sharing this authentic learning and development space with you.

You and the horses are at the heart of everything that we do. We look to develop your existing knowledge and experience, our training programmes have been designed to build upon the foundation your existing practice or business.

Our programmes are aimed at providing an introduction to the different practical approaches that can be engaged in providing this work. Helping learners to shape their practice appropriately from the learning. From a theoretical perspective we are very focused on the importance of such practices as mindfulness, emotional intelligence and somatic awareness and how these inform the experiential process.

We do not align to any specific style or modality of horsemanship.

We recognise that you may have different backgrounds and skill sets. For example, you may be in a people supporting profession. You may already work with horses. Alternatively, you may have an interest in working in this field, or you may be looking to develop more connected and meaningful equine interactions. We have designed our training programmes for you, no matter what your background or specialism.

Moreover, at the outset we made a conscious decision about our pricing. We set out to deliver very high standard yet affordable training programmes in an authentic environment. In other words, our price is not a reflection of the quality of our training.

You do not have to pay any annual membership fees nor subscriptions to stay in touch and be part of our community. Athena does not operate an annual license fee nor does it look to regulate your practice. This is the role of Professional Memberships and Accredited Registers.

External validation of our Training Programmes

It is not just us at the Athena Herd Foundation that recognises the strength and quality of our workshops, Foundation Certificate, Level 4 and 5 Diplomas, and Level 7 PG Cert. training programmes.

All courses in our portfolio have been externally accredited by the ACCPH. This accreditation provides assurance that our training programmes are of the highest standard. In other words, they closely follow the benchmarks set by OFQUAL and the Open & Distance Learning Quality Council. ACCPH will invite you to join in your own right on successful completion of our training programmes.

The Athena Herd Foundation Training Team

We look to welcome those of you that train with us into our unique supportive community. We are a community that is passionate about embracing each others strengths. Most noteworthy, in addition to our Equine Facilitated Interaction (EFI) experiences we also excel in Horses, Ethology, Training, Coaching, Advisory, Business, Legal, Equitation, Psychotherapy and Counselling skills.

Train with us for a unique 360 degree learning experience. Above all, you will have the opportunity to develop new and complementary skills and practices as Equine Facilitated Practitioners within Equine Assisted Services.

Level 2 Certificate in Equine Facilitated Interactions

You can take our externally accredited ACCPH Certificate in Equine Facilitated Interactions (Module One) as a standalone Foundation Certificate. You will need to successfully complete four days of on-site learning or as an interactive experiential distance learning option. Please note that whilst insurance can be obtained to operate with this Certificate and professional membership may be offered by the ACCPH, Athena recommends completion up to a minimum of a Level 4 Diploma is achieved which is also a minimum requirement for Accredited Practitioner Register. Contact us for more information.

Level 4 and 5 Equine Facilitated Practitioner Diplomas

You must complete the Foundation Certificate in Equine Facilitated Interactions (Module One) before continuing with the externally accredited ACCPH Level 4 (Modules Two and Three) and subsequently ACCPH Level 5 Equine Facilitated Practitioner Diploma.

We expect that you will need approximately nine to ten months in total to complete all three Modules of the ACCPH Level 4 Equine Facilitated Practitioner Diploma, and an additional three to six months to complete the further requirements for the ACCPH Level 5 Equine Facilitated Practitioner Diploma. These qualifications are a mix of both direct and interactive experiential distance learning, although, can be completed on a fully remote basis. We will also provide you with full support, an online training platform, mentoring and supervision throughout your training experience.

The Diplomas build on the theory and knowledge you gained on the Foundation Certificate, as well as core practical experiential skills. Our training programmes are designed so that you can successfully look to develop and build your own unique practice or business. We are here to support you both during and after completion of our training programmes no matter where in the World you are located.

The externally accredited ACCPH Level 5 Equine Equine Facilitated Practitioner Diploma is principally about individual research and extended case-study work which is supplemented by topic work drawn from the optional topics available on the ACCPH Level 4 Diploma learners.

Level 7 Certificate in Equine Facilitated Interactions

Athena Herd Foundation offers an externally accredited ACCPH Level 7 Certificate in Equine Facilitated Interactions. This is a year-long qualification which focusses on supervised individual independent research and analysis. There are also two short taught modules which focus on the skills required to develop your own research project, and ensuring effective and appropriate tools can be engaged to assess and analyse the impact of the project undertaken.

As with the Levels 2, 4 and 5 this qualification is accredited by the ACCPH. Applicants will need to have a Batchelors (UK level 6) degree and a recognised qualification in Equine Facilitated Interactions (including Equine Facilitated/Assisted Learning or Psychotherapy).

Applicants who do not have a recognised qualification, but have an established professional practice, can be considered for application through a Certificate of Proficiency process.

Level 2 Foundation Certificate (Module 1) £1899.00 *

This is the first required Module. Studied either fully online on an interactive and experiential basis or 4 day intensive onsite (globally).
Level 4 Diploma (Modules 2 and 3) £2489.00 *

Mix of online, home based self study, case studies which will need to be submitted and an optional two day onsite. Module 1 is a pre-requisite before starting Modules 2 and 3.
Level 5 Diploma £1989.00 *

Mix of online, home based self study with an extended written case study and an optional two days onsite. Completion of Modules 1, 2 and 3 are a necessary pre-requisite.
Level 7 Certificate in Equine Facilitated Interactions £1989.00 *

One year study based on personal research and analytical assessment leading to a post-graduate certificate. Contact Athena Herd Foundation for more information.
* A 10% additional charge may be raised against pre-agreed payment plans.