Recently multiple equine organizations in the US have worked together to recommend an “optimal terminology” for working with horses in ways that benefit people in this country. Since this blog reaches quite a few people involved in the adaptive and therapeutic riding industry, I thought it would be important to share a summary of the … Continue reading
Horse Birthday & Treat Recipes for Fine Motor Skills
While looking up ideas for a post about ceremonies in your lesson program, I came across ideas for horse birthdays and realized that making birthday cakes and treats for horses is a great way to practice motor skills, following directions, hand-eye coordination, as well as just have fun! So here are some recipes I want … Continue reading
When To Cancel Riding Lessons Due To Cold
It’s been wintery here lately, so it seems fitting to make a post about when to cancel riding lessons due to cold! It’s a topic that comes up every winter in the online forums, so I was excited to find a lot of responses and personal experiences from which to source the content of this … Continue reading
How to Balance Being a Riding Instructor and Having Kids
This post is about balancing being a riding instructor and having a family! Once again I was inspired by a recent post in the Riding Instructors’ Forum Facebook Group asking how do coaches, trainers, barn owners, small business owners, etc. who are also parents of small children balance it all? This has actually been a … Continue reading
The Ultimate List of Equine Groundwork Lesson Activities
And we’re back! It’s a new year, there’s a new baby, and here’s a new post for you! I’ve recently been inspired to share with you a wonderful list of equine groundwork lesson activities based on a recent post in the Riding Instructors’ Forum Facebook Group. I see this question asked a lot on Facebook … Continue reading
Male vs Female Saddle Fit for EAAT
I’m excited to share with you what I’ve learned recently about male vs. female saddle fit and how it might affect instructing adaptive and therapeutic horseback riding lessons! Last week I tried to attend the CHA’s virtual annual conference – I say tried because I had the kids and really only got two sessions in, … Continue reading
A Modified Independent Mount
Quite a few years ago I saw a therapeutic riding student do this modified independent mount and thought it was very clever. I recently found the graphic I drew of it and wanted to share! If I remember correctly, this particular rider had a disability that weakened the muscles in her back and legs, so … Continue reading
Alternative Programming During COVID: Renew Educational Camp
Today I’m excited to share one of the creative new programs that Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland, MI, started in response to COVID’s impact on their community and center. It’s called “Renew Educational Camp” and they offer a safe place for 6th -12th graders to do their virtual schoolwork, as well as get physical … Continue reading
Methods of Record Keeping for EAAT
So far in this series on Record Keeping we have discussed Progress Notes, Assessments, and Data Tracking, focusing on what each of those are and their content, or what we record, for each. In this post I will focus on the method itself, which is the how or the physical way in which the content … Continue reading
A Few Links – Diversity in the Equine and EAAT Industry
Hello friends, it’s been a while! How has your stay-at-home been? I’ve spent most of my quarantine time being too nauseous to do anything because we’re expecting our third child at the end of the year…hence the lack of posting. However, I’m slowly starting to feel better and am getting back to life – and … Continue reading