Background on Clinics

Our clinics  consist of four days and evenings of practical sessions in which we assess the skills involved in teaching horsemanship to others. We concentrate on safety, risk management and effectiveness in delivery of information; be it assisting an individual rider connect with their horse, or managing a  group as you help them with skill development,  to just ‘directing the traffic’ and keeping beginner riders safe, as they learn the basics.

These clinics are essentially a ’skills recognition’ system, and not designed to teach how to do things. Rather, they are organised to assess what participants have learnt from their life experiences and adapted to the processes of managing riders safely and effectively.

Who should attend a clinic?

Clinics run primarily for those already set up in the industry, who want qualifications for what they have been doing. However, those starting out as instructors/guides/trainers/clinicians also benefit from a clinic, as they discover tried and tested systems of managing horses and people, and how to be effective in keeping their clients safe and happy while teaching them skills.

Everyone, including those who run our clinics(!), benefit from the 4 days of networking, sharing ideas, and seeing how others deal with the universal problems of teaching horseriding and managing riders and horses.

What do clinics cover?

Clinics are practical, ‘hands on’ processes which cover everything from a client approaching a horse, tacking up, the first mount, managing a group’s first time on a horse, teaching basics, to teaching more advanced theory, in all disciplines.  There are discussions on risk management, the code of practice, standards required in the industry when working with horses, legal considerations, insurance, help with paperwork  (many templates provided as part of the clinic), and an emergency scenario is worked through with the group.

Why get a qualification?

The  Australian Horse Industry Council’s Code of Practice for horse activities requires instructors/trainers /clinicians/guides to have a qualification if they teach riding, or manage others on horseback.

Horse Safety Australia (formerly AHSE) accreditation is recognised throughout Australia, and is linked with the Outdoor Recreation Training Package delivered by TAFEs and private RTOs.

In addition to a Certificate for your Horse Safety Australia qualification, Statements of Attainment will be provided through the clinic for units achieved within Certificates II to IV of the Outdoor Recreation Training Package.

Accreditation requires that you hold a current recognised (senior or Level II) First Aid Certificate.

Clinic Planning

The following pages provide further information regarding the planning and costs of a clinic.

• Future Clinics Dates and details
• A Clinic at Your Site?
• Teaching at a Clinic (for participants)
• Competencies (Recognition of Prior Learning Process)