How to Recognise the Real Quality
in a Sea of Online Courses?

Equine Assisted Services (EAS) are growing in popularity around the world – and that is good news. More people are discovering the healing, educational and developmental potential of structured interaction between humans and equines. However, with this growing interest, a new challenge has emerged: how can you tell whether an online course in EAS provides genuine, evidence-based education – or whether it is simply AI-generated content, with no real expertise behind it?

As experienced practitioners, we understand the critical importance of appropriate training – not only for the benefit of clients, but also to ensure the safety and well-being of the equines involved. Responsible EAS require skilled professionals with both clinical and equine-related knowledge.

Here is how to recognise the difference between a truly professional, expert-led education in EAS and a product that only looks convincing on the surface.

REAL PEOPLE. REAL EXPERIENCE. REAL KNOWLEDGE.

Before enrolling in any course, ask: Who is teaching this? Can you find the lecturers' names? Their qualifications? Their real-world clinical or educational experience?

If a course does not name its instructors or only lists generic profiles, that is a major warning sign.

At Svítání – Academy of Equine Assisted Services, we openly present our team of professionals. Our lecturers include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, licensed riding instructors and equine specialists. Each brings decades of experience in clinical practice, education, and responsible equine management.

We teach what we actually do in the field, and what we have known from years of working with clients and equines in real therapeutic contexts.

REAL CONTENT – NOT JUST ATTRACTIVE PRESENTATION.

Many platforms now offer hundreds of “certified” courses for under 50 EUR, including EAS-related topics. These often appear highly polished on the surface – but when you look closer, the content is frequently generic, vague, or fully generated by AI. Robotic narration, identical modules across unrelated topics, and missing professional context are common.

At Svítání, we also use AI – but only as a supportive tool. For example, we use avatar narration to make our content more accessible in multiple languages. However, all educational content – including structure, clinical materials, and teaching materials – is created entirely by qualified human professionals.

Our online courses include:

• • Audio and video tutorials recorded by experts
  • Professionally written PDF booklets
  • Clinical case studies and real-life examples
  • Interactive reflection tasks
  • Optional live sessions and mentoring
  • Structured practical guidance
  • Learning outcomes aligned with international standards

CERTIFICATION THAT CARRIES WEIGHT.

The word “certified” is widely used in online education, but not all certificates are meaningful.

At Svítání, our Equine Assisted Therapy Clinical Specialist course is accredited by OCN London. It includes 240 hours of education, including hands-on practice, and leads to a certificate that holds real value in clinical and educational settings.

We also offer introductory courses, such as Core Principles of EAS, which serve as a solid foundation for future development and specialisation.

Our curriculum follows the HETI Ethical Guidelines (Horses in Education and Therapy International) and supports professionals working with clients in therapeutic, developmental and educational contexts.

TRANSPARENT STRUCTURE. HUMAN CONTACT AND SUPPORT.

A trustworthy course makes it easy to understand what you are joining. You should know:

• • Who the lecturers are
  • What topics are covered
  • How many hours of learning are involved
  • What you will be able to do after completion
  • What kind of support and interaction is available

At Svítání, we provide all this information in advance. Our students have access to:

• • Translated course scripts
  • Video and audio lessons
  • Direct online and personal contacts with the lecturers
  • Optional one-to-one feedback
  • Hands-on experience
  • A learning community of participants from more than 25 countries

You will never be communicating with a chatbot. We respond personally and take the time to support each student’s development.

SUMMARY: WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A TRUSTWORTHY EAS COURSE

• • Clear terminology - not vague or outdated terms
  • Named, qualified lecturers with clinical or educational expertise
  • Well-structured course contents with defined learning goals
  • Real-life examples and clinical case studies
  • Practical applications, not only theoretical summaries
  • Valid certification, recognised internationally
  • Human interaction and ongoing support
  • Ethical and transparent use of technology, never content automation

READY TO LEARN FROM REAL EXPERTS?

If you are looking for a meaningful, professionally guided introduction to Equine Assisted Services, we invite you to explore our internationally accessible course Core Principles of EAS.

It is suitable for those beginning their path in the field, as well as for professionals seeking deeper insight into the structure, terminology, and ethical principles that underpin responsible EAS practice.

Learn more:
https://hipoterapie-kurzy.com/akce/core-principles-in-eas/

Testimonials from our learners:
https://hipoterapie-kurzy.com/svitani-international/references/

Join our newsletter:
https://hipoterapie-kurzy.com/svitani-international/kontakty-svitani-int/subscription-newsletter/

Contact us:
svitani@hipoterapie-kurzy.com – we are real people, and we will be happy to answer your questions.