That would be great! I know Monty said it would not have any accreditation like the students who come in person to Flag is Up Farms, but yeh a cert. stating you finished say 100 lessons and are a continuing student for example would show dedication to anyone wanting to see it. Anne

It would be awesome if we could get a certificate for the university! Although Monty said that wouldn't happen because there is no proof that we have learnt anything on the university. I personally have learnt lots so it would be great to get a certificate or some sort of recognition for doing the uni.

I agree, continuing education is a feat in itself. We are paying for a service without any recognition.

With all due respect to everyone who has posted on this issue thus far, I think that your way of handling your horses, the gentleness that is perhaps learned by watching these videos and exploring the style of horsemanship that is intended to be shared on this website is the best testament to your abilities. Too much credit is given to certification programs when the holder fully misses the boat in general or gains some sort of 'ego' over a piece of paper instead of actually utilizing the learnt material. I'd like to think that those signed up in this program are doing it because they truly wish to understand and utilize the techniques because THAT is the right thing to do and not because they are after a piece of paper. If the certification truly is a reflection of one's understanding of the material, then there needs to be some sort of a testing or gauging of the gained knowledge. THAT then brings up a WHOLE different set of guidelines to follow.

I agree with you Horselover. The information we are getting far out ways any piece of paper. Our actions will be our proof of our education.

We are working on recognition of completions of lessons but not a certification. Monty says he is a student for life because he never stops learning so he will joyfully keep adding to these lessons as long as he is able.

I posted earlier and maybe I was misunderstood. I agree with Monty's decision not to have a certification based on just this university. It is a great goal to have and being hands on at the his farm is imperative I think to attain that goal. A recognition of as I said finishing a year and continuing the education by signing up again would be nice. There is nothing wrong with having an "ego" we all have one. It is the manner in how we feed the ego that is important. If it is fed at another person or animals expense then yes there is a problem. If it is to help to create or maintain a proper sense of self esteem and inner pride at an accomplishment we worked hard to do then I think it is a nice thing to have. We are tested on each lesson if you choose to use the university that way, I do all the tests and I do feel a sense of accomplishment when I get the answers right reinforcing the fact that I understood the material correctly. I see that as a healthy psychological reaction to work well done. All our life we have work to do. Maybe it is a job to feed our family, if it is done well a promotion may be in order. It is the recognition by ourselves and then others that creates satisfaction, not a piece of paper in my opinion

I agree with you, Irishwabbit. Obviously, nothing can substitute real training but also, the efforts we make trying to learn to understand our horse(es) better through this Uni, it would be nice to have some acknowledegement of. Maybe, after 100 lessons there could be a Students List where our names would be written as having accomplished these lessons and entering for the next 100 lessons. How does this sound, folks? Local? Monty?
Christy

I would like to check with the engineers, thanks. Great discussion.

Hi everyone ! As a student of the Uni and an "offline-student" I know what Monty and his instructurs ask of us before they hand over the "Monty Roberts Horsemanship Certificate" after the exam of the introductory class. Much more must be studied and dedicated to learning and becomming better if you want to hold a certificate of the advanced class in your hands. So I agree that it is simply not possible to check on somebody's knowledge before handing out some paper. And I think that no one can proof and confirm better what we have learned in the Uni than our horses who are better in their performance and happier in their lives with us. Alfo the people who are around and - often after having doubt it - confirm that - hey that is a good thing, great work or "thank you for your help!" are the ones who give us a kind of certificate. I printed out Monty's answer to the question who were his heros. He said that we who carry the message into the world because we beleive in it and are never tired to try harder, WE are his heros and I think that this is much better than some paper. Yes, I put my Certificate of Horsemanship into a frame and in the office but after a day I decided not to stick it into the top of my riding stuff case to show it everybody. Horses take us for our action not for what we are so I think it is much more certisfaction to collect succsess after succsess and open mouthes or good words from people who are learning from us so that also they take us for our actions and not for a certificate. This Uni is such an incredible tool and we have so interesting discussions in the forum - ... let's go back there, have fun and ask Monty do give us more and more and more ! Cheers, VioBerlin

Hi everyone ! As a student of the Uni and an "offline-student" I know what Monty and his instructurs ask of us before they hand over the "Monty Roberts Horsemanship Certificate" after the exam of the introductory class. Much more must be studied and dedicated to learning and becomming better if you want to hold a certificate of the advanced class in your hands. So I agree that it is simply not possible to check on somebody's knowledge before handing out some paper. And I think that no one can proof and confirm better what we have learned in the Uni than our horses who are better in their performance and happier in their lives with us. Alfo the people who are around and - often after having doubt it - confirm that - hey that is a good thing, great work or "thank you for your help!" are the ones who give us a kind of certificate. I printed out Monty's answer to the question who were his heros. He said that we who carry the message into the world because we beleive in it and are never tired to try harder, WE are his heros and I think that this is much better than some paper. Yes, I put my Certificate of Horsemanship into a frame and in the office but after a day I decided not to stick it into the top of my riding stuff case to show it everybody. Horses take us for our action not for what we are so I think it is much more certisfaction to collect succsess after succsess and open mouthes or good words from people who are learning from us so that also they take us for our actions and not for a certificate. This Uni is such an incredible tool and we have so interesting discussions in the forum - ... let's go back there, have fun and ask Monty do give us more and more and more ! Cheers, VioBerlin

Ok, my original comment was not out of "ego" seeking accredations, just out of personal growth and a recognition from the University of continuing education and understanding. Monty provides a service and we pay for it. It would be nice to put a certificate of participation up on my wall. I am a certified instructor already,and therefore do not need any more "papers". Just an acknowledgement of continuing education and adding to my learning library would be nice.

i think it would be just wonderful if we could get a certificate for completing a certain amount of lessons. i may be young, but i would like a way to prove to a freind or two that i am doing this university.

not every body believes a someone that is just a kid.

Hi dicblackbird,
If you want to prove to a friend or two that you learned something special on this Uni, then let the horses do the talking. Good horses and good horsemanship are the best argument, people will start to ask how you do it and where you learned it. A piece of paper doesn't prove that you have "hands-on" experience, good and happy horses do!
Keep working and have fun,
Miriam

Hi Guys,

My team and I built the uni for Monty. You will be pleased to know that we are working on certificates of completion for blocks of lessons and challenges, so stay tuned! I have studied on many professional courses which don't offer qualifications, per se, but do offer huge knowledge and it is very useful to have a certificate of participation/completion of learning, so it makes sense for the Equus Online Uni to have a similar recognition.

I am also excited about the iphone/ipad/mobile device friendly upgrade we just completed. As long as you have a modern device (like an iphone 4) you can watch and study with Monty anywhere. On a train, at the barn. Anywhere you can get a 3G or wifi signal. :-)

Austen

Thanks, guys, for all the hard work you put into the Uni!

The certificate isn't important to me, but I can't deny that having one would be nice. :)

Exactly! You guys deserve it.... And did I mention it will also come along with some special qualities (I am a terrible tease aren't I?) that may just excite you?!

I've completed about 87 lessons so far and have reviewed others lessons that I completed several times. I can't afford to go to Flag is Up Farms now. I would like some certification achievement, but on the other hand, I don't have my own horse so I've never done these techniques hand's on which is the next step to actually being certified.