Best distance learning courses

[eventerbabe]

There are so many out there; equistudy, lingfield, TOCES. How do you chose?! I'm keen to expand the equine part of my CV due to a possible change in direction after finishing my PhD. Anybody and experience of the different distance courses? which would you recomend? ta :)

[Bay Mare]

I started with Lingfield but I found them very dogmatic and set in their ways. At the time I was a member they were anti anything out of the ordinary and had some very fixed views on things (I'll pm you if you want to know more). Their literature was pretty good but it all ended when I had two bust ups with the tutor and told them to stuff it.

I think that there are more tutors now and it's a little more enlightened let us say so it may be better than it was.

I'd be interested in the other courses as it will give me something to do while I'm in London!

[eventerbabe]

oookay, i might avoid lingfield then! my first choice i must admit is equistudy (through warwickshire college?), they've been very helpful via email and do a wide variety of courses.....

[kirstie]

I have not experience in any so won't be much help but I've looked more in depth at TOCES and Lingfield had prospectus' from both, i'm thinking of doing a course at TOCES, next year, Equistudy looks good (had a quick look).

Good luck

[eventerbabe]

I have the TOCES prospectus somewhere. What appealed to me in particular about Equi Study was if you complete the 4 'advanced' horse knowledge units you can attain a BTECH qualification. I'm awaiting email conformation about fees etc.

Also, maybe a bit o/t but equi study offer the BHS stages and you can do just the theory parts, not the ridden. Is it worth doing stages 1/2 but just the theory side of it? i don't have time (or money!) to set aside for the ridden assesments for the forseeable future due to work commintments/work experience/writing a thesis!

[halkynuk]

Without doubt I.M.H.O.

The Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg eQuestrian Online Training Academy - http://www.kottas-academy.com/flash.html

Arthur Kottas held the the most senior roll of First Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna for 22 years until he retired from the school.

[Bay Mare]

Hi halkynuk - have you done any of the Kottas courses? My old YO still trains with him occasionally so it would be interesting to know more about the courses :)

Thank you

[Maddison's girl]

I am just about to start one of the short courses with TOCES I am hoping to start the degree course with them next year.

[roan rebel]

I am doing a course with TOCES. I am enjoying it and have had no problems with them. Good luck whatever you choose.

[halkynuk]

Hi Bay Mare,

Sorry to be a while in replying ,,, there's never enough hours in the day &/or the energy to go with them when the daylight hours are longer :eek:

I haven't subscribed to the AK courses yet - it's something I feel I can give attention to during the dark nights.

To find out more about the courses he's building check Courses on the website - http://www.kottas-academy.com/flash.html

Does your YO do occasional training with him via TRAINING THE TEACHERS OF TOMORROW - http://www.ttttrust.com/ ?

[Bay Mare]

Yes, that's it :) She goes to (?)Guilford every now and then. Unfortunately I've never been able to go but hope to one day.

Thank you for the link, I must check that out :)

[misslibertine]

I really want to do a distance learning course too but was worried that they might not be recognised by yards etc.

[eml]

Depends really why you are doing them. As an employer I would look favourably on them as far as your commitment to learning but would not regard them as evidence of an ability to do the job.

As an aside I loved Kottas as Chief Rider but am a bit worried at some of the 'Clinics ' being offered in his name

[katefarmer]

I did the AI series with Equistudy which I found very good. I did it about 8 years ago, and I think the courses have been updated since then, but the material was sound and the tutors very open to alternative ideas, which I found very refreshing.

I'm a bit worried about Kottas listing "Rollkur" under the Advanced Techniques courses!! :eek:

I think it depends what you want to use it for. If your looking for qualifications that will be recognised in the UK, I'd go for something that roughly follows the BHS or ABRS formats. If it's just for your own interest and development of ideas etc. the Kottas one might be interesting, but I don't know how widely recognised this would be. If you read the small print, it just says he has been consulted on the courses - not that he designed or wrote them. There also doesn't seem to be any tutor or examination procedure - it looks as though you get a certificate for just buying the course and following the steps, then taking an automated multiple choice test you can keep doing until you pass. Sorry - it might be good, but it looks a bit gimmicky to me.

[halkynuk]

Thank you for your comments on the Arthur Kottas distance learning course katefarmer - I've just sent them a message asking for an explaination of what they mean by Rollkur in the Advanced section - will let you all know when & what it says if & when I receive a reply.

eml,
totally endorse your comments on the fact of the matter, if I understand it rightly, that what ever "bits of paper" one has relating to courses done, it's not evidence that one can actually do the job - whether it be equestrian or other work related! Thank you too for your comments on the Kottas courses offered - helps me know that if I'm going to invest my precious time & monies in doing something - it must be worth while & to the standards I wish to work towards & rollkur most certianly isn't one of them!

One of the things I'm sure I'd have difficulties with in doing any learning course is the fact of the matter that I know my best learning environment is actually working beside & with the tutor i.e,the old fashioned way of learning, which of course a distance learning course will not give me opportunity to do.

José
Wales UK

[speedsaddle]

The Open College of Equine Studies (TOCES) is best offering distance learning ..... :)

[horsey1992devon]

I fully reccomend TOCES !! :)

[NicP]

I have used TOCES and found them very good.

[martini55]

Are the short courses from TOCES actually recognized qualifications or are they just for your own sense of achievement?

[halkynuk]

I am sad & very disappointed to report that I have not had a response or even an acknowledgement from the Kottas course after sending an e-mail a while ago asking them for clarification re: roulker & how this relates to their courses as noted on the website - far from encouraging :(

I am aquainted with one of the present Spanish Riding School riders & will send him a message asking has he comments to share about the course & lack of response to my message. As far as I know, he has nothing to do with the Kottas online tutorials - he's currently in the States doing his own courses - I'm sure he won't mind me asking.

I was not interested in the course from a UK recognised qualification point of view & gaining employment but had hoped it would help me regarding improving my riding in a correct classical way - that is relevant to whatever type of riding one does & helping me with my work with my poor, long suffering mare.

However, for me, all is not lost!

Next week I am off for a little holiday to the northern parts of Aberdeenshire UK,,, St Combs to spend a week with my dear friend Bobby Russell.

For a while know, I've known I really need to do some work on a school master with an equally competent person on the ground to help me! And, whilst I'm aquainted with someone reasonably locally who is also equally competetent, neither of us have a school master equine!

For ages, Bobby has been saying you must come up ,,, & bring the nedds - which is not practical for a week - I don't have my one equine transport - & even if I could afford to pay the cost of transporting them up there, a week is just not long enough to move my mare & expect her to settle & apply herself to her work - she's such a sensitive littel soul!

Bobby has kindly brought Cantario, one of his high school horse back into work for me to go up there & work with them - doing ridden, longe & longrein.

Added to which, when I come back, if I can persuade folks to vidoe &/or take pictures of me working with the mare &/or her youngster, Bobby offers tutorials via the picys &/or videos by working together either online or/or via the phone - each viewing & talking through relevant points to help achieve improvement.

I'm really, really excited about this opportunity - why you may ask?

Part of Bobby's equestrian training was undertaken with Charles Harris - http://www.halebooks.com/display.asp?K=9780851318455&sf1=eh_cat_class&st1=AL600&pge=allen&ds=Dressage+and+Classical+Riding&m=20&dc=46

Added to which, Bobby, amongst other things, has worked with & trained liberty & high school horses & their handlers / riders.

wow!I can hardly believe it - such an experienced equine person is at least as excited as me & so looking forward to our time together - I do hope I prove to be a worthy pupil both next week & when I have opportunity to share pictures &/or videos with Bobby!

If you'd like to find out more about Bobby here's the link to his msn group pictures etc - http://groups.msn.com/CircusHighSchool/bobbyspics.msnw

To read some of the articles by my reasonably local comptent equine friend - go here - http://groups.msn.com/TalkingHorses/homepage1.msnw - right - Classical Training - thoughts from the armchair & left - Oldnagsman's thoughs.

oh! if only I am able to achieve such with my mare & her youngster.

José
Wales UK

[horsey1992devon]

Are the short courses from TOCES actually recognized qualifications or are they just for your own sense of achievement?


you can choose between recognised ones or non-recognised, they have loads to chose from :)

ETA: oops mis-read your post ! sorry.
in the prospectus it says "An graded Open College certificate is awarded upon successful completion" so no i don't think they are recognised, but it also says they are at the same level as HND/C (level 4 and above) workwise.
Hope That Helps :)