We welcome applications from all trainers who adhere to our guiding principles as laid down on our World Bitless Association Website. You must agree to our Mission Statement and the Aims and Objectives of the WBA. We expect all trainers/behaviourists to support the free choice of riders to choose bitless or bitted bridles and for bitted bridles to have the option of being noseband free.  You must agree with our policy of fairness and equality for all bitless riders in equestrian events.

For competition lobbying we will only recognise those modern bitless bridles that are most likely to comply with the standards in the rule books of the various associations that are aligned with the Federation Equestrian International.

You can apply to be accepted as either an *Associate Trainer or an *Endorsed Trainer.  Associate Trainers agree to adhere to, and work within the compassionate parameters and the guidelines of the WBA.  This means abiding by the principles of LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive regarding use of tack and training methods) and the application of learning theory knowledge in the training and handling of equines.  Associate Trainers will be encouraged to further their continuing professional development towards becoming an Endorsed Trainer of the WBA. Associate Trainers may include students working towards relevant academic qualifications or being employed in an appropriate equestrian WBA approved facility.  Associate Trainers must advocate in all practical situations that their methods of  training are force free and fear free.

Endorsed Trainers will have to demonstrate that they have relevant academic qualifications and/or an established proven track record with training platforms that support their work.  Also that they adhere to the above principles and deliver compassionate, minimally aversive and appetitive methods of training in all practical situations.

WBA have a mentoring scheme for those trainers in Associate level who wish to become an Endorsed Trainer, to help with their continuing professional development and education. We will encourage and support all trainers in achieving their goals and to facilitate new opportunities when they arise for training opportunities for both levels.

We welcome those riders/trainers who wish to change to a more objective, compassionate way of working with horses, as well as those who are already ‘there’ in this regard. We will encourage our Endorsed Trainers to help other trainers develop their skills so that they are inline with all our principles.

The application form below, asks a number of questions about your current knowledge and training methods.  Where you genuinely do not know the answers, please say so rather than looking them up, perhaps online in order to boost your application’s chances of being successful.