CORE PRINCIPLES
OF EQUINE ASSISTED SERVICES

Even though I am already a therapist practising Equine Assisted Services, I felt this course was absolutely worthwhile. It covered a variety of topics and is very comprehensive. The content complemented and supported my practice, as well as expanded my knowledge related to equines, gait, positioning, etc. It was also helpful in improving my clinical reasoning in some cases, giving me new ideas for my practice and clients. The teaching method is perfect for the daily hustle and allows us to study at our own pace. The practical weekend consolidated the knowledge acquired online and allowed for the sharing of knowledge, practices and ideas, in addition to clarifying doubts.

Alexandra MachadoPortugal

The Svitani course provided incredible insights that seamlessly bridge clinical practice with equine-assisted therapy. The evidence-based approach and global perspective have been invaluable for my academic research and clinical work. I highly recommend this program to any rehabilitation professional looking to deepen their understanding of animal-assisted interventions.

Tong ShenMaster of Physical Therapy & University Lecturer, China

Thanks for the amazing seminar. Great information on EAT equipment with an opportunity to have a close look and see its application during the sessions. The therapy part when comparing pelvic movement of the 2 mounted riders was really useful. I found it especially useful and informative when the comprehensive information about creating your own Therapy Centre has been presented, it can be applied in any country. More details on client’s positioning was given, always necessary to be repeated. Altogether great experience, the info, the lectures, the food :).

AleksandraPhysiotherapist, Latvia

I appreciate the organization and the way the contents have been structured, as they make the learning path very clear and motivating. The videos are inspiring and clearly highlight the scope of this type of therapy. Participating in this course has encouraged me to enrich my professional practice and, in addition, to continue learning English. Many thanks.

Valeria EspinaSpeech-Language Pathologist – Chile

Good structured course. Well balanced programme – educational sessions and practical activities… And most important – motivating informal conversations, friendly and open-minded atmosphere. Thank you! Looking forward to EAT course!

Elena HarizanovaCentre for Child Development, Wonderful Mind, Bulgaria

The course was very beneficial, led by EAS experts. The course brought me a lot of new information and knowledge. I recommend this course to everyone who wants to learn about EAS. Thanks to this course, I have gained a lot of new knowledge and made contacts with experts in EAS to continue moving my knowledge forward.

Daniela FrišlovičováSlovakia

I really enjoyed the course, the knowledge shared, the presentation times were very well organised, and the different subjects. A very well-developed theoretical and practical part. A very enriching experience. A very harmonious group from the professional field. I really liked it, I will promote and share it. Thank you and best wishes.

Inês Maria SilvaPortugal

Personally, I loved the course; it is extremely comprehensive and covers in depth the basic aspects to start working with horses. I was very satisfied with the knowledge provided.

Pamela OñateOccupational Therapist, Chile

I recommend this course because is so detailed and helpful for all who is interested in Equine and EAS, EAL, EAT. Biggest opportunity is to be able learning by someone experienced and committed like instructor Vera. She is kind, profesional and always available.

Zijada Kurtodža, dipl.defektolog-logopedBosnia & Hecegovina

I consider that this course on Equine Assisted Therapy was extremely interesting and enriching. It was a very positive experience, full of valuable content that significantly contributed to the acquisition of new knowledge. Moreover, it provided an important space for sharing experiences, reinforcing the value of teamwork and the therapeutic impact of equines.

Cátia FernandesPortugal

I took this course on the recommendation of my wife, and I am very pleased with it. Thanks to this course, I have gained a lot of knowledge in the field of EAS and working with horses. I highly recommend this course.

Peter FrišlovičSlovakia

An excellent theoretical opportunity to complement and consolidate knowledge. A positive and constructive training environment. An experienced training group, enabling the exchange of experiences and openness to future connections. A team of competent trainers with strong command of the topics addressed. A complete training setting with the ability to adapt to challenges posed by adverse weather conditions. Congratulations, and onwards to the future in the development of EAS at both national and international levels.

Rute RodaPortugal

I think the organisation was good! The host – Carlos – is a very caring guy. I liked very much the way he worked with the autistic kid. It was clear – the relation and friendship he already established with him, and the results are already guaranteed. I think it was very helpful and educational for our team, despite it is a basic course and we already have some experience in this field and we already had some of the content in our practice, it is still the best way to refresh, to improve, to strengthen our skills. Věra is a professional, which we would like to follow in our future and will try to extend our cooperation. The connections that we created are priceless. I truly believe it will be fruitful for our mutual future. Thank you!

Ivailo Nestorov Конна база Кичево, Bulgaria

Engaged very much the feedback from both the therapeutic therapist side along with the point of view of a center owner and/or horse trainer. Engaged the practical side of seeing different materials used and how to use/adapt to the horses.

Course participant

I have finished equine assistant course. I can say it was very understandable and helpful. Vera is very good teacher who explains everything so clearly. I highly recommend to everyone who wants to become from horse lover to EAS assistant. Thank you.

Daiga SilinaLatvia

Core Principles of EAS is well‑designed, informative, and useful especially for beginners or those seeking a strong foundation in equine‑assisted services. If your goal is to understand the theory, develop safe practice, learn about horse welfare, communication, documentation, etc., this course delivers a lot of value.

Course Participant

Very informative! It was really good to connect with like-minded people and I feel like the course was very fruitful and I took a lot from it. Online modules were very well presented and I really enjoyed the practical aspect also. Both Vera and Carlos were very welcoming and ready to answer and assist.

Participant in Malta

I’m deeply grateful for the enriching weekend spent with Svitani, exploring the core principles of equine assisted therapy. The training provided not only a solid theoretical foundation, but also meaningful experiential learning that allowed me to connect more deeply with both the horses and the therapeutic process. Thank you for the inspiration, insight, and shared humanity.

Alessia Occupational Therapist, Malta, Italy

A great seminar with great ideas, approaches and instructors. The most important thing for me is that I met people who share the same philosophy and professionalism, and we could understand each other so easily, as if we’ve known each other for years.

Apostolis AmperiadisSpecial Educator – Horseback Riding Teacher, Horsemaster Level 1, Greece

As an OT and special educator, I have been working with horses and children with ASD for several years. Always eager to learn more, this course helped me fill in some gaps in my knowledge. I believe that we, as practitioners, should always check if we are on the right track in our practice and expertise. Thank you all for this course.

VanyaOccupational Therapist, Bulgaria

Attending this course and spending the weekend in Malta was an amazing learning opportunity. It offered enough details and covered a lot of areas, but the best part was having the opportunity to share experiences and learn from different professionals. I am looking forward to having the chance to attend more courses and I am grateful for this one-of-a-kind experience.

Carmen GeorgescuSpecial Education Student, Romania

I decided to enroll in this course so that I could apply to Equine-Assisted Therapy Clinical Specialist course. One of the biggest advantages was that it is completely online, which allowed me to follow it at my own pace and according to my schedule, since I have both personal and professional commitments. I would recommend this course to anyone considering working with horses and people, as it provides the basic information needed to see whether this field resonates with you and, if so, to continue your education in that direction. A big thank you to the team at Svitani Academy for making this possible for us.

JosipaPhysiotherapist, Croatia

The course was very informative and detailed. It was also written in a very understandable way and everything was well explained. These 2 practical days gave me an extra insight and more ideas. It was a very good summary of the whole course plus having hands-on practice which helped me to understand more. Thank you for your dedication, as it was so informative for a good price.

Participant in Malta

his course was a very valuable learning experience for me. I especially appreciated the practical information about therapy methods and participant positioning, which I can apply in my work. The course was well-organised, easy to follow, and engaging. It also inspired me to continue developing my knowledge in Equine Assisted Therapy.

Olga BulicevaPhysiotherapist, Latvia

I had chosen the course to gain more knowledge in the field of EAS since I started working as a horse leader. I am happy that I was able to learn from Vera’s impressive expertise in the field of hippotherapy. A good mix of theory, practice and exchanging experiences made the course enriching. I would recommend the course to everyone who is interested in working in EAS.

YvonneSpecial Needs Teacher - Malta and Germany

I enrolled in the basic EAT course with leaders Vera and Carlos. The course was very useful for me even though I already had basic knowledge on the subject. I met other people from other countries who were willing to exchange experiences. Vera and Carlos were very patient with us, they explained everything to us well enough and in an accessible way. I had the opportunity to touch their world, from their point of view, for which I am incredibly grateful to them!

Maria Anastasova NichevaPhysiotherapist, Bulgaria

An absolute wealth of information, some of which confirms what I already knew and motivates me to continue learning, the rest is inspiring and will help me become a better assistant for the equines and participants, as well as supporting the practitioners more effectively. I have been very satisfied with the course content and delivery. Being able to learn at my own pace has been vital to me, fitting in learning with my business demands.

Sarah McDonaldGroup Coach RDA York, UK

Even if I knew some of the themes we were discussing at the course, I was surprised again by all the new things, tips, ideas and knowledge I met here. The way all the information that was given to us on theory and practice, even specific physical and learning specialists, was understandable and useful for me – just a horse person. The most beautiful for me was the knowledge we are not alone. We have the support of all the participants and lecturers. New friendships happened. I feel much more brave and confident that we are on the right way. Thank you!

Maria Nestorova Конна база Кичево, Bulgaria

It was very affirming to complete the Core Principles of Equine Assisted Services offered by Svitani Academy. I experienced reinforcement on the practices our organization is doing correctly. I saw where improvements could be made, and I even significantly altered our approach based on this course which made a big difference to our riders. I look forward to the more advanced courses! 5 Stars all around.

Allison CodyUnited States & Portugal

I really liked the practical part of the course. I appreciate the fact that we were given the opportunity to observe a real session, to share opinions, ask questions, even give examples of our own experience. A lot of new information for me was given, including recommendations for the equipment needed for therapy. We all shared useful information regarding the topic and the group was nice, cooperative and easygoing.

Alexandra PavlenkovaSpeech Therapist, Bulgaria

As an inspiring student and growing citizen, this course was very insightful and well detailed. It met and even exceeded my expectations in terms of details and knowledge included. I would highly recommend for anyone considering that line of work or even as a general hobby.

Participant of the online course

I am very satisfied with the services of this academy. The support team is professional, and the quality of services is excellent. My experience working with them has been very positive, and I will definitely use their services for my country, Iran, in the future.

Neda HamidiIran

This course further enhanced my desire to work in this incredible field that is EAS and combine two great passions, psychology and horses. Thank you!

Course Participant

I really enjoyed taking the course. I loved the fact that there was audio in Portuguese; it made understanding the technical terms much easier. It's a very easy course to follow because the information is very well distributed. It's great for those who don't have a basic understanding and very useful for those who already have it and want to refresh their knowledge. Thank you for the opportunity. I will certainly return!

Course participant