How to become a TTEAM® Practitioner for Horses!
Many people see TTEAM, Tellington TTouch Equine Awareness Method, as an extremely effective way of working with horses. Some of these people attend one or two clinics and incorporate TTEAM into their own training programs or with their horse-related activities such as 4-H groups, Pony Clubs or Therapeutic Riding. We encourage and appreciate the integration of TTEAM in these ways.
Others, after seeing TTEAM demonstrated, ask "How can I become a TTEAM teacher?" Accreditation as a TTEAM teacher takes considerable commitment, time and money. The qualifications required to teach at the various levels are outlined below.
Practitioner
The first level of accredited TTEAM teachers work with individuals and/or their horses. These teachers are called Practitioners. This level is an opportunity for both professional and non-professional horse people to teach TTEAM techniques that encourage understanding and partnership with horses and resolve behavioral and physical difficulties.
The procedure for becoming a Practitioner is:
- Have a satisfactory background dealing with horses.
- Attend a minimum of four week-long trainings. You can exchange the first and second week-long class for four three-day classes with an instructor.
- Write a letter to the TTEAM office stating your desire to be acknowledged as a TTEAM Practitioner. Include a biography and a photo.
- Submit a case-history file of work with 10 horses. You may start collecting cases after your first week-long clinic. Most people do not charge until they reach the Practitioner level. There are exceptions for those who are already professional trainers.
- Complete a written test available from the TTEAM office.
Qualification is determined by a review of these five steps.
The Practitioner level sometimes includes people who have limited experience with horses, but have experience in other professional fields of teaching or bodywork. Such people usually take more than four trainings to qualify as a Practitioner.
Practitioners qualify:
- To charge for their services with individuals and/or their horses.
- To give short presentations free of charge to horse clubs, Pony Clubs or 4-H groups at which they show parts of a TTEAM video, talk about their TTEAM experiences and demonstrate on a horse if practical.
To qualify to teach TTEAM at higher levels, one must have:
- Extensive experience and knowledge of handling horses
- Basic horsemanship skills
- Ability to ride various disciplines
- Knowledge of what is a safe situation
- Ability and experience in handling groups
- A dynamic and empathetic personality
Practitioner-1
To advance from Practitioner level, two years must have elapsed from your first week-long training.
- Attend a minimum of 6 week-long clinics and 3 one-day or two-day TTEAM demonstrations.
- Write a letter to the TTEAM office requesting promotion to Practitioner 1.
- Submit a video of one of your gratis presentations to a horse club that you did as a Practitioner.
- Provide a list of your TTEAM accomplishments while a Practitioner. Include all of your presentations to groups and sessions with individuals and/or horses.
- Attend, as an assistant or participant, 1 training every 18 months to maintain Guild status.
Qualification is approved by a committee review.
Practitioners-1 qualify:
- To give one-day hands-on workshops to no more than 10 participants and 5 horses.
- To give a series of hands-on trainings to groups of no more than 10, i.e., one session per week, afternoon or evening, for 6-8 weeks.
- To continue working with individuals and their horses.
Practitioner-2
Requirements:
- A minimum of 4 years with TTEAM from your first week-long training.
- Attend a minimum of 8 week-long trainings and 5 one-day or two-day demonstrations.
- A one-hour video from one of your hands-on workshops.
- Teach a minimum of 10 one-day workshops.
- Complete the written advanced test available from the TTEAM office.
- Attend, as as assistant or participant, one training every 18 months to maintain Guild status.
Qualification is approved by a committee.
Practitioners-2 qualify:
- To teach two-day hands-on workshops with groups of no more than 20 participants and unlimited auditors.
- To teach evening demonstrations. We suggest the evening before hands-on workshops.
Practitioner-3
Requirements:
- Work closely with the TTEAM office and be under contract to TTEAM.
- A minimum of five years with TTEAM and having taught at least 15 hands-on workshops.
- Attend a minimum of 15 week-long trainings and 20 demonstrations.
- Have experience and show skill in using and teaching the TTEAM riding equipment.
- Attend, as an assistant or participant, one training every 12 months to maintain Guild status.
- Upon approval of Linda and/or Robyn, teach a one-day demonstration that will be videoed for review.
Practitioners-3 qualify:
To teach one-day demonstrations or one-day demonstrations with a second day hands-on workshop that are organized through the TTEAM office. These demonstrations are arranged through the TTEAM Office and the Practitioners-3 are assigned according to the group's needs and the equine discipline.
Instructors
The qualifications are the same as for Practitioner-3. In addition, the Instructors work closely with the TTEAM Offices for the growth and development of TTEAM and teach week-long trainings.
Instructors qualify:
- To teach one-day and two-day demonstrations that are organized through the TTEAM office.
- To teach week-long trainings that are organized through the TTEAM office. Practitioners at any level can be TTEAM Guild members.
Benefits include:
- A listing as a Current Practitioner in the TTEAM News and in mailings.
- Referrals to people who write or call for information or assistance with their animals.
- Referrals as the result of advertising.
In order to help cover the cost of advertising and mailings, there is an annual fee.
TTEAM Standards
TTEAM sets high standards for TTEAM teachers. The philosophical "seed" of TTEAM is easy to learn, and the work looks very easy, but extensive training and practice back up the work. It is the knowledge of the details that makes the work effective in a wide range of training situations. Letting go of the ego is an integral part of being a TTEAM teacher.
Some people attend one TTEAM clinic and feel confident that they can teach TTEAM. After attending two or three more trainings, they begin to realize how much there is to learn. It is at this time, when people realize what they do not know, that they start to have a good understanding of the work. The TTEAM concepts and methods are like a giant puzzle. As one learns, pieces are added to the puzzle. This is what keeps the material fresh to teach and the teachers flexible.
TTEAM as a Career Choice
After years of training and refining their skills, our Instructors have developed their commitment to TTEAM into a career. As with any profession, it takes dedication, time, finances and effort to achieve the goals necessary to become the best in your field. The Tellington TTouch method for horses is a wonderful way to expand your universe, philosophy and awareness — whether or not you take it to the level of choosing it as a career!
Your Investment!
Tellington TTouch Trainings offer to you:
- a compassionate way to partner with your horse or dog or other animal companion
- new techniques and tools to foster better communication and easier learning
In addition to an open mind and heart, your investment in Tellington TTouch includes a minimum of four trainings. The cost of each training varies from $650 to $1060, depending on the number of days of the training and the Instructor.
