Ontario Equine Education and Employment Program

Nov 8 – Dec 31

  • This course closed on 12/31/2021.

The goals of the Program focus on those interested in starting level Groom/Caretaker positions to:   

  • Develop a positive self-concept by learning the necessary skills for being a groom
  • Practice making good decisions when caring for the equine athlete 
  • Demonstrate the value of learning so that a pathway of lifetime learning will be viewed positively by students

Content for the course 

  1. The Horse:  Identification, Anatomy, Physiology, Gaits of the Horse, Behaviour 
  2. Handling the Horse:  Basic Handling Skills, Basic Safety 
  3. Care of the Horse:  Horse Health, Disease Prevention 
  4. Nutrition:  Feeds, Feeding 
  5. Facilities and Management:  Daily Routine, Safety, Tack and Equipment 
  6. The Horse Industry in Ontario:  Association Contacts, EquineJobTrack, Employment  

Based on the Industry goals, students who successfully complete the program will be able to: 

  • Describe the basic skills and knowledge for employee and horse safety in the equine industry
  • Demonstrate the skills and knowledge for safe and effective basic care and management of the racehorse in a caring and humane fashion
  • Develop integrity and ethical standards that will help the industry to grow and develop for a sustainable future 
  • Understand the value of knowledge generated from research studies and to apply the information to improve the standards of care for equine athletes 
  • Work competently on a computer using basic skills for word processing, file opening, saving and sharing; conduct searches on the internet for quality information; and learn to function and contribute as part of the online community 

The Ontario Equine Education and Employment Program (OEEEP) is a free 8-week virtual training program with an opportunity for you to gain hands-on experience working with horses. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to begin a career in the exciting equine industry.

For more information, or to find out if you’re eligible, contact [email protected].

The Canadian horse industry, or equine industry, is a multi-billion-dollar industry comprised of thousands of Canadians who study, train and care for the well-being of horses – veterinarians, groomers, farriers, instructors, jockeys and many more.

The OEEEP will provide you with flexible training to develop your knowledge on horse care and welfare in order for you to thrive in the equine industry. You will learn from industry experts across the globe and will be able to discover different career pathways in Ontario’s equine industry.

picture of Instructor and horseGayle Ecker – Gayle is the Director of Equine Guelph and played an instrumental role in its birth and ongoing development as a Centre for the horse owner at the University of Guelph. She has dedicated her energies to advancing the equine industry through education and communications on health, welfare and safety. Gayle continues working on a ‘pyramid of education’ model – an educational approach that provides learning pathways for career development at all levels (youth education > industry skills > Equine Certificates and Diploma >leading to higher education) in the equine industry. In collaboration with the Office of Open Learning, Gayle developed the Equine Studies program targeted to the equine industry to provide over 20 online courses that can be combined for Business, Science and Welfare Certificates or an Equine Studies Diploma. She also acts as an instructor in many of the courses, and also for several courses on The Horse Portal.

 

Cameron Lago – Cameron who has cared for livestock his whole life, developed an unexplainable addiction to horses and in particular the racing industry in the past eight years after attending a youth camp put on by Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) at Flamboro Downs. This launched a career working in the harness racing industry and a commitment to advocate animal welfare whenever possible.  Cameron served as one of Equine Guelph’s Industry Ambassadors during our Racing in Ontario Pilot Project, supporting students from the racing industry in a series of free online courses on equine health and welfare.

 

Dr. Susan Raymond – Since 2003 (Equine Guelph), Susan has been involved in the development and delivery, both online and in-person, of educational and skills training programs. The focus of these programs is to improve welfare and safety of both animals and people on the farm during day to day activities and emergency situations. Susan’s PhD research involved investigating the effects of exposure of horses to mycotoxins, as well as, examining stable design and management as they affect air quality. Susan has completed Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Operations, Rescue Ropes/Rigging courses and Animal Technical Rescue Awareness Level Course (University of Florida). Susan has also completed Colorado State University – Equine Investigations Academy Level 1.

Hours of Program: For the online portion, expect to spend 3-4 hours per day studying and learning through the online course, Monday through Thursday, for the 6 weeks.

Required Materials:

The following materials are required and are included with your registration:  

  • TheHorsePortal.ca online course site 
  • Online course modules and other web-based resources  
  • Facilitator contact information through discussion forum 
  • Other helpful contact information 
Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Equine Guelph – the horse owner’s Centre at the University of Guelph.