All of Animal Aid's equestrian training courses are conducted at the Braidwood Equestrian Centre under the supervision of Mr Tim Calkin, a highly regarded and accredited equestrian instructor with over 30 years experience. Workshops are run at Braidwood's stables, indoor arena and complex of paddocks. The horses utilised in the programs comprise a mixture of mares and geldings and represent a mixture of warm-bloods, thoroughbreds and ponies.

Courses will run regardless of weather conditions and some elements are conducted outdoors in the paddocks.

Participants should bring:

• appropriate footwear with non-slip soles, such riding or work boots,
• sturdy fitted gloves which enable the wearer to easily manipulate buckles,
• wet weather gear,
• sunscreen,
• a hat
• sunglasses.

All other equipment will be provided and safety issues will be emphasised throughout the training.
Course notes and morning and afternoon teas are provided. Unless otherwise specified, lunch is also provided.

Courses start at 9.30am and finish by 4.30pm.

It may be possible to deliver these workshops in certain regional areas.

To book or request further information please email Linda Marston at training@animalaid.org.au or telephone Animal Aid on 03 9739 0300.

Please complete the Animal Aid Course enrolment form (pdf: 80 KB - opens in new window)  and return to Animal Aid at the address on the form. Please note that payment in full is required a minimum of 7 days prior to the scheduled course date.

Basic Horse Handling - 1 Day $250
This course forms an essential introduction to handling horses and provides novice handlers/owners with a sound foundation in necessary skills. The course engages participants in a day of intensive hands-on learning at a specialist equestrian centre. Basic horse behaviour will be identified and discussed. These will include the use of flight zones and behavioural indicators of fear and aggression. Participants will have the opportunity to practice the correct use of a head halter and lead rope, the importance of ‘soft-tying', how to approach, catch, lead, release and float a quiet horse safely. Participants will become familiar with different types of head halters and have the opportunity to lead a horse in a number of situations including past distractions and through gates. Participants will also learn how to gauge the degree of effective control that they have when leading a horse.

Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 10 participants (with a minimum of 4) to ensure that all students have an adequate opportunity to gain practical experience.

No previous horse handling experience is required and there is no riding involved.

Children aged 12 and over may attend but must be accompanied by a parent.

Intermediate Horse Handling - 2 Days $500
This workshop is aimed at individuals who have a basic understanding of horse behaviour but want to gain greater experience with a wider range of animals. It is also suitable for members of the emergency services, police and animal management professionals who occasionally have to deal professionally with free running horses that have escaped from a paddock or horse float, or been involved in an accident or natural disaster.

Participants are provided with the opportunity to capture, lead, handle and float a number of horses and ponies of assorted breed types and temperament. They will learn to read basic equine body language and look for dominance behaviours in a small group of horses, separate out individuals from the group, learn how to move a horse in a desired direction and ‘float' a number of animals.

Participants will also learn about floating multiple animals and observe a demonstration of how to load a difficult animal.

Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 8 (with a minimum of 4) to ensure that all students have adequate ability to gain practical experience.

Children aged 12 and over may attend but must be accompanied by a parent.

Driving with horse floats - Do's and don'ts - 1 Day $150
Poor floating and towing techniques create many problems that can make it difficult, if not impossible, to safely transport a horse to competitions or for veterinary treatment. These issues can compromise the horse's welfare and may put you at risk of injury. The best way to avoid such problems is to ensure that owners have a good understanding of floating, before trying it for the first time. This course will provide this understanding and would suit people who may are considering or have recently purchased a horse or a horse float and those who occasionally have to transport horses, such as council Animal Management Officers.

The course will cover maintenance of the vehicle, how to tow to prevent horses becoming distressed or injured, how to drive defensively to prevent traffic accidents and the best way to load single and multiple animals in various types of floats.

Numbers are restricted to a maximum of 8 individuals with a minimum of 4 required to run the course. There is a family discount of 10% available for the second (or other multiple) members of the same family (who must be aged 18 years and over).

It is possible for this course to be run at pony clubs that are affiliated with the FAA.

Please note - lunch is not provided for this workshop. Participants should bring their own lunch. Please note that there are no shops nearby to buy food or drinks