+1 (802) 823 2888
For certified life coaches, licensed educators, organizational leaders, trainers, and human resource professionals interested in incorporating horses into their work. As well as equine professionals interested in developing their facilitation skills.
The HERD Institute® EFL Foundation 1 certification is designed to offer training to certified life coaches, registered educators, organizational leaders, trainers, and human resource professionals who are interested in incorporating horses into their work. As well as equine professionals interested in developing their facilitation skills.
The HERD Institute® EFL Foundation 1 certification equips practitioners with the breadth and depth of knowledge, skills, and ethical guidelines required to incorporate horses into their specific scope of practice. The program is structured to provide the philosophical, theoretical, and experiential foundations for students to integrate into their own personal philosophy. The aim is to support and inspire a new generation of practitioners to find their own unique style of bringing horses into their participants’ lives to facilitate profound learning and growth.
Our flexible online learning module combined with live webinars accommodate diverse learning styles and provide a comprehensive educational experience.
Our mentors are dedicated to helping students achieve their goals, offering insights from their own experiences and fostering growth in both personal and professional capacities.
The practicum is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that students graduate with the confidence and competence needed to excel in their careers.
To apply, simply submit your application online, pay the application fee, and sign our Commitment of Belonging. Enrollment onto the program is subject to approval by the Admissions Team, and you will be notified of your application status within a week.
*Please note, if accepted into the program, the $50 application fee will be credited towards your tuition. If you are not accepted, the fee will be refunded.
**Application deadlines are 6 weeks before Live Webinar dates.
The HERD ESSENTIALS is an online module designed to provide you with an introduction to The HERD Approach™ of incorporating horses into human services. Through engaging lessons and interactive exercises, you will learn the 3 Key Principles that underpin The HERD Approach™.
At the start of your certification journey, you'll be assigned your primary mentor, who will be your main point of contact throughout your training process. You'll have your first mentoring session after you complete HERD ESSENTIALS.
You'll attend a Live Webinar before coming to Practicum. This is a chance for you to meet your fellow course mates and connect before meeting in person at Practicum. In this 2 hour session, you'll have the opportunity to discuss the online material, ask questions, and find out more about your upcoming Practicum.
You'll have a second mentoring session before attending your Practicum. This session will focus on preparing you for your final assignment submission and Practicum.
The Practicum is our 4-day, in-person intensive held at various locations. You'll get the chance to experience EFL for yourself, ample practice at facilitating EFL sessions, and put all your online learning into practice.
Once. you complete all your requirements and assessment process, you will be fully certified! This indicates that you have successfully met the rigorous standards needed to be able to go out and do the work as a HERD graduate. You can now call yourself a HERD EFL Foundation 1 Practitioner.
| ONLINE MODULE | LIVE WEBINAR | PRACTICUM |
|---|---|---|
| Access granted upon registration completion | ||
| Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, 2026 6 pm – 8 pm (EST) | November 3 – 6, 2026 (Orlando, FL) |
| ONLINE MODULE | LIVE WEBINAR | PRACTICUM |
|---|---|---|
|
Access granted upon registration completion | ||
| Wednesday, March 10th, 2027 6 pm – 8 pm (EST) | April 22 – 25, 2027 (Johnstown, OH) | |
| Wednesday, June 2nd, 2027 6 pm – 8 pm (EST) | July 15 -18, 2027 (Leesburg, VA) | |
| Wednesday, May 12th, 2027 6:30 – 8:30 (GMT) | July 27 – 30, 2027 (Derby, United Kingdom) | |
| Wednesday, August 25th, 2027 6 pm – 8 pm (EST) | September 27 – 30, 2027 (Montreal, Canada) |
The program is designed to be flexible and accessible to a wide range of practitioners. Students fulfill the following requirements to gain the EFL Foundation 1 Certification:
● 1 Online Module
● 1 Live Webinar (2 hrs)
● 1 Final Assignment
● 2 individual mentoring sessions with a HERD EFL Instructor
● 1 x 4 Day In-Person Practicum following completion of online module, live webinar mentoring sessions, and assignment.
FULL TUITION UPFRONT
$1995
PAYMENT PLAN
3 payments of $700
ELIGIBLE DISCOUNT RATE
Full Tuition Upfront: $1696
– OR –
3 Payments of: $595
*Tuition is in US Dollars and includes all learning materials for the online module, live webinar, written assignment, practicum, and 2 mentoring sessions. It does NOT include travel, accommodation, and lunch each day of the 4-day intensive.
**The HERD Institute® offers discounts for the following:
– Veterans and active military personnel and First Responders
– myCAA: Military spouses of active service members
– PATH International: CTRI, ESMHL, Driving, or Vaulting certification holders
– Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
If you belong to any of these communities, you are eligible for the discounted rates.
You can apply for the program by filling out the application form here.
Application deadline for each practicum date is 6 weeks before the Live Webinar that corresponds to that practicum.
To apply, simply complete our online application form, pay the application fee, and sign our Commitment of Belonging. Your application will then be reviewed by our Admissions Team who may want to interview you to as part of the process.
Our EFL Foundation 1 training consists of an online module entitled “The HERD ESSENTIALS”, 2 mentoring sessions, a live webinar, written assignment, and a 4-day in person practicum.
Our HERD ESSENTIALS online module is designed to be both engaging and thought-provoking. Each section includes a mix of quizzes and written assignments that encourage reflection and critical thinking. HERD ESSENTIALS is designed to be completed within one month. We estimate the time commitment to be approximately 6 to 8 hours per week, but completion time can vary depending on your individual learning style and schedule.
We strongly recommend setting aside regular time each week to work through the material. Waiting until the last minute can lead to unnecessary stress and may impact the quality of your work. Staying consistent will help you get the most out of your learning experience.
See if you are eligible for myCAA funding! Click HERE to get started.
Our programs meet rigorous industry guidelines and our graduates are well-prepared to make a positive impact in the field of equine-assisted services.
You can apply for the program by filling out the application form here.
To apply, simply complete our online application form, pay the application fee, and sign our Commitment of Belonging. Your application will then be reviewed by our Admissions Team who may want to interview you to as part of the process.
Our EFL Foundation training consists of an online module entitled “The HERD ESSENTIALS”, 2 mentoring sessions, a live webinar, written assignment, and a 4-day in person practicum.
See if you are eligible for myCAA funding! Click HERE to get started.
Our programs meet rigorous industry guidelines and our graduates are well-prepared to make a positive impact in the field of equine-assisted services.
FULL TUITION UPFRONT
$1995
PAYMENT PLAN
3 payments of $700
ELIGIBLE DISCOUNT RATE
Full Tuition Upfront: $1696
– OR –
3 Payments of: $595
*Tuition is in US Dollars and includes all learning materials for the online module, live webinar, written assignment, practicum, and 2 mentoring sessions. It does NOT include travel, accommodation, and lunch each day of the 4-day intensive.
**The HERD Institute® offers discounts for the following:
– Veterans and active military personnel
– myCAA: Military spouses of active service members
– PATH International: CTRI, ESMHL, Driving, or Vaulting certification holders
– Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
If you belong to any of these communities, you are eligible for the discounted rates.