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Animal Care · Advanced Certificate

Turn Your Passion for Horses
Into a New Zealand Career

The New Zealand equine industry needs people with practical, wide-ranging skills. This advanced course covers everything from daily horse care and health to business operations and industry pathways, all specific to NZ conditions.

Free first lesson
Or enrol on the spot
Rated 5 by our students
From $25
Per Week
ICOES + CPD
Endorsed Certificate
14-Day
Money-Back Guarantee
100%
Online, Self-Paced
24/7
AI Tutor
Where this can take you

Upskill. Career or Business. Made for New Zealand.

And if you ever wanted to take it further, these are the kinds of roles it could lead to:

Stablehand
Equine Groom
Riding Coach
Stud Hand
Horse Trainer
Equine Yard Manager
Curriculum

What You’ll Learn.

10 modules · 100 lessons · Study at your own pace

01Welcome & IntroductionFree
02How Horses Think and Why It Matters
03Reading Horse Body Language
04How Horses Communicate with Each Other
05Flight, Fight, and Freeze: Understanding Stress Responses
06How Horses Learn: The Basics of Equine Learning Theory
07The New Zealand Equine Industry: An Overview
08Racing NZ, Equestrian Sports NZ, and Pony Club NZ: Who Does What
09Horse Breeds Common in New Zealand
10Horse Welfare Standards in New Zealand
11Mapping Your Path: Career Roles in the NZ Equine Industry
Included with your course

Your 24/7 AI Tutor.

It knows where you are

Your tutor sees the lesson you are on and what you have covered, so every answer fits your progress.

Explains Until You Get It

Confused by a concept? Ask for a simpler take, a real-world example, or a quick quiz to test yourself.

There at 11pm

Study when it suits you. Your tutor is available around the clock, every day of your enrolment.

Inside this course · Your tutor
Can you explain the main risks I need to watch for with New Zealand pasture for a horse prone to laminitis?
That's a great question. In New Zealand, a key risk is the high sugar content in grasses, especially during spring and autumn growth flushes. This can trigger laminitis in susceptible horses. The course covers how to manage this risk through grazing management and understanding body condition. Would you like me to explain how pasture rotation can help, or talk about low-sugar forage options?
ModernEdu
This certifies that
Charlotte Reeve
has successfully completed the
Advanced Certificate in Equine Studies NZ
Issued by Modern Education New Zealand
Certificate No. ME-2026-04871
Verify at modernedu.co.nz/verify
Your certificate

Proof of What You Know.

Endorsed

Endorsed by ICOES, the International Council for Online Educational Standards, and CPD-eligible.

Verifiable online

Every certificate carries a unique number an employer or client can verify on our site in seconds.

Made to share

A printed hard copy is included with upfront enrolment, and a digital version for LinkedIn and your CV.

Student reviews

What People Are Saying.

5 average rating

Set up a plant styling business, and maintain it too

The content was clear and practical — including the set-up of a plant styling business, and ongoing maintenance too.

Emily P. · Verified student

The financial part of the business

Learning about the financial part of the business.

Kristine S. · Verified student

The first weeks are the foundation, not a warm-up

The first weeks in the home are not a warm-up phase, they are the foundation. The guidance we give owners during this window can prevent months of remedial work later, making early intervention one of the most powerful tools we have as trainers.

Gaylene D. · Verified student
What you get

Everything Included.

In this course

100 lessons across 10 modules, read, listen, or watch every one
Your 24/7 AI tutor, built into every lesson
Assessments and your ICOES-endorsed, CPD-eligible certificate
12 months access, with extensions available on request

As a Modern Edu student

Student discount on any additional course
Printed hard-copy edition of your course
More student extras on the way
How it works

Four Steps to Your Certificate.

01

Try It Free

Start lesson 1 right now, free. See the course and meet your tutor before paying anything.

02

Enrol Easily

Pick the option that suits you. Every option is covered by the 14-day guarantee.

03

Make Real Progress

Read, listen, or watch each lesson. Go at your own pace with your tutor beside you.

04

Get Your Certificate

Pass your assessments and receive your endorsed, verifiable certificate.

Enrolment

Easy Ways to Get Started.

Try the first lesson free. When you are ready, split it into four with Afterpay or Klarna, save $200 upfront, or take the simple weekly plan.

Start Here · No Card Needed
Free first lesson
Start lesson 1 right now and meet your AI tutor. See exactly how the course works before you decide anything.
No card. No commitment. Your progress carries over when you enrol.
When you are ready to enrol
Recommended · Split Into Four
$199.75 ×4
Afterpay or Klarna covers the $799 upfront price for you. You get every upfront bonus and the $200 saving, then repay in four fortnightly amounts. Nothing more after that.
A second course free, your choice
Printed edition of your course included
Save $200 compared with the weekly plan
Continue With Afterpay or Klarna
Four interest-free payments of $199.75 for approved applicants. Late fees may apply.
Upfront · Save $200
$799
One payment by card if you would rather settle it in one go. Same bonuses: second course free and the printed edition.
CardAfterpayKlarna
Enrol Upfront for $799
Afterpay and Klarna split $799 into 4 payments of $199.75.
Weekly Payment Plan
$25 /week
40 weekly payments · $1,000 total
Upfront bonuses not included.
Start the Weekly Plan
Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Afterpay · Klarna accepted.    14-day guarantee
Not sure yet?
Before you enrol

Is It Right for You?

This course is for you if

Aspiring equine professionals in New Zealand wanting practical, job-ready skills.
Passionate horse owners or leasers who want to deepen their knowledge of horse care.
Pony Club parents or volunteers looking for a structured understanding of horse management.
Career changers looking for a pathway into the NZ racing, sport horse, or breeding industries.
Rural property owners who want to manage their horses and land effectively.

It is probably not for you if

Anyone needing a formal NZQA qualification. This is a professional development course; for a government-regulated qualification, you should look at a polytechnic.
People who want to become a registered veterinarian or farrier. Those are regulated professions that require specific university or trade qualifications.
Riders looking for advanced, discipline-specific competition training. This course focuses on horse care, management, and industry foundations.
Someone looking for a very brief, high-level overview of horses. This is a comprehensive course with 100 lessons.

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Try the full course for two weeks. If it is not for you, we refund you in full. No questions asked, no conditions.

More from students

“I love that it has different ways to learn! I'll keep learning about each flower's conditioning needs — I feel I've learnt so much already.”

Tammie O. · Verified student

“Very informative, and I like the focus on clients. It's better to give advice in small segments — just as we do with our dogs. Small steps.”

John H. · Verified student

“Real world responses — wow. The laws, and what it means to run a facility, is an eye opener. Even the less-common-pets section was eye opening — rabbits are illegal to keep as pets here in Queensland!”

Lee P. · Verified student
Good to know

Common Questions.

Do I need experience with horses to enrol?+
No prior experience is needed. The course starts with the fundamentals, including how horses think, how they communicate, and what healthy behaviour looks like. If you already have some horse knowledge, the later modules on topics like young horse education, breeding basics, and equine business operations will add real depth to what you know.
What does the course cover?+
There are 100 lessons across 10 modules. You will cover daily care routines, nutrition for New Zealand pasture conditions, stable and paddock management, health and first aid, hoof care, safe handling and groundwork, tack fitting, rider biomechanics, float transport, and how to run an equine business in New Zealand. The course also looks at career pathways across racing, eventing, breeding, therapy riding, and recreational equine work, with specific reference to Racing NZ, Equestrian Sports NZ, and Pony Club NZ.
How long will it take to complete?+
Most students complete the course in around 234 hours of study. If you want to move quickly, a fast-track option lets you work through the core content in around 21 hours. You have 12 months of access, and extensions are available on request if you need more time.
Is this course specific to New Zealand?+
Yes. The course is written for the New Zealand equine industry. It covers NZ-specific topics like toxic plants found in New Zealand paddocks, managing seasonal conditions like mud and dry summers, vaccination and drench programmes relevant to New Zealand, and how the industry bodies here operate. The business modules also reference New Zealand-specific requirements around GST, ACC, and running an equine business as a sole trader or limited company.
What certificate will I receive?+
You will receive an Advanced Certificate in Equine Studies NZ, issued by Modern Education New Zealand. The course is accredited by ICOES (International Council for Online Educational Standards). This is not a nationally recognised qualification under NZQA, but it is a credible, independently evaluated credential you can add to your CV and professional profile in the equine industry.
How is this different from watching YouTube videos or reading horse care books?+
YouTube and books are useful, but they are not structured for your progress. This course builds your knowledge in a logical order, from horse behaviour and daily care through to health management, business operations, and career planning. Every lesson also has an AI tutor you can ask questions at any point. If something is not clear, you get a direct answer rather than searching for another video.

Start With a Free Lesson.

Start with the free first lesson, or enrol on the spot from $25 a week.

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Advanced Certificate in Equine Studies NZ
First lesson free · $25/week · 14-day guarantee