Scheduled Online CPD Courses

All courses start at 7pm count as 2 CPD points

For more information please visit Woodlands Training

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Information 

Applied Psychology for Equestrian Coaches (APEC) Foundation is a 12-week online course, created and personally delivered by industry experts Charlie Unwin and Sarah Huntley.

It is open to coaches of all levels and designed to give you a broad grounding in performance psychology.

​As the only online course of its kind, and entirely online, it is also ideal for equestrian coaches based outside of the UK.

The online content is split into three topics: focus on self, focus on rider and focus on performance. The content within each section is as follows:
Focus on Self: Understanding identity, Belief in Potential & Performance Lifestyle
Focus on Rider: Conversations that Count, Personality & Mindset
Focus on Performance: Finding your Flow, Visualisation, Goal Setting, Calm Under Pressure & Managing Success & Failure

Each topic gives you the fundamental knowledge of applied psychology in these areas. We recommend that you leave between 1-1.5 hours per week to work through the material. Course content (webinars, podcasts, interviews, challenges etc etc) will be delivered on a weekly basis every Tuesday morning to our online portal for 12 weeks. We'll also be making use of a Facebook group, for discussions, support and questions, to which you’ll be sent an invite to just before the course starts.

6 CPD Points

Time - 8th September - 14th December

Price -  £495

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How do different forage types compare?
· When is it safe to use this year's forage?
· Is straw a safe source of forage for horses?
· What does a good forage replacer look like?
· How much forage is enough forage?
· Comparing dry matter levels in different forage - why does it matter?
· How do we provide forage for those with poor dentition

1.5 CPD Points

Time - 7pm - 8:30pm

Price - £5

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Understand Horses presents a webinar with equine behaviourist and horse trainer Trudi Dempsey and equine vet Gabriel Lencioni on co-operative care for horses.

Webinar content includes:

What Cooperative Care is and how it differs from traditional handling methods

The behavioural science

How to prepare the environment to encourage calm participation

Designing a clear, step-by-step training plan for any procedure

How to teach start buttons and listen for 'no'

Handling emergencies and high-stress situations when there is no time to train

Real-life examples of Co-op Care

Practical tips for getting started and overcoming common challenges

1.5 CPD Points

Time - 7pm - 8:30pm

Price - £18

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Session Overview:
An informative webinar, led by Dr Eva-Maria Livesey,Vice Chair of the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses and Executive Director of British Breeding offers a window into the role of linear scoring in modern sport horse development. The session explores the interaction between genotype and phenotype, and how structured conformation assessment is influencing breeding decisions and shaping future generations of performance horses.
Participants will gain:

A clear understanding of linear scoring methodology and its practical application across all horse types.
Enhanced skills in conformation assessment, with a focus on traits that influence performance, soundness, and longevity.
Insight into how genetic and physical traits are evaluated and balanced in breeding decisions.
An appreciation of how data-driven breeding tools are used in stallion gradings, young horse evaluations, and international breeding programmes.

Target Audience:This session is ideal for breeders, riders, coaches, and anyone with an interest in sport horse development, conformation, or breeding. It is particularly beneficial for those preparing for BHS Stage 3 and above qualifications.
Speaker Credentials:
Dr Livesey is a highly respected figure in international equestrian breeding, known for her engaging presentation style and ability to translate complex scientific concepts into practical knowledge for equestrian professionals.
CPD Relevance:
This session supports professional development in the areas of equine conformation, breeding strategy, and performance horse management, aligning with CPD frameworks for coaches, trainers, and equestrian professionals.

2 CPD Points

Time - 7:30pm - 9pm

Price - £5


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Physical skill is only part of creating a consistent performance as a rider. In this presentation and discussion we will look at how we can create a performance mindset for ourselves and our riders .

2 CPD Points

Time - 7 pm

Price - £10


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Booking Information 

Following on from the in person events at Wellington with Sofia, we will be doing an online series to allow coaches further afield.
An inspiring 4-part series which will focus on coaching group lessons for lower-level riders, managing rider (and parent) expectations and developing rider skills while keeping sessions fun.

2 CPD Points

Time - 12 - 1 pm

Price - £15 for APCC'S & APC's or £25 for non members




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Booking Information

The scale of training is a foundational system followed by riders and trainers worldwide. Often visualised as a pyramid, the system provides a step-by-step framework for riders to review and guide training. With slow motion footage, this 2-hour session will discuss the scale of training from both an evidence-based and biomechanical perspective. This session should guide and complement training approaches that are biomechanically and ethically robust. 

2 CPD Points

Time - 19.00 - 21.00pm

Price - £30


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In this presentation we will look at static and dynamic conformation. How to assess both and the implications on good / bad conformation with regards to breeding , performance and longevity.

2 CPD Points

Time - 7 pm

Price - £10


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This presentation explores the noseband and horse interaction, focusing on recent research into how different types and levels of noseband tightness impact equine welfare. The second half of the talk will introduce the evidence-based FEI measuring device, offering practical guidance to help horse owners, grooms, and riders understand and prepare for noseband checks at competitions.

Russell MacKechnie-Guire holds a PhD in Equine Biomechanics, graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. Russell’s thesis was titled ‘The Relationship between Saddle and Rider Kinematics, Equine Locomotion, and Thoracolumbar Pressures in Sports Horses’. Russell is based at Centaur Biomechanics, a company which he founded in 2006.

He has extensively researched the effect that tack (saddle, bridle and girth) and the rider have on equine health and performance. Russell holds a post at Hartpury University as a Reader in Equine Biomechanics. Russell’s current area of research is horse-saddle-rider interaction, spinal kinematics in horses when ridden over ground, the effect that rider asymmetry has on equine back movement, and from a rehabilitation perspective, the effect that training aids and pole work exercise have on back movement. In addition, Russell collaborates with researchers on various research projects associated with equine health, rehabilitation and performance. Russell shares his work in scientific publications and presents at international meetings and conferences.

2 CPD Points

Time - 7-9pm

Price - £15


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Booking Information 

Part One: Mid-winter Mental health – Monday 19 January
Cold, dark and wet days often take their toll this time of year, particularly as horse owners when our hobby really turns into a labour of love just to do the basics. This time of year, also brings particular pressures that can affect our mental health, which can make this time of year feel particularly difficult. This webinar will explore the things that can impact our mental health at this time of year, what we can do about it to cope and how to come out of winter feeling positive.

Topics:
• Mental health vs mental illness, when to get help and where to go
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Lack of daylight
• New year’s resolutions
• Working with the season

1.5 CPD Points

Time - 7:30pm - 9pm

Price - £5


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Part Two: Mindset and Mental Health – Monday 2 February
Mindset is a popular buzzword in the equestrian community at the moment. This webinar will explore what mindset really means, how it is linked to our mental health and how supporting our mental health will improve our mindset in the saddle.

Topics:
• Mental health vs mental illness, when to get help and where to go
• The difference between mindset and mental health
• Threats to mental health and what to do about it (perfectionism, low mood, anxiety,
• automatic negative thoughts, social media)
• How to promote wellbeing and a positive mindset

1.5 CPD Points

Time - 7:30pm - 9pm

Price - £5


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Booking Information 

Part Three: Optimising Your Learning – Monday 16 February
To get the most out of our lessons, we all need to feel that we are in a mentally safe environment. However, due to our varying needs, this will look different for all of us. This session is designed to support riders and coaches to identify individual learning needs and what support people need to maximise their potential and ability to learn.

Topics:
• What is a psychologically safe learning environment, what does it look like and what are
the benefits?
• How do we assess our needs or the needs of others?
• How to maximise learning opportunities for different needs (covering neurodivergence,
ADHD, anxiety, confidence, perfectionism, low mood and withdrawn learners)

1.5 CPD Points

Time - 7:30pm - 9pm

Price - £5


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Part Four: Creating Positive Behaviour Change – Monday 2 March
At a time where public scrutiny of the equestrian industry is at an all-time high, how do we support people to act in a way that promotes equine welfare and preserves our social licence to operate - and why arguing with strangers on the internet doesn't help.

Topics:
• What is social licence to operate and what threatens our social licence
• Why do people use forceful training methods with horses, and why it doesn't make them
bad people
• Model of behaviour change
• How to support people to identify their own behaviour
• How to support people to move along the model of behaviour change
• Online conduct - why trolling strangers online makes things worse

1.5 CPD Points

Time - 7:30pm - 9pm

Price - £5


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