Professionals employed in the equestrian industry can profit from the brand-new certificate programme of the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS and the RWTH International Academy in future. The Operative Track (Junior) and the Executive Track (Senior) equip participants optimally for the increased demands of the future.

• Future-oriented and internationally oriented certificate program in stable management that serves the modern challenges of equestrian businesses

• Operative Track: Organizing the stable activities and coordinating the interface with the office

• Executive Track: Leading and optimizing the stable overseeing all strategic management processes

• Online course in blended learning format with high practical relevance, internship in a renowned equestrian stable

• Duration: 12 months

• Start: April 2024

With a turnover of approx. 6.7 billion Euros in Germany, the equestrian industry is not merely a significant sector, it is also currently undergoing radical change: Social and economic trends as well as the future themes, digitalisation and sustainability, are having an increasing influence and are revolutionising the entire industry. This is having an impact on the equestrian businesses and their staff: To remain competitive, establishments are having to satisfy the new demands and take on a future-oriented approach. “The Equestrian Stable Management certificate programme conveys the necessary knowledge to suit this purpose,” is how Stefan Knopp, Director of the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS, explained the intention behind the new concept. “We are delighted that we have been able to win over the RWTH International Academy as our strong partner,” added Birgit Rosenberg, Executive Board Member of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV). The RWTH International Academy is an expert in extra-occupational further education for skilled workers and executives, it conveys cutting-edge university-level knowledge and qualifies the participants of the certificate programme to an academic level in a professional and personal manner.

As the largest equestrian show in the world, the CHIO Aachen stands for innovation and quality at the highest level. This is also reflected in all of the training and further educational offers of the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS – the same also applies for the brand-new certificate programme, which kicks off for the first time in the spring of 2024. The programme targets professionals from the equestrian industry, who are interested in educating themselves further, for instance equestrian stable managers, equine managers, grooms and professional riders. There are two separate programmes for this fee-based further educational qualification: The Operative Track and the Executive Track.

The Operative Track is a full-time program and begins with a block of intensive online learning courses in the areas of stable management and equestrian sports. This is followed by a six-month internship at one of our renowned partner stables. The track concludes with three months of project work.

The Executive Track is offered part-time and benefits from flexible online learning content. Eight online modules on advanced stable management, equine sports, and equine business strategy & marketing provide the knowledge needed to manage and optimize an equine business.

Offered as an online course in blended learning format, participants in both programs enjoy all the benefits of e-learning. They remain flexible in terms of location and time - at the same time, they benefit from the professional digital teaching content provided by the RWTH International Academy's Film Studio: action-oriented learning methods, practical live sessions and case studies in an interactive online learning platform.

For the six-month compulsory internship within the Operative Track, international and renowned equestrian sports businesses such as those of dressage rider Isabell Werth (Rheinberg), show jumper Jos Lansink (BEL), show jumper Elizabeth Madden (USA) or Holger Hetzel (Goch) could be won as partners. "Thus, the unique, international network of the CHIO Aachen enables the participants to learn from renowned equestrian greats and to gain insights into professional businesses ", explains Stefan Knopp. Furthermore, in the programs, which are designed for one year, different modules from several subject areas are completed, in addition to expert keynotes. Each compulsory module ends with a module examination. All courses are taught in English. "Graduates have the unique opportunity to stand out from the crowd with an academic qualification and to be able to take on more responsibility in the company and professionalize activities in the future," says Stefan Knopp.