Do your EAS horses love their jobs?

Join us for a roadmap to strengthen your equine management practices and set your herd—and your program—up for longevity.

Let's get started!
 

Does any of this apply to you?

  • Would your program benefit from more structured, intentional equine care practices that align with ethical standards in the EAS industry?
  • Have you noticed signs of burnout or disengagement in your program horses and aren’t sure what to do about it
  • Are you seeking strategies to integrate new horses into programming without overwhelming them—or your team.
  • The equine budget line item can be a hefty one-- Are you trying to build a more sustainable program but not sure how to balance equine management within that?
  • Are you looking for better ways to manage your horses’ workloads to keep them healthy and happy long-term?
  • Do you want to better understand what proper conditioning and ongoing training look like for EAS horses?

You're not alone!

We have asked ourselves ALL of these questions.  HETRA has experienced the highs and lows of equine management for the last 35 years and counting! We have developed a system that significantly reduces burnout and has resulted in horses working happily in our program for 15+ years.  As a program that started with just 1 horse 35 years ago, we understand the struggles from small programs to large and all the growing pains in between.  

In just 30 days you could gain...

  • Strategies for developing thoughtful training and conditioning plans that set horses up for success
  • Tools to manage equine workloads more effectively, reducing risk of burnout or injury
  • Guidance on integrating new horses into programming in a way that supports long-term engagement
  • Perspective on how to balance human goals with equine well-being in a sustainable, ethical way
  • Support in creating a program culture that prioritizes the horse’s experience as much as the participant’s.
THE FOUR WEEK MINI-COURSE

EAS Equine Welfare: Sustainability & Success

Is this for me?

This course is ideal for professionals working in EAS, particularly those involved in mounted activities such as adaptive riding and hippotherapy. It's designed for instructors, therapists, program directors, barn managers, and equine caretakers who are committed to prioritizing the long-term physical and mental well-being of their equine partners. 

Take control of your learning!

A lot can happen between feeding horses, cleaning stalls and time in the arena.  Absorb this course anywhere you want, online and completely self paced for 4 weeks. 

What's included in the Course?

All online and completely self-paced!

  •  (5) Core Curriculum Modules including video/audio presentations.
  • PDF Downloads to keep key concepts handy after the course. 
  • Access to helpful HETRA strategies such as forms, online links and downloads that help us stay organized and efficient in our equine management practices.

Free BONUS Content: "Intake & Evaluation of EAS Horses" to start your Equine Welfare Program off on the right foot! 

Module 1

Training & Integration

Change is hard for humans and horses - and transitioning new equines into programming can be a BIG change. Explore the crucial process of transitioning new horses into programming smoothly for long-term success. 

Module 2

Equine Sustainability 

Getting horses started successfully is only half of the equation, KEEPING horses happy in their jobs is the other half. Explore the specific physical and psychological demands placed on EAS horses. Discussing everything from workloads, weight limits, handling techniques and the importance of a balanced conditioning regimen that includes not only physical health but mental health for a long working career in our programs.  

Module 3

Categorizing Horses & Volunteers

Our biggest defense against equine burnout -- HETRA has a unique method of categorizing our horses and volunteers to ensure that each horse is matched with a leader of appropriate skill level. We put special care into educating and developing both our horses and volunteers so that everyone feels comfortable and confident in the arena.

Module 4

Planning for the Future

Learn processes for how to take a critical look at current equine herds and evaluate them to plan practically, financially and, in turn, be more sustainable.  Learn how to assess programs to develop a targeted approach for equine intake based on specific needs, as well as looking at ethical systems for retiring Steady Eddie in a timely manner. 

PLUS FREE BONUS CONTENT!

Evaluation & Intake of EAS Horses

Start your journey to a sustainable herd by choosing the right horses for the job first! There are a lot of vital factors to consider, including breed considerations, conformation, and personality. It is also important to take time to truly assess program needs and what your center can accommodate.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Shelby Schult

PATH Intl. CTRI

Program Director at HETRA

Shelby grew up riding and showing American Quarter Horses, in a barn, where adaptive riding and therapy services were being offered every day. Upon graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, she took a full-time position at Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) as the Equine Operations Manager and now serves as the Program Director. She is a PATH Intl. CTRI, ESMHL, Mentor and was selected as the 2023 PATH Intl. Region 7 Equine Caretaker of the Year. Shelby is driven by building and maintaining a therapy herd that is “happy, healthy, sane, and sound” and strives every day to learn from the horses and to share that knowledge with others in the EAS industry.

 

Don't take our word for it... here is what others who have taken the course have had to say!

I really enjoyed this course. I found it very informative and so relevant to a lot of conversations my center has been having in regards to which horses we should keep, which horses we should retire, how to organize volunteers to best support the horses. Loved it!

 

I have so many take-aways overall... The detail of training for every horse and volunteer is something we all know is important, but this provided a great detailed plan to make it something we can incorporate into our personal centers.

Fantastic course with tons of great info about horses-to help center insure horses are happy and healthy. Gained lots of tools for preventing equine burnout.

Very relevant - every facility may/will deal with equine sustainability issues.  I found this information inspiring -especially with
volunteer and equine training.

 

Equine Welfare in EAS:

Sustainability and Success

4 WEEK MINI COURSE

ONLY

$59

ACCESS TO FULL COURSE

REGISTER NOW!

Get immediate access to the self-paced course today. 

Content will be conveniently available on our our online platform for 30 days following your date of purchase.

Simply log-in to come and go as you please! 

We are all have a passion within this industry, maybe because we love working with the horses or maybe we love working with the participants — or both!  We have no doubt that everyone is doing the best they can by everyone impacted by our programming, but what if there was more we could do?
 
We aren't saying every thing that works for us will work for you, but even if you could accomplish one of these things-- wouldn't it be worth it?
  • Avoid disruptions in your programming due to herd instability or high turnover due to horse burnout or early retirement. 
  • Decrease your risk for accidents and injury —for horses and humans— happy horses are safe horses. 
  • Reduce financial strain from unexpected vet bills, horse replacements, or program setbacks due to equine-related issues
  • Maximize program quality, reducing the number of stressed or disengaged horses that may struggle to perform their roles effectively.
I'm ready to improve our program!