The Next Step: Advanced Instructor Certification

I attended an Advanced Instructor Preparatory Workshop this week at Heartland Therapeutic Riding by Sandy Webster and it’s been so inspiring and motivating! In all honesty, I never thought I’d be interested in (aka confident enough for) Advanced Level Certification, and certainly not so soon after getting the Registered Level Certification, but I got a grant to … Continue reading →

Long Distance Mentoring and Certification

Want to become a PATH Intl Certified Instructor but don’t have any therapeutic riding barns nearby to get mentored, shadow, and do teaching hours at? It’s possible! (I just found out, or I would have told you sooner!) Some PATH Intl Mentors are available to do long distance mentoring over video, phone, etc.. To find someone … Continue reading →

Calf Roping Game

The calves are loose! You need to get a rope off the fence… rope them… and take them back to the cow pen! Ideally the sidewalker would be closer to the horse, but she was new. It only takes a few reminders of “Always ask yourself, am I close enough to do a thigh hold … Continue reading →

Clips for Exercises and Steering

Clips,   clothespins, and barrettes – oh my! Clips, clothespins, and barrettes are great tools to use in lessons! For exercises you can have the rider put them on their horse’s mane or on the saddle pad, then take them back off. Here is a picture of clips in a mini’s mane (imagine it on … Continue reading →

Pony Sock Puppets

This is a super cute camp activity they did at the barn I work at. Use craft supplies to make pony sock puppets! Supplies: glue felt (cut in triangles for ears) socks (make sure to glue things on top, so the heel is used as the bottom part of the mouth) fringe (for forelock) sharpies … Continue reading →

Therapeutic Carriage Driving Lesson Plans

Recently a reader asked if I had any lesson plans for Therapeutic Carriage Driving. While I don’t teach driving, my good friend Missy does, and she has graciously written this wonderful article for us today. Enjoy! Therapeutic Carriage Driving Lesson Plans By Missy Hughes Below I have outlined some different areas and types of activities that … Continue reading →

Off Horse Activities

A while ago a coworker lent me her master’s project from a few years ago, a binder full of Therapeutic Riding Exercises and Activities and Equine Facilitated Learning Activities, to use as a resource for this blog! Here are some of her Off Horse Activities to use for rainy days, educational lessons, and team building activities! Horse Body Parts … Continue reading →

Components of a Great Lesson

The following is a great list of what makes a great lesson! We use something similar at my barn for evaluating new instructors. For new instructors: use this list to evaluate yourself after you teach a lesson! If you do this enough, you’ll start remembering the components during your lessons and improve your teaching! For … Continue reading →

How much weight can a horse carry?

Here are two interesting articles on how much weight a horse can carry. What do you think is a good way to determine how much weight your center’s horses can carry? **************** Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do with or how you use … Continue reading →