ACC Equine Training and Management Program

This certificate program allows participants to gain academic, technical, and professional skills in the classic Spanish tradition of equine management, industry and training. They will also learn to establish safe, trusting, and responsive relationships with horses. Courses may be taken individually or as a series culminating in a professional certificate. Students that take the courses in a series complete the program in approximately two and half years. Graduates of this program go on to work in many facets of the equine industry such as farriers, horse trainers, riding instructors, reproduction, nutrition, and equine or barn managers.

Full-time students would participate in lectures that are held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for 7-week sessions; horse training and horsemanship labs (10 hours per week) for 14 weeks, as well as a special-topic seminar for 14 weeks that includes guest speakers. Students would be considered part-time when taking one or two courses of their choosing based on interest.

Want to Learn More About ACC's Equine Training & Management Program?

Would you like to learn about this unique & engaging program? Does the Spanish California/Nevada tradition spark your interest? If you would like to know more, please email WCP. If you’re interested in our Equine Scholarship, please click below.

Scholarship Application

Meet Our Instructor

Damian Ficca is a Denver native who has worked horses throughout the western United States. He is one of a select group of individuals who specialize in traditional western training, with roots in the Spanish-California/Nevada horse training methods. A former Animal and Agricultural Sciences teacher, Mr. Ficca combines extensive knowledge and experience with a love for horses.

What is the Spanish California/Nevada Tradition?

The Spanish California/Nevada tradition is not a pre-packaged program of horse training for someone to sell. It is a tradition that is taught through understanding and practice. The program will develop the horse into a trusted companion in its chosen discipline. That discipline can be ranching, trail riding, competition, driving, equine therapy or any direction you wish to take the horse. To be “One” with the horse is among the most rewarding feelings one can experience.

The tradition is over 2,000 years old and passed on from elders who learned by watching horses in the wild. Training teaches the mind of the horse, not the human. The welfare of the horse is first and foremost in this horse training tradition. If you take care of the horse, the horse will take care of you.

The training process follows simple guides:

For The Welfare Of The Horses

Looking to support this amazing program without taking a class? ACC Foundation has a specific fund for the Equine Training and Management Program to create scholarships for those in need and to support our local barns that do great work in the equine community.

Donate to ACC's Equine Training and Management Program

Check out the Full Program

• Horses are started, not broken.
• The training process follows a distinct formula.
• Each piece of training can be taught in more than one way.
• Every lesson is individualized for the horse.
• A horse is always in the process of being finished.
• See Full Course Program Course Descriptions

  Course Number	Key Curriculum	Hours
  HRSM1004	Public Speaking	21
  HRSM1001	Equine Industry and Careers	21
  HRSM1012	Teaching Methods and Riding Instruction I	21
  HRSM2012	Teaching Methods and Riding Instruction II	21
  HRSM1011	Arena Training Level I	21
  HRSM2012	Arena Training Level II	21
  Total Techniques, Training, & Practices		126
  HRSM1034	Nervous and Cardiovascular System	21
  HRSE1035	Respiratory System	21
  HRSM1032	Digestive System	21
  HRSM1033	Skeletal System	21
  HRSM1041	Nutrition and Feeding I	21
  HRSM2041	Nutrition and Feeding II	21
  HRSE1023	Equine Hair, Skin, Eyes and Ears	21
  HRSE1036	Pharmacology	21
  Total Anatomy, Nutrition, and Medical		168

  Course Number	Key Curriculum	Hours
  HRSM1013	Equine Management I - Facilities	21
  HRSM2013	Equine Management II - Behavior	21
  HRSM1050	Pasture Management	21
  HRSM2014	Ground Work	21
  HRSM1045	Bits and Bitting I	21
  HRSM2045	Bits and Bitting II	21
  Total Barn Management		126
  HRSM1003	Breed Evaluation I	21
  HRSM2003	Breed Evaluation II	21
  1031	Reproduction	21
  HRSM1037	Genetics	21
  HRSM1022	Hoof Anatomy and Physiology	21
  HRSM1021	Hoof Care I	21
  HRSM2021	Hoof Care II	21
  HRSM2022	Hoof Care III	21
  Total Equine Genetics & Hoof Care		168
  HRSM1010	7 Labs of Horse training & Horsemanship	140
  Total Equine Lab Hours		980