LEARNto
Learn. Care. Grow.
Every equestrian journey begins with learning.
Whether you are meeting a horse for the first time, exploring a new discipline, returning after time away, or developing your skills, LearnTo provides a clear pathway to help you progress with confidence.
LearnTo was developed by Equestrian Canada and is the national learning framework for equestrian sport. It supports athletes and participants of all ages and experience levels through progressive learning pathways that develop practical skills, confidence, knowledge, and a lifelong commitment to horse welfare.
No matter where your journey takes you, LearnTo helps you build a strong foundation for safe, enjoyable, and rewarding experiences with horses.
Who is LearnTo For?
For Athletes and Participants
Learning is a journey, not a destination.
Whether your goals are recreation, competition, or simply spending more time with horses, LearnTo provides progressive pathways that help you build confidence, develop practical skills, and celebrate every milestone along the way.
You can learn at your own pace while developing the knowledge and experience needed to enjoy horses safely and responsibly.
For Coaches
Great learning begins with great teaching.
LearnTo provides coaches and instructors with a nationally aligned framework for delivering engaging, developmentally appropriate education for athletes of all ages and stages.
Clear learning outcomes, progressive milestones, and horse-centred practices help coaches create positive experiences that build confidence, competence, and foster a lifelong love of equestrian sport.
For Facilities
Strong programs create strong communities.
LearnTo helps riding schools, equestrian facilities, and clubs deliver consistent, high-quality learning experiences aligned with national standards.
By using a shared framework, facilities can support participant development, promote horse welfare, and provide clear pathways for continued learning.
More Than One Way to Learn
LearnTo is made up of learning streams that work together to support your equestrian journey.
LearnToCare
The foundation of all equestrian sport is understanding how to handle and care for horses. LearnToCare develops the essential knowledge and practical skills needed for safe horse handling, daily care, health, welfare, and stable management. It can be completed alongside other LearnTo streams or as a standalone learning pathway for anyone who wants to build confidence around horses.
Because great horsemanship begins on the ground.
LearnToRide
Develop riding skills through progressive levels that build confidence, communication, and partnership with the horse. Whether your goals are recreation, competition, or personal growth, LearnToRide provides a structured pathway to help you advance.
More Learning Pathways
LearnTo is designed to grow alongside Canada’s equestrian community. Additional learning streams, including LearnToDrive and LearnToVault, will be introduced as they become available.
Why LearnTo?
LearnTo helps create positive experiences for everyone involved in equestrian sport by:
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- Building confidence through progressive learning.
- Supporting developmentally appropriate education.
- Encouraging lifelong participation.
- Promoting safe, ethical horse care and handling.
- Providing nationally aligned learning pathways.
- Recognizing achievement every step of the journey.
Learning That Lasts a Lifetime
Equestrian sport is about mastering skills by developing knowledge, responsibility, empathy, and confidence that support positive experiences with horses. LearnTo recognizes that learning never stops. Every new experience builds on the one before it, creating capable, knowledgeable equestrians who value personal growth and horse welfare.
Start Your Journey
Find a LearnTo program through your Provincial and Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO), explore the learning pathways, and discover where your journey can begin.
FAQ
A: LearnTo reflects the evolving needs of Canada’s equestrian community. By creating a unified learning framework, LearnTo supports developmentally appropriate coaching, promotes horse welfare, provides greater flexibility for participants, and establishes consistent learning pathways that can continue to grow as new disciplines and learning streams are introduced.
A: July 2026
A: LearnTo introduces several enhancements, including:
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- LearnToCare as a dedicated horse care and horsemanship pathway
- A Competitor pathway
- An expanded Western curriculum
- A new Cross-Country pathway within the English stream
- A consistent eight-level learning structure across disciplines
- A framework designed to grow as additional disciplines are introduced
A: Yes! Use the equivalency tables below.
English:
| Previous Program | Learn To Ride English | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Updated Program | LearnToCare | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| LearnToRide English* | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
*In order to be equivalent to LearnToRide English – Jump, the athlete must have completed the Jump component of the old program. There are no equivalencies for the Cross-Country stream.
Western:
| Previous Program | Learn To Ride Western | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Basic Training | |||
| Updated Program | LearnToCare | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| LearnToRide Western** | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 + 2 streams |
** In order to fully be equivalent to Western Basic Training, athletes in LearnToRide Western must add two additional Western streams.
For Athletes/Participants
A: LearnTo is designed for athletes and participants of all ages and experience levels, whether you are just beginning your equestrian journey, returning after time away, or continuing to develop your skills.
A: No. LearnTo supports recreational and competitive participants. You can follow the learning pathway that best matches your goals.
A: Yes. LearnToCare is integrated into the learning experience and may also be completed as a standalone pathway. It provides valuable horse care and horsemanship knowledge for everyone who spends time around horses.
A: Absolutely. LearnTo is designed for lifelong learning and welcomes athletes and participants of all ages.
A: LearnTo currently offers the following pathways:
- LearnToCare (Levels 1-8)
- LearnToRide
- Foundations (English and Western combined, Levels 1-2)
- English (Levels 3-8)
- Flat (Levels 3-8)
- Jump (Levels 3-8)
- Cross-Country (Levels 4-8)
- Western (Levels 3-8)
- Core Skills (Levels 3-8)
- Obstacles (Levels 3-8)
- Speed Events (Levels 4-8)
- Reining (Levels 5-8)
A: An NCCP certified coach or instructor can help determine the level that best matches your current knowledge and skills. Find a coach through your Provincial/Territorial Equestrian Organization or on our EC Find a Coach page.
A: Participants are encouraged to progress through the levels in sequence to build a strong foundation, although coaches may recommend that you challenge a level at the most appropriate starting point based on your skills and experience.
A: Contact your PTSO or visit their website to find out how to get evaluated in your province.
For Parents/Guardians
A: Yes! LearnTo is designed using principles of participant development, helping coaches deliver learning experiences that are appropriate for each participant’s age, stage, and abilities. The ‘generally’ suggested minimum age is 6 but we recommend meeting with a coach, who will best evaluate your child and decide whether the LearnTo program or the Rookie Riders program would be the most appropriate first step.
A: Yes. Safety, horse welfare, and responsible horsemanship are prioritized throughout every learning pathway.
A: Participants demonstrate the skills and knowledge expected at each level through an online written exam and a virtual or in-person practical evaluation. Coaches provide feedback throughout the learning process.
For Coaches
A: LearnTo provides nationally aligned learning outcomes, progressive milestones, and teaching resources that help coaches deliver engaging, developmentally appropriate equestrian education.
A: All LearnTo pathways are now built in an eight-level framework. NCCP Instructors require LearnTo Level 6 in their discipline of certification. NCCP Competition Coaches require LearnTo Level 8 in their
A: The LearnTo manuals are available as a teaching resource for all coaches and athletes/participants to use. EC NCCP Certified Instructors and Coaches are evaluated on their ability to coach using the LearnTo materials and are eligible to become LearnTo Evaluators in their discipline of certification through their Provincial/Territorial Equestrian Organization.
A: NCCP Certified Instructors and Coaches are eligible to be trained as LearnTo evaluators. Contact your Provincial/Territorial Equestrian Organization to find the next training opportunity in your area.
For Facilities
A: Yes! The LearnTo manuals are available as a teaching resource for all coaches and athletes/participants to use. EC NCCP Certified Instructors and Coaches are evaluated on their ability to coach using the LearnTo materials and are eligible to become LearnTo Evaluators in their discipline of certification through their Provincial/Territorial Equestrian Organization.
A: Yes! Many facilities can incorporate LearnTo into their existing lesson structure while using the learning outcomes and levels to guide athlete/participant progression.
A: Contact your Provincial/Territorial Equestrian Organization to find out more.