Is this certificate program for you?
For the Love of Horses Equine Business Management 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:
- 26-hrs of class time over LIVE Zoom sessions, so you can take this certificate from anywhere, meet your fellow classmates, ask questions and have meaningful discussions!
- 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.
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, and a 70% grade is required to receive your Certificate.
- Lesson horse welfare and care: Handling common lameness and behavioral issues in schooling and therapy horses, dealing with colic, laminitis, heaves, and other common health issues, latest science regarding training techniques and modern day horse welfare issues, indoor vs. outdoor board, horse sales and retirement (3 classes)
- Feeds and feeding: water and hay testing, purchasing hay, and feed and ration balancing (2 classes)
- Property and facilities: Understanding the requirements in the Animal Care Act for fencing, shelter, bedding, and space requirements, types of shelters and fencing, barn and property layouts, drainage, arena footing, manure management, paddock and pasture management, equipment requirements, biosecurity protocols, fire prevention, emergency and disaster management planning, zoning and municipal by-laws (3 classes)
- People, safety and business: 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 professionalism, safety and liability issues, insurance, communication and personality assessments, employees and contractors, and coach and facilitator certification options, developing contracts and other documentation, setting policies, accounting and tax prep, scheduling, social media and advertising, dealing with the unexpected and handling challenging situations, and mental health and wellbeing of barn owners and equestrians (5 classes)
- In-person, hands-on practicum: 3 days 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, tractor operation, safety and maintenance, equipment operation 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, 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 three-day 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
- 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
Live Online Zoom Classes
Lesson Horse Welfare and Care:
Practicum
Fall Practicum 2022: Oct 15th, 16th and 17th
Spring Practicum 2023: June 23rd, 24th, 25th
*Note: the first day of the practicum will start at 1pm, and the last day of the practicum will end at noon. Schedule will vary throughout the including at least one evening session, with participants schedule depending on the stables lesson and activity schedule in order for participants to see all aspects of the running business and participate in various activities. A detailed scheduled will be provided once registered.
Lesson Horse Welfare and Care:
- Fall Session 2022: Tuesdays September 13th, 20th and 27th 7 to 9pm
- Spring Session 2023: Thursdays April 4th, 11th and 18th 7 to 9pm
- Fall Session 2022: Tuesdays October 4th and 11th 7 to 9pm
- Spring Session 2023: Thursdays April 25th and May 4th, 7 to 9pm
- Fall Session 2022: Tuesdays October 18th, 25th and November 1st, 7 to 9pm
- Spring Session 2023: Thursdays May 11th, 18th, 25th 7 to 9pm
- Fall Session 2022: Tuesdays November 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and December 6th 7 to 9pm
- Spring Session 2023: Thursdays June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th 7 to 9pm
Practicum
Fall Practicum 2022: Oct 15th, 16th and 17th
Spring Practicum 2023: June 23rd, 24th, 25th
*Note: the first day of the practicum will start at 1pm, and the last day of the practicum will end at noon. Schedule will vary throughout the including at least one evening session, with participants schedule depending on the stables lesson and activity schedule in order for participants to see all aspects of the running business and participate in various activities. A detailed scheduled will be provided once registered.
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 the practicum (as approved by the instructor)
Practicum
Completion of the in-person practicum at Sagehill Stables is required in order to receive your Certificate. If you are sick/ill or otherwise cannot complete the full practicum unexpectedly during your scheduled experience, alternatives for completion of practicum experience will be made with the participant so that you can complete the requirement.
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.
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.