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Become

a Practitioner




Teach with conviction
and share your skills


Become a Practitioner


As Connected Riding changes people's experiences of riding, they often wish to learn more about how to share these methods. We offer teacher training for people who seek to share this work with others, integrate it into their own program, or progress to become a part of the Connected Riding organization.

We certify Connected Riding practitioners at three levels: Blue— signifies basic groundwork knowledge. Green— includes an ability to work with the foundations of riding, and Purple— which certifies that these teachers are capable of working with intermediate Connected Riders. This is also the level at which we advance teachers into our Instructor training program.



Education/Instructors > Become a Practitioner 

The Procedure for Becoming a Connected Riding Practitioner

Our primary goal is to provide learning and training experiences for teachers so that they are competent in their transfer of knowledge to their students. Once a person is accurate in the content and applications of the work, they will be able to quickly improve through practice and experience. It is most important that the foundation of Phases 1 and 2 are learned to a level of satisfactory proficiency.

Practitioners primarily teach in lesson and small group settings.



To Teach Connected Riding as a Practitioner one must:

  • Have basic horsemanship skills, with emphasis on horse and rider safety
  • Be able to speak to small groups
  • Demonstrate the basic concepts of Connected Riding with people and horses
  • Maintain an empathetic, respectful, professional demeanor



Time frame

A minimum 3 years of Connected Riding training beginning with one's first Connected Riding clinic



Attendance requirements

35 days of Connected Riding training from Peggy or a certified instructor which includes:

  • 2 CEI teacher trainings with Peggy or certified instructor (required)
  • Additional options may include
    • 5-day riding intensives
    • Riding clinics (2, 3, 4-day, etc.)
    • One-on-one mentoring with Peggy or certified instructor
    • Assisting at a Connected Riding expo event
Project requirements

  • 2 connected movement case studies
  • 2 horse groundwork case studies
  • 2 riding case studies

Projects require pre-approval by Peggy or a certified instructor.



Teaching and assistance requirement

  • Teach a minimum of 10 different students and 10 horses, log and document
  • Assist at a minimum of one clinic with Peggy
  • Assist at a second clinic with Peggy or certified instructor



Cornerstones of learning for practitioners

  • Establishing neutral posture for people
  • Establishing neutral posture for horses through groundwork
  • Application of the 5 points of connection in riding and groundwork
  • Sharing the message (what, why, how) of Connected Riding to others



Exit requirements for certification

  • Complete the curriculum, attendance, project, and teaching requirements for practitioner certification
  • Through video and onsite observation, complete a Phase 2 proficiency assessment with Peggy or with a certified instructor
  • Submit a current IDP (individual development plan) for your continuing education planning