Equitation Science South Australia

18/04/2026

18/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14fshgb3a6D/

South Australia has a growing number of enrolled students and graduates of this fabulous course.

🎓🐴 Enrolments now open for the Diploma of Equitation Science (11363NAT).

Our next intake is open and we'd love to have you join us!

The Diploma of Equitation Science is a nationally accredited qualification combining evidence-based knowledge of equine behaviour, learning and ethology with highly practical skills in horse training, as well as coaching, conformation and movement assessments, and hazard identification and management.

No matter the discipline, our unbiased, science-backed approach works for every horse and every rider.

Study from home via our online learning portal, with practical components available through workshops or distance learning options. 🖥️ 🌿

✅ Suitable for trainers, coaches, vets, physios, farriers, breeders, pony clubbers (16+), and anyone who handles horses
✅ Nationally recognised
✅ Study loads to suit your lifestyle

👉 Enquire now: esi-education.com/courses/diploma

RTO: 41254

20/08/2025

Have you applied for this year’s intake of the Diploma of Equitation Science, now freshly re-accredited and redesigned for the modern equine industry?

Starting in September, you can join a revised program that places greater emphasis on biomechanics alongside core equitation science, horse welfare, and training.

The updated curriculum now features seven units that reflect the latest scientific developments, including the groundbreaking new module ACMEQU415—authored by renowned veterinarian Dr. Lesley Hawson.

This unit provides in-depth exploration of musculoskeletal health, conformation, and movement, giving students the skills to critically assess movement and optimise welfare and performance.

Join us and become part of a new generation of equestrian professionals, equipped with advanced knowledge in training, risk management, biomechanics, and instruction.

Applications for the September intake are now open.

RTO: 41254
Course code: 11363NAT

Visit our website for enrolment details!

05/09/2024

Bookings close today.

South Australia - the next ones for you!

Manuela McLeans SA Clinic will be held from October 7-8 at Kersbrook Equestrian Centre

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from internationally renowned coach Manuela McLean either as a rider (limited spots available) or as an audience member.

Improve your horse's balance, receptivity, and relaxation through Manuela's systematic, evidence-based approach.

She'll help you with:
• Clear, step-by-step training methods
• Exercises tailored to you and your horse
• Addressing common issues like tension, laziness, or lack of impulsion
• Enhancing communication between horse and rider

Suitable for all disciplines and experience levels. Manuela's logical explanations and kind techniques can help resolve a wide range of training challenges.

Email [email protected] to reserve your place. Learn more about Manuela at www.esi-education.com.

06/03/2024

Equitation Science International's trainer, Manuela McLean, will be with us at Kersbrook Equestrian Centre next month for her first clinic of 2024. Thursday April 25th and Friday April 26th. Costs for 45 minute private lessons are unchanged at $195.00/rider. To register for a place please email [email protected] with the subject line 'Manu April 2024'. Auditors $50 full day. $30 half day. Looking forward to seeing you and your horses again soon!

16/01/2024

Great skills for any horse and trainer. :)

Stationing on a mat is an easy, fun and useful behaviour to teach your horse.

Stationing on a mat means we teach the horse to go to a mat and stand on it. You could teach the horse to stand on it with just the front feet or use a bigger mat and have the horse station (stand) on the mat with all four feet.

You can use a station any time you want your horse to stand still in a certain location. Does your horse get overly keen and throw heaps of uncued behaviours at you? Or maybe they get anxious in a new environment and want to move around? Stationing on a mat helps your horse learn to relax and stand still. It gives the horse somewhere to be, and something to do.

Its also fantastic for helping your horse later with things like tying up. You could use a mat to have your horse stand still at the mounting block, for the farrier, in the float, at feed time you could have the horse wait at their station for you to bring their feed to them. You could use a station for the horse to stand on and wait while you go get something in the arena or refill your treat bag. We can also use multiple stations and teach the horse to go from one station to another, which is a great way to teach forward movement under saddle to a young horse.

How to do it:
Ask your horse to approach the mat. You could have them follow a target or use a halter and lead rope.
Then click and reward for each step towards the mat.
When the horse is close enough to sniff the mat click and reward the horse for sniffing the mat or investigating the mat.
Once the horse feels confident enough try asking for one foot on the mat. Click and reward one foot on the mat. the horse might want to walk over the mat instead of standing on the mat. Break it down into tiny stages. Reward any try. Once your horse can get one foot on the mat, try progressing to two feet on the mat to earn a click and reward. When your horse can stand with two feet on the mat you can click and reward every few seconds if they stay on the mat. Gradually increase the duration your horse can stand on the mat to earn a click and reward. When increasing duration make sure you keep a variable schedule and throw in some rewards for easy short durations. When duration is easy you could then start to add distance, can you walk further away from the mat and have the horse stand there. Start with just one step away from the horse. If the horse stays on the mat, click return to the horse and give the reward. Gradually increase how far away you can get before you click, return to the horse and give the reward. Now you can start to teach your horse to go to the mat to stand on it and get a reward.

Then start adding distractions. Can your horse stand still on a mat when there is distractions? In other locations? In different context...

Here is a pic of Angel standing on a mat. 🙂

01/01/2024

2024 enrollments close on January 15th for the Diploma of Equitation Science, offered by the Registered Training Organisation, Equitation Science International (ESI). South Australia already has a number of graduates with this qualification and a healthy cohort of current students who meet weekly with ESI's Trainer & Assessor, Nicki Stuart, for practical workshops and lessons. We have such a good time! If you’d like to investigate further visit https://esi-education.com/courses/diploma/

16/12/2023

Available for pick up in SA at Kersbrook Equestrian Centre.

The Perfect Gift for the Holidays

Finding that perfect gift for the horselover in your life (or yourself!) just got easier.

Enjoy 15% off all products (excludes vouchers and lessons) when you use the code ESIXMAS23 at checkout.

But act fast, this holiday deal ends at midnight!

Click the link in our bio to check out all the Christmas goodies available in our store.

23/01/2023

Equitation Science International's trainer, Manuela McLean, will be with us at Kersbrook Equestrian Centre next month for her first clinic of 2024. Thursday April 25th and Friday April 26th. Costs for 45 minute private lessons are unchanged at $195.00/rider. To register for a place please email [email protected] with the subject line 'Manu April 2024'. Auditors $50 full day. $30 half day. Looking forward to seeing you and your horses again soon!

Follow news of Equitation Science training and research. SA events and clinic information be posted

02/01/2023

As we began to learn more about the effects of depriving animals from certain other mental needs, a new model emerged, known as The Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare. The Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare focuses on moving beyond the basic care of animals to a ‘life worth living’. It is about the difference between care and welfare. The welfare of an animal comes about when we enable it to access an optimal life.

The 5 Domains Model focuses on four major areas of an animal’s life that each contributes to the fifth domain, which is the mental domain (mental welfare).

This is an excerpt from our book, Modern Horse Training: Equitation Science Principles & Practice, Volume 1, available from our online shop: https://esi-education.com/shop/

26/09/2022

https://www.equitationscience.com/blog/racing_whip_use

WHWO have relied on Paul McGreevy's work on whip use in racing to come up with new guidelines