ALTERRENO FOUNDATION™
Eight-week intensive residential programme to gain the BHS Stage 2 Certification, starting 14 March 2026

Foundation™ programme is your gateway to a professional equestrian career. This eight-week residential immersion at Alterreno blends natural horsemanship with classical riding, preparing you for BHS Stage 2 certification. Daily intensive training covers groundwork, independent seat development, stable management and the full BHS Level 2 Curriculum. Shared accommodation, butler and cook service and a maximum of eight participants ensure focused, individual attention.
€29,900 excluding VAT

FROM ENTHUSIAST TO PROFESSIONAL: SHAPE YOUR EQUESTRIAN CAREER IN EIGHT WEEKS

The Foundation™ course provides a clear starting point with a solid education, removing the confusion, dead ends and false starts that often plague self-taught journeys. This is where properly trained professionals begin.

The Structure
Programme

Eight weeks living at Alterreno. Daily schedule approximately eight hours, six days weekly. Minimum six, maximum eight participants. Includes shared accommodation in farmhouse or apartment, personal butler and tutor, tailored chef service for all meals, food and beverages included. Final on-site examination for BHS Stage 2 certification. Students receive both Alterreno Foundation™ certification and BHS Stage 2 qualification upon successful completion.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:
Daily Schedule: Around eight hours per day, six days a week, following a structured curriculum.
Small Cohorts: Six to eight participants, ensuring personalised attention throughout the programme.
Personal Support: Tutor, butler service, cook service with meals and beverages included during the days of training.
Dual Certification: Receive the Alterreno Foundation™ certificate and sit the BHS Stage 2
World class equestrian education: a programme and certification recognised across 26 countries worldwide.
YOU WILL LEARN
Core Focus Areas

Foundation™ integrates natural horsemanship, equine psychology/cognitive science, classical riding foundations, show jumping introduction, trail riding, complete stable management, training and groundwork techniques, coaching and personal development.

SUBJECTS:
Natural Horsemanship: seven games, pressure-release communication, liberty foundations, confidence building
Equine psychology and Cognitive Science: behaviour, communication patterns, emotional intelligence, personality assessment
Classical Riding Foundations: independent seat, balanced position, basic lateral work, refined aids
Stable Management: daily care, feeding, grooming, health monitoring, paddock maintenance, basic hoof care
Personal Development: introduction to coaching skills, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, foundational leadership
From connection to integration
Development

This eight-week journey blends learning, growth and transformation, both for horse and human. From trust-building to advanced skills, each phase is crafted to deepen connection, confidence and competence. It’s the beginning of a new way of being with horses.

STRUCTURE:
Week 1: Connection and awareness - trust building, horse observation, groundwork foundations, team bonding
Weeks 2-3: Communication development - leadership from ground, introducing riding, posture work, balance foundations
Weeks 4-5: Skill expansion - emotional fitness, problem-solving, cavaletti, refinement through practice
Weeks 6-7: Real-world application - trail riding, advanced movements, work in hand introduction
Week 8: Integration and certification - assessments, examinations, final showcase, celebration of transformation
Transformation
Key Benefits

Participants develop clear communication skills with horses, recognise personality patterns and understand strengths and limitations. They deepen their relationship with horses, gain clarity of purpose, learn to define and pursue goals and establish a steady practice of mindfulness. They also obtain the Alterreno Foundation™ and BHS Stage 2 certifications.

WHAT YOU GAIN:
Feel and timing development: subtle awareness of horse responses, refined communication through precise timing
Analytical capability: assessing horses and riders, personalizing approaches based on individual needs ethically
Clear communication: techniques for conveying intentions, reading horse responses, adapting strategies effectively
Dual certification: Alterreno Foundation and BHS Stage 2 credentials recognised internationally
Personal growth: clarity of purpose, goal-setting capability, mindfulness development, profound relationship transformation

ALTERRENO FOUNDATION™ VALUE

Residential Immersion. Small Cohorts. Complete Support. Genuine Transformation.

Alterreno Foundation™ goes beyond a programme: it offers a transformative experience. Eight weeks living and training intensively with horses, guided by world-renowneded professionals will foster growth in every rider, enhancing their skill, understanding and connection.

Immersion

Waking with horses, caring for them daily, inhabiting equestrian rhythm completely transforms understanding. This isn't visiting, it's becoming.

Tuscany

Eight weeks in one of Earth's most beautiful countryside supports transformation. Nature, beauty, history create space for profound change.

Limited

Maximum eight students means every person receives proper mentorship. Instructors know each student's challenges and style.

Support

Accommodation, cook service and personal tutor are included. Students focus entirely on learning without logistical concerns distracting them from transformation.

BHS Certification

The BHS Stage 2 enables professional employment in riding schools, livery yards, assistant instructor positions across 26 countries internationally.

Foundation™

Alterreno Foundation™ Certification will distinguish graduates in the equestrian world and shows commitment to ethical, relationship-based approach.

SOLID FOUNDATIONS FOR YOUR FUTURE

Foundation™ is born to make you expand your capabilities

Foundation™ inspires you to become both a better rider and a more effective communicator: a certification holds no real value unless paired with the conscious methodology we’ve dedicated ourselves to developing and refining.

Recognised

Alterreno Foundation™ graduates hold internationally recognised BHS and the distinctive Alterreno Certification, establishing their profile worldwide.

Transformed

This eight-week intensive course establishes the groundwork for decades of professional achievement, shaping skills and networks that endure across a long-term career.

Future-bound

The Foundation™ represents a significant commitment. This investment pays dividends throughout your career, providing solid skills and a professional network.