Certificate Program in Equestrian Stable Management

Participate in this course to earn yourself the qualification as an equestrian stable manager – take on higher responsibilities in the equestrian business by gaining professional skills!

  • Learn from world-class equine specialists and renowned business professors

  • Acquire knowledge at high didactic and academic level combined with practical skills

  • Enable an efficient and innovative work structure to manage the challenges of today’s equestrian stables

Duration

One year
(April 2024 – March 2025)

Delivery format

Interactive online course with on-site events

Teaching style

Highly practical and interactive academical education

Language

English

Professional Certificate

by RWTH International Academy & CHIO Aachen CAMPUS

One program – two tracks tailored to your needs

Operative Track | Junior

Organizing the stable activities and coordinating the interface with the office

  • Intense schedule, combinable with side job

  • 4 online modules in Basic Stable Management & Horse Performance

  • Paid full-time internship in a high class sport stable & a project work to combine the gained knowledge

  • 3 face–to-face events in Aachen, Germany

  • Program fee: €8,000
    Early Bird fee: 7,200€
    Fee with referral bonus: 6,800€

Executive Track | Senior

Leading and optimizing the stable overseeing all strategic management processes

  • Balanced schedule, combinable with full-time job

  • 8 online modules in Advanced Stable Management, Horse Performance & Stable Strategy

  • Networking with expert speakers from the equestrian business

  • 3 face-to-face events in Aachen, Germany

  • Program fee: €15,000
    Early Bird fee: 13,500€
    Fee with referral bonus: 12,750€

Choose your track!

Occupy yourself with fundamental economic correlations and strategic considerations, which will push your equestrian business forward. Armed with this knowledge, you can improve the organizational processes, manage your activities efficiently, calculate investments and make sustainable decisions.

Budgets and financing models have to be taken into account for every investment. Learn how to calculate efficiently, weigh up risks and measure the effect of your investment–whether you are improving the training facilities, purchasing horse transporters or expanding the stables. Using the right methods you can convince your establishment to invest in purchases, activities or marketing measures.

There always needs to be somebody in modern equestrian businesses, who retains the overview. Learn how to analyze and optimize the operating processes. Improvement measures can entail modifications to the organizational structure and/or the implementation of digital tools. Get to know software that helps you keep an eye on the key data of all horses and automate the recurring processes in your establishment.

The horses are the core piece of every establishment –as well as its employees of course. Learn the theoretical know-how about how to be a good employer. Because nothing is more important than a motivated team of professional riders, grooms, technical and administration employees. In this module you will occupy yourself with recruiting, teamculture as well asthe promotion and evaluation of employees and their skills.

International sport horses are top athletes. Important scientific training diagnostics and the vital signs should be taken into consideration when drawing up a health-preserving and performance-promoting training plan. Bring your horses into top form based on individual training and competition schedules and with the aid of manual and digital tools.

The equestrian sport is built on a partnership-like relationship between the horse and rider. Unfortunately, the equestrian world is overshadowed by current scandals and concerns about animal welfare.
The basic principles of equine welfare and also the justification of the equestrian sport are addressed and discussed here. You will furthermore learn the important veterinarian regulations that apply for national and international shows, so you can optimally care for and prepare your horses and avoid doping.

Over the past decades the international equestrian sport has expanded strongly. Consequently, the show calendars of professional riders include shows all over the globe. This of course means that the horses also have to travel and be transported. Learn the relevant processes and regulations that apply for the national, international and intracontinental transport of horses (horse trailer, ship, airplane): From the vital signs and red flags of the horses during transport, to the border and customs regulations, through to the quarantine and import regulations.

Occupy yourself with the external image of your equestrian establishment. What is your branding like? How is the brand perceived? How attractive is your business for horse owners, riders, sponsors and dealers? Carry out small-scale market research and take a look at the cost/benefit ratio of your advertising activities to justify your decisions and generate an authentic image of your equestrian sport business.

All people involved in the equestrian sport are passionate about what they do. However, modern stables are economic enterprises, which have to be run strategically to achieve their goals. Get to know methods that allow you to develop the individual strategy for your business and work out the respective measures. Put your plans into practice and achieve growth, efficiency and make your equestrian business competitive as a result.

As participants in the Operative Track tend to have gained little working experiences so far, a 6-month internship, which is designed to prepare working life after graduation, is included in the program. We are proud to offer internships throughout Europe and in the USA and more partners will join around the globe. This gives participants the opportunity to go abroad and improve their English skills, the main language in this industry.

In the final phase the project work rounds off the Junior Program. By independently working on a specific topic within a limited period of time (approx. 3 months), the student learns to develop a structured solution to a practical problem. The aim is to transfer the theoretical content from the online courses into a concrete challenge in the partner barn, which will be elaborated in this scientific paper. Thematically, the project work can be chosen in the field of management or equestrian sports.

Early bird discount: Apply before December 1st to obtain a 10% discount off the program fee.
Referral bonus: Join the program together with a friend or colleague and both can benefit from 15% off the program fee.

ESM Scholarship

The ESM Scholarship (50%) is awarded to participants with outstanding motivation and above-average commitment. This support is provided by the two institutions, the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS and the RWTH International Academy. The deadline for applications is December 1st.

Excellent academic content powered by RWTH University and the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS

The program is designed by specialists from both science and practice. This enables the exchange about professional solutions for the fulfilment of complex tasks in the equestrian world.

Online teaching

Benefit from flexible learning with on-demand videos and study material. Meet the other participants and lecturers for online sessions to apply and discuss the acquired knowledge. Gain exclusive insights into the partner stables and network with equestrian business experts and companies.

On-site phases

The program includes three on-site events that will take place in Aachen, Germany. The highlight is the meet-up for the CHIO Aachen event. Look forward to great insights, workshops and a thrilling atmosphere!

Your degree

Upon completion of the program, you receive a Professional Certificate in Equestrian Stable Management issued by RWTH International Academy and CHIO Aachen CAMPUS.

Benefit from excellent partner stables

Expand your network or complete an internship in one of the following high-class sports stables worldwide.

Hetzel Horses GmbH

Location: Goch, Germany

Show Jumping

Training, sales, auctions

Read more

Jos Lansink Horses bvba

Location: Meeuwen, Belgium

Show Jumping

Training, sales, stallions

Read more

Isabell Werth

Location: Rheinberg, Germany

Dressage

Sport, training

Read more

John Madden Sales inc.

Location: Cazenovia, New York, USA

Show jumping

Training, sales

Read more

Cian O’Connor

Location: Karlswood Stables, Batterstown, Ireland

Show Jumping

Competition, Training, coaching, high performance centre

Read more

Hoy Enterprises Ltd

Location: Somerby Stables, Leicestershire, UK

Eventing

Competition, training, coaching, sales 

Read more

You are also welcome to suggest a stable for your internship!

To be approved by the program management.

“When I am in the ring, it is down to me and my horse alone. But there is so much work that goes on behind the scenes. The entire team plays a totally decisive role in every victory I achieve.”

Henrik von Eckermann, patron of the program

Become an Equestrian Stable Manager now!

Meet the requirements

Check out discounts and scholarships

Apply here!

Get invited to a personal online interview

Get your admission

Requirements

All participants must be 18 years of age or older, have good written and spoken English skills, and meet the following requirements:

Operative Track | Junior

  • Relevant previous (professional) experience (e.g., in the equestrian sport, side job, amateur)
  • Secondary level education standard
  • A great passion for horses
  • Organizational skills
  • High reliability

Executive Track | Senior

  • Vocational training/degree or studies in a related field or 3 years of relevant working experience
  • Professional appearance
  • A great sense of responsibility
  • Strategic and structured thinking

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CHIO Aachen CAMPUS

Paulina Köster
Program Manager

RWTH International Academy

Paulina Silva Ribeiro
Program Manager

CHIO Aachen is the most recognized and famous equestrian event in the world and represents innovation and quality at the highest level. This is reflected in all training and further education opportunities offered by CHIO Aachen CAMPUS. Learn from renowned equestrian personalities and gain insights into professional operations through the unique, international network of CHIO Aachen.

Benefit from the expertise of RWTH International Academy: The official further education academy of RWTH Aachen University establishes the university’s state-of-the-art knowledge and provides you with further academic level professional and personal qualifications. Its innovative and interactive learning experience is a lasting, top-quality investment in your future.