Recently Equus Education looked at the role of Equine Connection in qualifying equine assisted learning facilitators. Kari Fulmek has kindly answered some questions about her profession relating to this.
How much of your day/week is related to horses?
60 hours minimum!
What is it exactly that you do?
I am a Master Instructor for the Equine Assisted Learning Certification that we offer at Equine Connection – The Academy of Equine Assisted Learning. We train people to bring their dreams of working with horses and people into their reality through our course.
We are a Global Equine Assisted Learning Business Training™ (EABT™) company that works together to find success around the world. This is through helping people to be empowered and helping them to change their lives while working with the horse. There are currently two campuses in Calgary, Ab Canada and Sydney, NSW Australia as well as numerous travelling schools throughout the world. We have certified people from Bosnia, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and of course Canada.
The other side of our business is facilitating clients in our objectively driven courses. We offer curriculum courses to youth and women at risk as well as offer women workshops and team building workshops. The horse’s jobs are speaking to the clients through their bodies to help bring about the changes that the clients need to make. Exercises are developed to encourage self-confidence through validated, hands-on experiences.
Equine Assisted Learning through the Equine Connection is NOT equine therapy. We do not require a clinical professional with us to do these exercises and programs given to you in your horse course. Equine Assisted Learning works, because the teachers are the horses! We are the facilitators who help our clients to take their teaching back to their everyday lives.
In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
Absolutely! Facilitators who train with us can get a return on investment immediately through business write-offs alone! Plus, depending on how quickly facilitators start up, they can earn a decent living while living their dream! We always tell people that they won’t be a millionaire running these courses because let’s face it, horses are expensive, but you can make a comfortable living and be rich in life!
What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
The first step is getting certified! Through the course, we also train you on marketing, how to set up your business, as well as providing you 3 years of set up and work in your business pack! We are setting people up for success!
Favourite horse memory?
I always wanted a horse as a child – desperately – but we were very poor growing up. I remember my beautiful mom giving me a horse book instead. And at that moment I began my journey with horses. It was just a little book, 25 cents from a garage sale, but it was what my mom could do, and her way of giving me a horse. That moment will forever reside in my heart.
Future goals?
To help people understand their horses differently and helping them to find their purpose. Truly, it is making an impact on the world through spreading Equine Assisted Learning and all that it can do to help others throughout the globe.
Best thing about your sport/profession?
It’s real. We get to live in the moment – just like our horses.
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