

La Cense Reviews
Ethological Knowledge and Degrees of Cense
You want to validate your knowledge and know-how. By marking your progress, you achieve your goals by cultivating your motivation. Each semester, La Cense organizes exam sessions, to allow you to take stock of your training path.
5 Ethological Knowledge
Ethological knowledge is diplomas from the French Equestrian Federation. The equestrian establishments authorized to validate the Knowledge are those whose teacher holds a Federal Certificate of Supervision of Ethological Equitation - BFE EE.
Knowledge validates knowledge of the nature of the horse and practical skills. Their program breaks down into 2 parts: practice and knowledge.
Practice on foot
Confidence
- Capture attention and gain mutual trust when approaching the horse.
Respect
- Approach a horse with mutual respect for personal spaces.
- Put on a halter having obtained the horse's acceptance.
Knowledge
- Theoretical knowledge
- Learn to observe.
- Sensory world of the horse.
- Basic knowledge of communication signals.
- Notions on the principles of learning.
- Practical knowledge
- Understand the spirit of a good human / horse relationship.
- Know the means made available to the rider to communicate on foot: all communication tools (body language, and its extensions, voice ...)
- Care
- Make a full bandage.
- Clean the feet.
Practice on foot
Confidence
- Capture attention and gain mutual trust at all times during the session.
Respect
- Control the pace and direction: on bare ground without pitfalls and when passing simple pitfalls, using different types of driving (front, side, behind).
- To be able to mobilize the front and the back hand in the relaxation since the stop.
Knowledge
- Theoretical knowledge
- Individual variations, temperament of the horse.
- Social life (structure, organization of groups).
- Know the consequences of predatory behavior
- Practical knowledge
- Know how to become a horse referent.
- The different types of walking and their interest depending on the horse.
- Care
- Food concept.
Practice
Confidence
- Obtain an attentive mutual relationship in the relaxation and relaxation of the horse at all times during the session.
Respect
- Control the pace and direction at the three gears, independently of other horses, on bare ground without pitfalls (or simple pitfalls).
- To be able to mobilize the fore hand and the hind hand in the relaxation, from the stop, to the step and to the trot.
Knowledge
- Theoretical knowledge
- Lifestyles, rhythms, health, stereotypes.
- Practical knowledge
- Know the means of communication available to the rider.
- Know the main qualities to be understood.
- Care
- Put on protections
Practice
Confidence
- Obtain an attentive mutual relationship from a distance in the relaxation and relaxation of the horse
Respect
- Control the speed and direction on a precise path in each gait: in a closed space in freedom and on bare ground and when going through pitfalls with the lanyard.
Knowledge
- Theoretical knowledge
- Social behavior of the horse: lifestyle, functioning in the herd.
- Practical knowledge
- Differences between each horse. Know how to adapt to each.
- Treatments (practices around the horse)
- Land.
Practice
Confidence
- Maintain an attentive mutual relationship in the relaxation and relaxation of the horse during the session.
Respect
- Control the speed and the direction on a precise track in each gait in career and outside: on bare ground without pitfalls and during the passage of pitfalls.
- Combine the mobilization of the different parts of the horse.
Knowledge
- Theoretical knowledge
- Deepening of the theoretical notions of Knowledge 1 to 4.
- Practical knowledge
- Know how to organize, manage, adapt his work with his horse.
- Know the signs of relaxation on horseback.
8 Degrees Cense

The Degrees are La Cense diplomas, issued by instructors trained in the La Cense Method. Each degree includes fifteen exercises and validates a skill.
La Cense gives each graduate a colored cord, identifying the stage of their progress.
Le technical content of the degrees achieves the objectives of the "Practicing on foot" section of Ethological Knowledge.
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 1.
- Back the horse out of your personal space and get his immobility for 10 seconds.
- Capture your horse's attention thanks to the control of the hindquarters.
- Desensitize using the communication stick, the cord then the lanyard, changing sides correctly.
- Lower the horse's head, touch the head, ears, eyes, mouth.
- Back off using sensation (chamfer - halter) and suggestion (stick - lanyard).
- Show slight lateral flexion on each side.
- Control posterior and anterior using a sensation and then a suggestion.
- Ask the horse to walk towards you, stop and take it back 3 steps.
- Show the connection by leading the horse next to your elbow to walk, stop and back up.
- Show the halter saddlery knot.
- In a small enclosure or box, ask the horse to face you. Putting on and taking off the halter like a horse man.
- Secure your horse.
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 2.
- Desensitize using the plastic bag (pet and move around).
- Lead the horse by each foot, and lift each one correctly.
- “Change eyes” by passing the rope around its rump, and simulate the passage of a strap.
- Back the horse over a bar and into a narrow space.
- Take a lateral flexion on the opposite side (on each side); take and make a slight vertical flexion.
- Move the back and forearm 360 ° using sensation and suggestion.
- Send the horse over an obstacle and a plastic sheet between you and the barrier, then disengage the hindquarters.
- Send the horse on a trotting circle, then disengage (in both directions).
- Show transitions between steps and trots on the circle.
- Bring the horse trotting towards you, stop it and back it up, then lead the trot next to you, stop and back up.
- Lead the horse in an extended and low attitude, at a walk and a trot.
- With the stick and the plastic bag above the horse's back, lead him into the van, back up halfway, then enter again.
- Send the horse in lateral movement along a barrier (in 2 directions).
- Capture the attention and have the connection of the horse in a small enclosure.
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 3.
- Sell correctly.
- Move and assess your horse on the ground, bleed.
- With 1 rein, check the flexions, pull yourself up on each side and move the stirrup on the opposite side.
- Do 2 reins, climb correctly, show 10 seconds of immobility then lateral flexion on each side.
- Move the hindquarters using an indirect rein; the forehand with a direct rein; then the hindquarters and the forehand in a continuous movement.
- From the walk and the trot, fold to the stop using lateral flexions.
- Perform a figure eight in steps using only one support rein.
- On a straight line, trot, stop and back up; 3 times.
- Walk and trot the barrier, long reins.
- Roll a figure eight without using the reins.
- When stopped and walking, take and give a slight flexion.
- Carry out a lateral movement using the barrier.
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 3.
- Send the horse to the saddle. Seller on the right. Ask the horse to come to a mount or the barrier and ride with one rein.
- Ride with a rein. Show different reins positions, direction and impulse control, walking and trotting, stop and reverse.
- Show the knot to make 2 reins, go up and show a lateral bending on each side, caress the head.
- Pass and trot, fold to a stop.
- Simulation of polo shirt with the stick, follow the barrier by touching it with the stick at walking and trotting.
- Using the communication stick, walk and trot, slalom around the cones.
- Show galloping starts right from the trot. 2 departures on each foot.
- Show transitions between step / trot without using the reins, stop and back off without stretching the reins.
- When walking and trotting, take and make a slight vertical flexion.
- Circle at a walk and trot, take and make a slight vertical bending with curvature.
- Walk, trot, stop and reverse with vertical bending.
- Show slight lateral movements using the barrier.
- Jump, stop, jump.
- Show an emergency check.
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 4.
- Simulations: dentist, marshal, spray, clipper, raincoat, flag.
- Pull something behind the horse on each side.
- Properly put a net on the horse.
- Back up with lightness and vertical bending by sensation and suggestion.
- Back up by the tail and with pressure around the legs.
- Long reins: straight lines, circles and transitions.
- Active direction changes (send, disengage, send).
- Send over various obstacles including an insulated barrel.
- Send the horse into the van from the outside.
- Fluid direction changes (walking and trotting) and ascending transitions to a gallop and descending until stopping and reversing.
- Bring back to the trot.
- Lead, side changes behind you. Show up and down transitions (step, trot, stop, backward).
- Lateral movements without barrier by sensation and suggestion.
- Show your cordless connection and communication in large spaces.
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 4.
- Remove the halter. Control posterior and anterior by sensation and suggestion.
- Simulations. Touch the horse everywhere, including the delicate areas, marshal, mower, spray, raincoat, umbrella, flag (including behind the horse).
- Lead, trot, left and right, a horse connected to your outside elbow.
- Trot with a horse connected to your elbow. Change it side behind you while trotting.
- With a horse connected to your outside elbow, trot, stop and back up.
Show active changes of direction (roll-back) along the barrier. To the left and to the right.
- Without moving your feet, ask the horse to back up at least 5 steps, stay still and then come back.
- Send the horse between you and the barrier at a walk and trot, until you get a semi-circle.
- Send the horse on a trotting circle. Show rising transitions to a gallop (two laps at each pace). Show descending transitions until walking, stopping and backing up. To the left and to the right.
- From a circle, show fluid changes of direction when trotting. Do it with both hands then bring back to the trot in the center. Hit the ground with the cord.
- Move the horse laterally left and right, with and without barrier.
- Send the horse over various obstacles while maintaining the connection
(Examples: obstacles, tarpaulin).
- Connection, communication and imagination in large spaces (arena, arena, paddock ...)
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 5.
- Lie crosswise, lengthwise and kneel on the horse.
- Mount the barrier or a mount. Walk, turn right and left, stop and back up.
- Seller, a cord around the neck of the horse. Control the hindquarters and forelegs and move the horse laterally in each direction.
- Circle and transitions between the bars (step, trot, gallop, stop and back).
- Show direction changes and 3-step transitions. Stop and back off.
- Trot on an eight digit using only the communication stick, and do another eight digit with your arms crossed.
- Galloping starts on each foot from a backward. Galloping start, stop and go back at least 4 times, showing galloping starts on each foot.
- Show variations between slow, medium and fast in each gait. With a saddle and a universal cord
- Properly put a net on the horse. Take and give a “soft feel” (vertical flexion) at three gaits, stop and move back.
- Show a square (lateral displacements and move back while maintaining a "soft
feel ”) without moving your hands.
- Climb outdoors, pass in water, on bridges, in the forest, near vehicles
etc. Ride at three gears in large spaces, stop, back up and stay still.
- Remaining on horseback, remove the net and place it on the barrier. With the string, jump various obstacles (including an insulated barrel). Stop, get off and walk, your horse following you.
Contains the practical part of Knowledge 5.
- Warm up your horse properly (stretching).
- Have someone pass you a flag then a horse raincoat and move them around the horse while walking long reins. Pull something behind your horse.
- While maintaining vertical flexion, move the hindquarters around the forelegs, move the forelegs around the hindquarters.
- With and without barrier to walking and trotting: isolate the head and neck, isolate the forelegs, isolate the hindquarters.
- Back out into squares, isolating the forelegs and hindquarters. Back out in a circle to the left and right.
- Maintaining vertical flex, demonstrate speed and stride control at all three gaits.
- Show at least 4 gallop-stop-start gallop on the other foot.
- Show a slight lateral response to trotting and galloping.
- Show a curved line at a canter.
- Show 2 changes of foot in flight (1 on each side with bar on the ground allowed).
- With a parachute cord in your horse's mouth, show a vertical flexion at a walk and a trot, stop and back up.
- Show something imaginative that you can do with your horse.
Examinations
During the exam sessions at La Cense, you are assessed on a practical and theoretical part. Thus, you validate your degrees and your ethical knowledge.
It is recommended to take your exams with a horse educated by you. Because it is this skill that you validate during your process.
At the start of progression, from degrees 1 to 4, we offer you the opportunity to present yourself with a La Cense horse.

Practice test
You carry out all the exercises of the degree program presented, individually or in a small group. The jury evaluates your work for 1 hour.
Theoretical test
You are assessed on the knowledge of the Knowledge program presented, for 30 minutes.
The organization of the exam session can take place over 1 or 2 consecutive days.
The price is 55 € per degree presented.
To book your exam, click here.