Equestrian Coaching Certificate
The Equestrian Coaching Certificate is made up of two parts:
- Core Equestrian Coaching Certificate – the regulated* part of the qualification, which covers the essential coaching skills and knowledge required across equestrian sport.
- Technical Certificate – developed by each member body, this focuses on the specific technical skills and knowledge needed for that discipline. This is not a regulated* qualification but forms an important part of the coaching pathway.
To become a fully qualified coach, you need to complete both the Core Equestrian Coaching Certificate and the relevant Technical Certificate.
* In this context, regulated means the qualification has been formally recognised by Ofqual. Unregulated means that the qualification is not part of that formal framework, but it is still a recognised and important element of the coaching pathway, developed and delivered by the relevant equestrian member body to the agreed standards.
In 2026, the Equestrian Coaching Certificate pathway was reviewed with the aim of making the journey into coaching clearer and simpler, while supporting easier transition between different equestrian disciplines.
The review also placed greater emphasis on key areas that support the future of equestrian sport and activity, including:
- Equine welfare
- Safeguarding
- Inclusion
An overview of each level of the qualification is provided below.
Level One
This general qualification provides you with an introduction to the basic principles of equestrian coaching and enables you to work in an assistant coach capacity under the supervision of a coach with higher level qualifications. It’s open to those who meet the minimum entry requirements of the relevant member body.
Coaching outcomes at Level 1:
- Prepare for activities in a safe working environment
- Establish working relationships with the participants and others
- Prepare and support participants
- Deliver prepared activities
- Conclude the activities
- Review the activities to help others
- Continuously develop personal practice
The Level 1 is currently offered by the following member bodies:
See the Level 1 specifications here.
Level Two
This qualification enables you to work independently, without supervision, and is available across multiple member bodies.
To access Level 2 courses, it may be necessary to hold an Equestrian Coaching Certificate Level 1 or an equivalent qualification to meet the entry requirements. Please contact the relevant member body training and education lead for more information.
Coaching outcomes at Level 2:
- Review participants' needs
- Produce plans for a series of sessions that support
- Participants' development in a safe coaching environment
- Prepare participants for the series of coaching sessions
- Establish and maintain working relationships
- Deliver coaching sessions
- Develop participants' performance
- Conclude sessions
- Evaluate participants' performance and the sessions
- Monitor personal coaching practice
The Level 2 is currently offered by the following member bodies:
- Association for British Riding Schools +
- British Carriagedriving
- British Dressage
- British Eventing
- British Horseracing Authority
- British Showjumping
- Endurance GB
- Horsescotland
- The Pony Club
See the Level 2 specifications here.
Level Three
This qualification can also be accessed a number of member bodies covering general riding or discipline-specific. The level 3 requires a greater depth of technical knowledge and more developed coaching skills. Level 3 coaches are senior coaches, able to plan and implement longer term coaching strategy and effectively evaluate their own coaching practice.
To access the Level 3 courses it may be necessary to hold a Level 2 or an equivalent qualification to meet the entry requirements. Please contact the relevant training and education lead in the relevant member body for more information.
Coaching outcomes at Level 3:
- To be a fully autonomous coach – a role model at County/Regional level
- Able to plan, deliver, analyse and review annual programmes of rider development
- Goal-setting
- Prepare for, deliver and review coaching sessions
- Plan a series of coaching sessions
- Prepare the coaching environment
- Deliver a series of sessions
- Monitor and evaluate coaching sessions and personal practice
The Level 3 is currently offered by the following member bodies:
- Association for British Riding Schools +
- British Carriagedriving
- British Dressage
- British Eventing
- British Horseracing Authority
- British Showjumping
- Endurance GB
- Horsescotland
- The Pony Club
See the Level 3 specifications here.
We work with British Rowing and the University of Stirling to deliver the British Equestrian Level 4 Coaching Certificate (endorsed by UKCC). The course is a programme developed specifically for the needs of both sports. It should be noted that this course and qualification has no sport-specific technical content or assessment. This is all about developing your coaching skills and knowledge to further your coaching.
The Level 4 qualification is for high-performing coaches with considerable experience and it involves an advanced syllabus of professional academic education. It isn’t exclusive to coaches working in a high-performance environment, we've had coaches from Pony Club and RDA in addition to those from the Olympic sports and beyond.
Further information about the Level 4 Coaching Certificate can be found here.
