Welcome! If I were to write a resource book about how to instruct therapeutic riding and pass certification, this is what I’d include in it. However, I’m not publishing one anytime soon for various reasons (mostly because the process is always being updated) so I decided to make this alternative available, because I think it would be really helpful to people going through certification. It’s like you get a book for free! But in the form of a webpage of links. So, this page is a compilation of all the BEST posts on this blog related to getting certified to instruct therapeutic horseback riding through PATH Intl. This list of resources is not complete – there are many bullet points without links (in red text), which represent blog posts I’d like to write some day, but also information for you to research yourself. *Please know I am NOT an official representative of PATH Intl., and this is not their official word on the matter.* However, I am a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor and Mentor who has helped people through the certification process, and who likes to take notes and share information to help others through the process. I hope you find this resource helpful!
Last updated: 9/22/2020
Table of Contents
Click on the category below to see all the related posts, or scroll down to browse.
Certification
9/2020 – UPDATE: PATH Intl. is updating their entry-level certification process. They are phasing out of the “PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification” and into “PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor” (CTRI) status. This resource page is aimed at the old Registered TRI process, but a lot of the information is relevant to the new process as well. I am in the process of learning about the new CTRI process and gathering tips and info with which I will update these pages but the end of 2020.
Note that those who have started the old Registered Instructor process have until December 30, 2020 to complete it.
For more info about the new CTRI process, see these links:
- PATH Intl’s main CTRI page
- PATH Intl’s list of newsletter articles throughout the process
- PATH Intl’s article about the new CTRI process
- PATH Intl’s article about which process to choose
- Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Criteria
- Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Requirements & Application Instructions
- Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Application (Forms)
- Should I get Certified?
- “So You Want to Get Certified” & “Is It For You?” sections of the “How to Get Certified” post
- How to start preparing for PATH Intl Instructor Certification – things to work on before starting the certification process
- PATH Intl’s Page for Certifications – an overview
- PATH Intl’s Page for Instructor Certification – the details and most current info
- How to become a Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor – my BIG blog post with lots of info!
- Long Distance Mentoring and Certification
- The Online Classes
- Pre-certification Self Assessment Online Quiz
- Online Standards Course & Exam
- Online Instructor Self Study Course & Exam
- Check out “The Workshop and Certification Process” part of the “How to Get Certified” post
- Prepare for The Riding Test
- Review the pattern and rubric in the “Certification Booklet” – most current link on this page
- Read Info about the riding test on the “How to Get Certified” post
- Make Yourself A Personal Development Plan using:
- the form in the Instructor Self Study Course or provided by your Mentor
- what the Self Assessment Quiz revealed you need to work on or learn
- what the”Instructor Criteria” (link here) revealed you need to work on or learn
- what the riding test info (above) revealed you need to work on or learn
- Understand:
- The Benefits of Therapeutic Riding and the Influences of the Horse
- The PATH Intl. Standards Applied to Therapeutic Riding Instructors
- Using the Precautions & Contraindications
- 2017 Virtual Conference – At Your Fingertips PATH Intl. Precautions and Contraindications – excellent seminar with examples of researching riders using the P&C
- Observe Lessons
- Watching A Therapeutic Riding Lesson
- Observing & Developing your eye
- Note Sheet for Observing a Lesson
- Use the PATH Observation Note Sheets – found in the Self Study Course, and your Mentor should have them
- Get Ready
- Teaching Your First Therapeutic Riding Lesson
- How to Supplement Preparation for Instructor Certification with Video Practice
- Become familiar with all the below! (lesson planning, skills, teaching techniques, adaptations, etc.)
- “Tips for Learning to Teach” from the “How To Get Certified” post
- Overwhelmed with Instructor Training
- Perspective
- A word of encouragement
- When To Quit
- When the Riding Instructor’s Confidence Fails – at theridinginstructor.net
Lesson Planning
- Gather Information
- Preparing for New Riders
- Discuss rider with parents, teachers, therapists, team
- Plan adaptations – see Disabilities & Adaptations links below
- Create Goals & Objectives
- Horse Selection
- Tack Selection
- Tack & Adaptive Equipment (sorry, link borken) – so I recommend purchasing PATH Intl’s Adaptive Tack Webinar Recording
- Helmets
- When To Use A Bareback Pad
- Reins on Halter vs. Bridle
- Dear Reader: Ladder Reins
- Volunteer Selection & Amount of Support
- How Many Volunteers To Use
- Volunteer Selection For Horse and Rider
- The Hierarchy of Support for Leaders and Sidewalkers – decide how much support to ask sidewalker to give the rider and plan to progressively take away
- The Hierarchy of Prompts – decide how much support to give the rider and progressively take away
- Volunteer Management – be ready to support volunteers (link also under “Teaching Techniques”)
- Lesson Selections
- Ring Set Up
- Arena Setup For Success – PATH Intl Conference 2017 handout
- Lesson Location
- Group or Private – one on one, group, heterogeneous, homogeneous
- Lesson Length – see Hooffalls & Footfalls’ post about How Long A Class Should Be
- Lesson Timing- see time management link under “Teaching Techniques”
- Ring Set Up
- Emergency Procedures
- Know them
- Plan to review them with any brand new volunteers
- Emergency Dismount
- Emergency Dismount: Rider Led – see Hooffalls & Footfalls’ post about Rider Led Emergency Dismounts
- The Lesson Plan – Basic
- The Lesson Plan – Detailed – your super duper cheat sheet!
- Lesson Plan & Evaluation Templates
- Riding Lesson Planning – template by Amanda
- Lesson Plan Template
- How to Lesson Plan and Create Game Ideas
- Mini Lesson Plans
- Mount & Dismount
- Warmups
- Warm Ups
- Buy The Book – it has an updated HUGE compilation of warmups!
- Annie’s Warm Ups and Exercises
- Advanced Warm Ups – warmups for the horse
- Warmups 2.0 – mental warmups
- Check out Hooffalls and Footfalls’ Post on Stretches
- The Skill
- Teaching The Skill
- Teaching The Skill 2.0: What, How, Why, Where
- Skills List
- What to Teach – Riding Skills List
- What to Teach – Horsemanship and Groundwork Skills
- Instructor Training: Practice Teaching the Skill – a practice sheet
- For a list of the primary skills with links to the how/what/why and example lesson plans, see the Riding Skills section below
- Practice, Progression, Activity
- Lesson Planning: The Practice & Activity
- The Practice, Progression, and Activity
- When to Use Games (and When Not To)
- For a list of common activities and example lesson plans, see the Figures & Activities section below
- Cool Down, Review
- Dismount
- How to Mount and Dismount (same link as for the mount)
Lesson Plan Resources
- Theories on Riding Progression and the order in which to teach things
- The Training Wheel – components of riding
- The Natural Aids
- The Riding Tree articles by Meredith Manor
- Read the books Balance in Movement and Centered Riding
- Posture
- Posture & Alignment for TR
- Fun Video Friday: Posture
- Balance
- Balance in Motion
- Fun Video Friday: Exercises for Balance
- Hands
- Seat
- Leg
You can find a complete list of riding skills in the Skills List post (same link as listed above in The Lesson Plan). Below is a list of the primary skills you might teach in your lessons, with links to blog posts hat include the how/what/why for the skill and/or good example lesson plans. It goes in general from easier to harder, but this can vary due to the particular rider and their goals and abilities. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good start. I would highly recommend researching each skill yourself. The best sources I have found are the website for Meredith Manor and the book 101 Arena Exercises for Horse & Rider. If you prefer to listen rather than read, check out the podcast Daily Strides.
- Halt & Walk On
- Speed Up & Down
- Stride Lengthening
- Steering
- Lesson Plan: Direct Rein Steering
- 3 Step Turn – direct rein steering, bending
- Using eyes – Zigzag Cones Pattern Progressions for Lateral Balance
- Neck/indirect rein steering
- Shorten/Lengthen reins
- Change of Rein
- Bending
- Back up/Rein back
- Trail Lesson Plan 1 – for backing
- Two point
- Walk Trot Walk transitions – coming eventually
- Hooffalls & Footfalls’ post on introducing the trot – Rethinking The Trot
- Sitting Trot
- Posting Trot
- Trotting Without Stirrups – both sitting and posting
- Riding Without Stirrups – at TheRidingInstructor.net
- More
- Tips & Quips: for Basic Riding Skills
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 4: Skills & Activities (riding skills to teach and adapt for riders with severe disabilities)
- Putting the aids together
- Leg Yield
- Canter
- Other helpful links
These are the most basic/important ones to have in your back pocket! Many more can be found here.
Figures
- Arena Figures
- Ground Pole Patterns
- 5 Basic Patterns
- 3 Step Pattern
- Zigzag Cones Pattern Progressions for Lateral Balance
- Trail Class, Obstacles and Patterns
- Gymkhana Games and Patterns
- Lesson Plan: Butterfly Pattern for Woah and Direct Rein Steering
- Gymkhana Lesson 4: The Flag Race & The Egg and Spoon Class
- Gymkhana Lesson 3: Cloverleaf Barrels…and a Circle Exercise!
- Gymkhana Lesson 2: Pole Bending, Washington Poles, Butterfly Poles
- Gymkhana Lesson 1: Single Barrel, Turn N Burn, Birangle
Activities
- Buy The Book! – a compilations of most of the activities from this blog, organized in order of their use in the lesson
- Rings Games
- Matching Games
- Nan’s Games and Activities
- List of Games for Therapeutic Riding
- Annie’s Therapeutic Riding Mounted Activities
- Games 4.0
- Games 3.0
- Games 2.0
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 4: Skills & Activities
- Unmounted Horsemanship Activity Ideas
- Lesson Format
- Passive Learning vs. Active Learning (structured vs. unstructured lessons)
- Volunteer Use & Management
- Time Management
- Arena Management
- Teaching Techniques
- The Basics
- Teach to the Highest Level
- Hows and Whys – also see Hooffalls & Footfalls’ post on Whats, Hows, and Whys
- “PATH Intl’s What, Why and How Method” Handout
- Task Analysis – also see Hooffalls & Footfalls’ post on Task Analysis
- Praise & Feedback
- Teaching Tips
- Communication Techniques
- Learning Styles – coming eventually
- Multisensory Teaching Approaches For Adaptive Riding
- Communication Tools & Strategies
- Communication Techniques for Low/Nonverbal Riders
- Teaching Tips: Social Stories
- Visual Schedules
- Responding to Transference: Opening up Relational Moments
- Paying Attention
- Helping Students Focus
- Decision Making Skills – helping students who have trouble deciding, trouble with executive functioning (such as in ASD)
- Class Control
- Brand New Riders
These are only the disabilities I have blog posts for, but there are so many more! This is a big hole in the blog waiting to be filled.
- ADHD
- Attachment Disorders
- Scroll down in my notes on Disabilities Teaching Tips for Therapeutic Riding – 2015 PATH Intl Conf
- Autism
- Riders with Autism Part 1 – Understanding Autism
- Riders with Autism Part 2 – Preparation
- Riders with Autism Part 3 – Lesson Planning & Activities
- Riders with Autism Part 4 – Teaching Techniques
- Riders with Autism Part 5 – Communication Techniques
- Riders with Autism Part 6 – Behavior Management and Meltdowns
- Riders with Autism Part 7 – Teen and Adult Riders with Autism
- Scroll down in my notes on Disabilities Teaching Tips for Therapeutic Riding – 2015 PATH Intl Conf
- ASD Behavioral Communication Article
- Example Rider: ASD & Low Self Confidence
- Fun Video Friday: The Aspergers “Sensory Funnel”
- Fun Video Friday: Breaking through autism
- Fun Video Friday: “Imagine What It’s Like to Have High Functioning Autism”
- PATH Intl Webinar – 2018 Virtual Conference – Executive Functioning Challenges in Individuals with ASD
- Hooffalls & Footfalls’ post Horses Helping – Autism Spectrum
- Behavioral Issues
- Scroll down in my notes on Disabilities Teaching Tips for Therapeutic Riding – 2015 PATH Intl Conf
- Behavior Management & Meltdowns – coming soon
- Brain Injury
- PATH Intl Webinar – 2018 Virtual Conference – Brain Injury: Overview, Strategies and Resources
- TBI Adaptations for Therapeutic Riding (my notes from the above webinar)
- Cognitive Challenges
- Dementia Adaptations for Therapeutic Riding
- Severely Cognitively Challenged – scroll down in my notes on Disabilities Teaching Tips for Therapeutic Riding – 2015 PATH Intl Conf
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 3: Cognitive Challenges (duplicate, also below)
- Fear of Heights
- Scroll down in my notes on Disabilities Teaching Tips for Therapeutic Riding – 2015 PATH Intl Conf
- Neurological Disorders
- Physical Challenges
- Lesson Eval of a Rider with CP
- Dear Reader: Prosthetic Limbs
- Weak Sides and Adaptations
- Movement Development and Stability
- Zigzag Cones Pattern Progressions for Lateral Balance (link also listed in activities above)
- Refusal to Mount
- Scroll down in my notes on Disabilities Teaching Tips for Therapeutic Riding – 2015 PATH Intl Conf
- Severe Disabilities
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 1: Introduction
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 2: Physical Challenges
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 3: Cognitive Challenges
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 4: Skills & Activities
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 5: Example Riders
- Adaptations and Teaching Techniques for Riders with Severe Disabilities, Part 6: Example Riders, Cont.
- Social/Relational Issues
- Scroll down in my notes on Disabilities Teaching Tips for Therapeutic Riding – 2015 PATH Intl Conf
- Speech
- Speech Disabilities in Therapeutic Riding
- Communication Techniques for Low/Nonverbal Riders (link also listed in Teaching Techniques above)
- PATH Intl Webinar – 2018 Virtual Conf-Communication Strategies for Working with Individuals – Limited/Nonverbal Skills
- Spinal Injury
- PATH Intl 2016 Conference Session Recording – Spinal Cord Injury 101 and EAA
- Seniors
- Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Seniors
- Dementia Adaptations for Therapeutic Riding (duplicate, also above)
- Visual Processing Disorders
- Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Adaptations
- Vision Therapy and Riding – TBI, Midline shift syndrome, Post vision syndrome
Other
- Instructor In Training Programs
- My Resources – Coming Soon
- Creating an Instructor-in-Training Program-2014 Conference Recording – excellent seminar I got most of my ideas from – for the newer PATH Intl. store version click here
- Hooffalls & Footfalls’ post on Starting or Fine Tuning and Instructor Training Program
- Advanced Certification
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Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do with or how you use this information. The activities explained in this blog may not be fit for every rider, riding instructor, or riding center depending on their current condition and resources. Use your best personal judgement!