EQUK: Cat Carter's Mission to Reshape Equestrian Education
There’s something quietly powerful about a woman who doesn’t just see a problem — but stays with it long enough to build a solution. That’s exactly what Cat Carter, founder of Equine Qualifications UK CIC, has done. By combining her background in higher education, hands-on experience in the equine industry, and a sheer refusal to accept "that's just how it is", she’s building a future where knowledge is no longer a privilege, but a right.
Cat will be joining us soon on The Equitas Podcast to talk more about her journey — one that’s as honest as it is inspiring. You can listen below when the episode drops. But ahead of that, here’s why her work matters.
The Equitas Podcast
“You Don’t Have the Connections” — And Other Things She Was Told
Cat’s story will resonate with so many. As a teenager, passionate about working with horses, she was met with the same advice countless others have been given: if you don’t have the contacts or the money, you don’t belong. It’s that kind of subtle, systemic gatekeeping that convinces young women to settle. Or worse, to give up entirely.
She didn’t. She bought her first horse in secret at 17 and went on to study psychology and sociology, working full-time in a university office while travelling across the country to qualify in equine sports massage. Nothing about it was straightforward. But that’s the point. For too many in the equine industry, access to education is like navigating a maze with no map — full of dead ends, conflicting advice, and information you need to “just know.”
It’s exhausting. And it’s designed that way.
📸: Cameron Telford - @visualsofcam_
Challenging the Status Quo
The equestrian world has long been rooted in tradition, but some of those traditions are costing us progress — and people. There’s a performative reverence for experience, yet no clear path to gain it unless you already belong to the right circles. It’s not that there’s a lack of knowledge in the industry — there’s too much of it. What’s missing is access.
That’s the gap Cat is filling.
Equine Qualifications UK (EQUK) exists to make equestrian education transparent, approachable and accessible. It’s a resource that shouldn’t be revolutionary — and yet, in a sector where gatekeeping still thrives, it absolutely is.
Through EQUK, you can compare qualifications, find the right path, explore funding options, and get practical support. But more than that, it’s about showing people they can. That their ambitions aren’t too naïve, too late, or too expensive. That education is for everyone — not just the well-connected.
Better Leadership Starts with Better Information
What stands out in Cat’s approach is how she links education and leadership. She knows that knowledge is power — not in a corporate buzzword way, but in a deeply personal, quietly radical way. If equestrian businesses are to survive, let alone thrive, they need to move past the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset.
The truth is, many traditional models within the equine world are no longer financially viable. Poor information-sharing, outdated business practices and toxic competitiveness have left the industry brittle. EQUK flips that on its head by saying: we’re stronger when we share. When we lead with clarity. When we create systems that work for more people, not just the few.
A New Kind of Empowerment
There’s a sentence in Cat’s bio that really stuck with me: “true empowerment comes from having the knowledge to better advocate for ourselves, our horses, and our businesses.” That’s it. That’s what it’s all about.
We don’t need more hierarchy in this industry. We need more collaboration. We need resources like EQUK, led by people who’ve lived the frustration, felt the loneliness, and then decided to do something about it.
Cat’s work is a reminder that leadership doesn’t always look like a big speech or a bold headline. Sometimes, it’s a database (due Sept 2025!). Sometimes, it’s a support call. Sometimes, it’s the simple act of saying — you belong here too.
And if we want an equestrian industry that’s more inclusive, more sustainable, and more empowering for the next generation? Then we need more Cat Carters.
For those delivering equine education and wanting to connect with EQUK, you can do so via the sign up form here:
https://mailchi.mp/70afaaa17d0b/providers-sign-up
Learn more about EQUK
Cat Carter
