Emiel Voest Freestyle Academy

About Emiel Voest Freestyle Academy

Emiel Voest Freestyle Academy is a training centre in Ruinerwold. It offers training programmes and courses about the Freestyle system, horse welfare, and training and understanding horses.

Training programmes and courses

The courses are aimed at horse enthusiasts and (future) professionals. The training programmes are based on the Freestyle system.

• Freestyle Level 1 instructor training
• Young Horses specialisation
• Freestyle basic course
• Horse Welfare programme

Young Horses specialisation

This module covers life stages, learning principles and techniques for working with young horses. Practical participants practise techniques with experienced adult horses; theory participants attend lessons without working with horses themselves.

• Handling young foals
• Liberty work, groundwork and long-reining with double lines
• Getting used to a saddle and/or bareback pad
• Introduction to the bit with BitStart
• Lunging and using a side-rein

Approach

The Freestyle method is based on horses’ natural behaviour, learning ability and biomechanics. The Academy offers tailored training and works on horse welfare through training, education and inspiration.

About the Academy

The Academy is the training centre of Chaja and Emiel Voest, with a team of more than 20 teachers. Emiel Voest developed the Freestyle system in the 1990s.

Practical information

For Level 1, there is an online learning environment with videos and additional information by email. You can sign up online; an intake interview can also be scheduled.

• Online learning environment for Level 1
• Schedule an intake interview