Is this program for you?
For the Love of Horses Equine Business Management Courses & Certificate is designed to give participants the knowledge, experience and connections they need to become successful in the equine industry! It is taught LIVE online AND includes a hands-on practicum at an established equestrian centre!
A unique aspect of this program is that once you are completed, you will have access to our private, online community of mentors and past participants where you can continue to ask questions, participate in meaningful discussions, and stay up to date on changes and regulations that affect the equestrian community. Continue your learning experience long after you've completed the course!
The program includes:
This program is for those:
A unique aspect of this program is that once you are completed, you will have access to our private, online community of mentors and past participants where you can continue to ask questions, participate in meaningful discussions, and stay up to date on changes and regulations that affect the equestrian community. Continue your learning experience long after you've completed the course!
The program includes:
- Online and in-person options for classes
- 3-day Practicum component at one of Manitoba's largest equestrian facilities, Sagehill Stables, in Winnipeg!
- Membership in our private, online Equine Mentorship Community
This program is for those:
- Ages 14 and up with previous horse experience
- Love horses and looking to start or expand an equine business on your own property
- Looking to start your own boarding business, riding lesson program, therapy program or similar equine business
- Coaches and barn managers
- Already running your dream business but looking for more resources and information
- Looking to gain experience for your resume
- Not sure what direction to head with post-secondary education but know you want to work with horses
- Looking to connect with others in the industry in a professional and safe platform where you can ask questions, find mentors and get inspiration
- Tried other online courses but had trouble staying motivated to complete them or they haven't helped you start or get ahead in your business
Curriculum
The program is split into 4 courses plus the in-person practicum. You can register for classes and the practicum individually, and receive your certificate once all components are completed. Classes will be held via Zoom and recorded, as well as can be attended in person at Sagehill Stables.
1. Lesson horse welfare and care: 2 full days $350 + GST
It doesn't matter what discipline you are teaching or whether you are doing riding lessons or therapy, the horse is your number one asset and how you deal with these issues will set the structure of your entire business. Topics include:
Take homes include:
2. Feeds and feeding: 1 day $175 + GST
This has been separated from the horse welfare and care section so that participants can take this as a stand-alone class. Everyone who owns a horse should now the basics of horse nutrition. It will include:
This class will include hands on demos with hay samples for IDing, scales, weighing/taping horses and ration balancing practice. You will need a laptop or computer to complete this course.
Take homes include
3. Property and facilities: 1 day $175 + GST
Having a safe place for both people and horses to work and learn is paramount to your business and your bottom line. We will discuss:
4. People, safety and business: 2 full days $350 + GST
Lets face it, every horse has an owner and having lesson or therapy horses means dealing with more than one person per horse!
This section will focus on:
In-person, hands-on practicum: 2.5 days $425
Will cover the hands-on aspects from all 4 classes including:
See more info below on the practicum.
Participants will receive class materials and handouts electronically and will receive copies of all presentations. These online classes will be fun to attend and will not be reading from a text-book or reading by yourself online! In-person discussions, interactive activities and various teaching techniques will keep the class interesting and fun! There will be a final test after completing all the courses and the practicum, and a 70% grade is required to receive your Certificate.
1. Lesson horse welfare and care: 2 full days $350 + GST
It doesn't matter what discipline you are teaching or whether you are doing riding lessons or therapy, the horse is your number one asset and how you deal with these issues will set the structure of your entire business. Topics include:
- What to expect when you own more than one horse - recognizing and dealing with common lameness, health and behavioral issues in schooling and therapy horses including arthritis, laminitis, navicular, heaves/allergies and colic
- Buying lesson horses and budgeting costs
- Training maintenance and conditioning
- Horse insurance
- Lesson horse workloads, sales and when to retire
- Tack safety and maintenance (western and english)
- Is it behavioral or is it pain? The latest science regarding training techniques and modern day horse welfare issues
- Pros and cons of indoor vs. outdoor board for a lesson barn
- Managing large herds including biosecurity and turnout
Take homes include:
- example biosecurity plan
- example care plan for lesson horses
- example horse schedule and lesson horse workloads
- example tack maintenance checklist
- example annual budget sheet for lesson horse
2. Feeds and feeding: 1 day $175 + GST
This has been separated from the horse welfare and care section so that participants can take this as a stand-alone class. Everyone who owns a horse should now the basics of horse nutrition. It will include:
- Nutrient requirements of the horse and ration balancing - how much hay does your horse actually need and what are some hay alternatives
- Feed ingredient and grass/hay identification
- Body condition scoring and weighing your horse
- Water and hay testing
- Purchasing hay and feed
This class will include hands on demos with hay samples for IDing, scales, weighing/taping horses and ration balancing practice. You will need a laptop or computer to complete this course.
Take homes include
- a take home exercise to practice ration balancing
- free online software to calculate your own rations
- weight tape
3. Property and facilities: 1 day $175 + GST
Having a safe place for both people and horses to work and learn is paramount to your business and your bottom line. We will discuss:
- Understanding the requirements in the Animal Care Act for fencing, shelter, bedding, and space requirements
- Types of shelters, fencing and stalls
- Bedding options inside and out
- Barn and property layouts and drainage
- Arena footing and maintenance
- Manure management
- Paddock and pasture management
- Equipment requirements
- Fire prevention
- Emergency and disaster management planning
- Zoning and municipal by-laws
- take home exercise to design your own property layout
- example manure management plan
- example Emergency Action Plan
4. People, safety and business: 2 full days $350 + GST
Lets face it, every horse has an owner and having lesson or therapy horses means dealing with more than one person per horse!
This section will focus on:
- Starting a business - how to get started!
- Establishing your cliental
- Professionalism, safety and liability issues
- Insurance
- Communication and personality assessments
- Employees vs. contractors
- Coach and facilitator certification options
- Developing contracts and other documentation
- Setting policies and prices
- Accounting and tax prep
- Scheduling
- Marketing, social media and advertising
- Dealing with the unexpected and handling challenging situations
- Mental health and wellbeing of barn owners and equestrians
- take home exercise to determine your strengths, weaknesses and passions
- example waivers
- example employee/contractor contracts
- example safety procedures
- example barn rules
- example client contracts (boarding and lessons)
- personality assessment
- example price sheet
In-person, hands-on practicum: 2.5 days $425
Will cover the hands-on aspects from all 4 classes including:
- diagnosing lameness and behavioral issues
- how to fix and maintain electric and high tensile fencing
- maintaining automatic outdoor waterers
- tractor and equipment operation, safety and maintenance
- building maintenance
- hands on safety training in handling horses and people
- hands on program delivery during one of our programs
- meet the vets and farriers
See more info below on the practicum.
Participants will receive class materials and handouts electronically and will receive copies of all presentations. These online classes will be fun to attend and will not be reading from a text-book or reading by yourself online! In-person discussions, interactive activities and various teaching techniques will keep the class interesting and fun! There will be a final test after completing all the courses and the practicum, and a 70% grade is required to receive your Certificate.
Equestrian businesses are not like other businesses; they are part agriculture, part sport and part human resources. Maybe that's why I like this business; the challenges are endless!
I feel like there are a lot of holes in the courses and certification programs out there when it comes to the real-life, practical knowledge you need to have to run a successful equestrian business. I hope this certificate helps to fill those gaps.
There needs to be more concern for creating an industry that helps each other get ahead. We need a strong industry so we can sell our businesses when we are ready to pass the torch. The information I've learned from making mistakes is invaluable and needs to be passed on to the next generation of equine business owners."
- Dr. Gwendolyn Donohoe
Practicum
A structured, in person learning experience is offered as part of the course. Participants will get first-hand experience in a functioning equestrian center with 25 boarders, 25 lesson and therapy horses, 18 staff and over 150 lesson students per week. Participants will see the details and organization behind the scenes, programs and equipment used and facility maintenance required to keep a business like this running. Training will be provided on-site for all activities. This type of learning experience is something that is not offered by other online courses!
Activities will include:
Participants are required to find their own accommodations, transportation to and from the stable and bring a lunch each work day. Participants will need to bring their own helmet, and suitable footwear and clothing for the weather. Sagehill Stables is located at 4180 Waverley Street in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
If participants have a disability that may limit participation in some of the activities, activities can be modified to ensure that all participants can participate. Please notify the instructor upon registration for the course and feel free to ask us any questions.
Activities will include:
- Daily in person class-room session
- Practical application of the horse welfare course including trouble shooting lameness or behavioral issues with our lesson horses
- Assisting and viewing components of camps or lessons, birthdays and public events
- Meeting the staff, vets and farriers
- Viewing and participating in various aspects of daily activities including chores, arena maintenance, pen maintenance and feeding
- Hands on fence repairs and maintenance
- Waterer maintenance
- Tractor operation, safety and maintenance
- Equipment overview, including maintenance and safety training
- Building maintenance overview
Participants are required to find their own accommodations, transportation to and from the stable and bring a lunch each work day. Participants will need to bring their own helmet, and suitable footwear and clothing for the weather. Sagehill Stables is located at 4180 Waverley Street in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
If participants have a disability that may limit participation in some of the activities, activities can be modified to ensure that all participants can participate. Please notify the instructor upon registration for the course and feel free to ask us any questions.
Fall 2022 Class Schedule
Option to take in-person or live via Zoom:
Practicum
Spring Practicum 2023: June 23rd, 24th, 25th
Summer Practicum 2023: August 25th, 26th, 27th
- Lesson Horse Welfare and Care
- March 25 & 26 2023
- May 27th & 28th 2023
- Feeds and Feeding
- February 25th 2023
- April 15th 2023
- Property and Facilities
- March 11th 2023
- June 10th 2023
- People, safety and business
- April 29th & 30th
- June 24th & 25th
Practicum
Spring Practicum 2023: June 23rd, 24th, 25th
Summer Practicum 2023: August 25th, 26th, 27th
Meet the Instructor
For the Love of Horses is taught by a current professional in the equine industry, Dr. Gwendolyn Donohoe. Her goal for this course is to work with other equine enthusiasts to create a strong, professional and knowledgeable equine industry and community. We can create a stronger, more profitable industry by working together instead of against each other.
Dr. Donohoe is the owner and manager at Sagehill Stables and also teaches at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Donohoe holds a PhD in Agriculture and also has multiple degrees and certificates including being a certified manure management planner and is a Certified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. Gwen has sat on multiple boards including the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association, Manitoba Rural Adaption Council and the Manitoba Horse Council. The experience gained from her education, running a business, teaching University level classes, along with handling multiple business challenges including COVID-19, fire, drought and floods, has given her a unique perspective and much to offer to participants.
Dr. Donohoe is the owner and manager at Sagehill Stables and also teaches at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Donohoe holds a PhD in Agriculture and also has multiple degrees and certificates including being a certified manure management planner and is a Certified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. Gwen has sat on multiple boards including the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association, Manitoba Rural Adaption Council and the Manitoba Horse Council. The experience gained from her education, running a business, teaching University level classes, along with handling multiple business challenges including COVID-19, fire, drought and floods, has given her a unique perspective and much to offer to participants.
FAQ
Certificate
Participants will be mailed a Certificate following completion of the requirements! Requirements include:
- 70% or greater grade on final test
- Completion of all the courses and the practicum
Practicum
Completion of the practicum experience at another facility will not be a substitute for receiving your certificate. Students are welcome to complete only the online portion of the course if they are not interested in the practicum in-person opportunity, and will still receive access to the online mentorship community, however, will not receive a Certificate.
Missed Classes
If participants miss a class they can view the recording of the Zoom session for a limited time (7 days) following the class. All participants will receive electronic copies of presentations and handouts used during the class.
Online Equine Mentorship Community
The current platform for the Online Equine Mentorship Community is a secret group on Facebook. Participants will be required to have a Facebook account to access the group. Participants will have to provide the instructor with the email address registered for the Facebook account in order to be invited to the secret group. Participants will receive the invite to the group once they have completed the online portion of the course.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Once registered all fees are non-refundable. If participants can no longer attend the course, fees can be transferred to another class at a later date OR any other program offered by Sagehill Stables. Participants may also choose to donate unused fees to Connecting Through Horses to help fund a riding program for a youth in need.
Waivers and Copy Right of Materials
In order to complete the practicum, all participants will be required to sign a standard release of liability waiver before working with horses on property at Sagehill Stables. All participants will also be required to sign an official document before starting the online portion of the program stating that participants will not use materials received in the course to teach others or reproduce any of the materials given to them during the course, as they are property of Gwen Donohoe and Sagehill Stables.