Using Your Own Horses for Practical Training

If you’re lucky enough to own your own beautiful horses, or be around those who do, ACAC offers a flexible distance learning pathway that allows you to complete your practical components at home or at a horse riding facility near you.

This is a fantastic option for students who:

  • Own horses or have access to suitable horses through family, friends, or their coach.
  • Need to learn close to home as they cannot travel to Tarcombe Fjords for practicals.
  • Have an accredited instructor or coach willing to supervise their practical work.

Selecting Horses

All horses involved in your training must be assessed by your supervising coach and ACAC as fit for purpose and suitable for your skill level. This is a key safety requirement of the training package and applies to all horses—whether owned by you or not.

Course Requirements

To meet course requirements and ensure a safe and productive learning experience, you’ll need access to three calm, well-educated horses that are safe and predictable for learning activities. Each horse must:

  • Be used to being handled and ridden regularly.
  • Have a gentle, steady temperament—no bucking, rearing, bolting, biting, or kicking.
  • Be easy to catch, lead, tie up, saddle, and mount.
  • Be appropriate for learners, not young, green, or unpredictable – horses you’d be happy to put a complete beginner on.

Each horse will need to be registered with, and approved by, ACAC before you begin any practical assessments.

Safe Location

You will also need access to a safe and suitable location for your practical sessions, such as your home property or a local riding facility, where horses can be safely handled is essential.

If you are completing the ridden units, you will also need access to an arena, and a range of obstacles.

Additional Fees

Please note that any fees charged by your supervising coach or horse owners—such as coaching time, horse use, or facility hire—are your responsibility and are not included in your ACAC course fees.

In many cases, students already working with a coach can complete their practical tasks during regular riding lessons, with no or minimal extra cost. We encourage you to discuss expectations with your coach prior to enrolment so that everyone is clear about availability, supervision, and any associated fees.

Horse Riding Coach

The training package requires you to be supervised by an experienced and competent person when completing assessment that require horse interaction.

This means you will need access to a qualified horse riding instructor or coach to supervise your practical work (even if you are not doing the riding units).

Course Requirements

Your coach must:

  • Hold an accepted coaching qualification (see below).
  • Have a current First Aid certificate.
  • Be willing to supervise you when you complete your practical assessments and complete the necessary safety documentation for each activity and initially to register your horses with ACAC.

Instructor Qualifications

Your supervising coach or instructor must meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Level 1 or Level 2 Equestrian Australia Coaching Accreditation
  • Horse Safety Australia Instructor Accreditation
  • Pony Club Australia Level 1 Coach Accreditation
  • Hold a nationally recognised skill set, either SISSS00061 Horse Riding Instructor or SISSS00062 Horse Riding Instructor – Senior.
  • Hold a statement of attainment for SISOEQO414A Instruct Horse Riding and Handling Skills, or SISOEQU009 Instruct the Advancement of Recreational Horse Riding Skills.
  • OR a minimum of three years’ coaching experience in a supervisory coaching role with documented evidence.

Important:

Your coach is not responsible for assessing your skill — ACAC Educators will assess all practical tasks.