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In This Issue
Sponsors
APHF Scholarships
EQUUS Foundation Honors EAAT Horse
RDA Conference
Equine Tips
Conference Information
Community Connections Corner
Virtual Conference
New Online Courses
PATH Intl. Region Conferences
Field Test Standards Electronic Voting
Workshops and Certifications
Quick Links
Stay Connected 
Join our list
Donate to PATH Intl.
PATH Intl. Sponsors
If you have questions about sponsoring PATH Intl. or exhibiting at the 2017 PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting, please contact Kaye Marks
 
Title Sponsor - $20,000+ 
 
the official feed of PATH Intl.
 

Platinum Sponsor - $15,000+  

Virginia Horse Industry Board
, presenting sponsor of the 2016 PATH Intl. Horse Expo

Gold Sponsor - $10,000+  
 
Silver - $7,500+   
Adequan  
Equisure 
Strides to Success

Bronze - $5,000+   
Pewter - $2,500+   
WESA     
  
Copper - $1,000+
  
In Kind Donors and Media Partners
Equicizer  

Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International

Title Sponsor: Purina, the official feed of PATH Intl.

April 4, 2017 

American Paint Horse Foundation Scholarships
Congratulations to PATH Intl. Members Emily Kalin, Susan K. Owens and Elizabeth Girard for being named the 2016 winners of American Paint Horse Foundation scholarships! Each winner receives an $800 scholarship toward completing PATH Intl. certification. Click here to read the story. 

The American Paint Horse Foundation and PATH Intl. will continue this innovative partnership designed to help train therapeutic riding instructors. This alliance, which is in its fifth year, provides scholarship assistance to potential instructors of therapeutic riding. Though the application is open to anyone with skills in equine management, horsemanship, instruction, teaching methods and disabilities, preference for scholarships will be given to medical professionals.

The APHF scholarship is open only to first-time applicants, and all applicants must be APHA members and PATH Intl. members in good standing. Additionally, candidates must meet the PATH Intl. criteria to become a Registered Level Instructor in Training and have completed at least 10 hours volunteering at a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center.

Applications are being sought again by the American Paint Horse Foundation. To apply for an American Paint Horse Foundation PATH Intl. scholarship, use our online application form. For more information, email Laura Jesberg or call her at (817) 222-6412, or visit the website. Applications must be postmarked by May 1.
EQUUS Foundation honors EAAT Horse
dancer at joyride center Congratulations to Dancer, the 2016 PATH Intl. Region 8 Equine of the Year, for being being honored by the EQUUS Foundation. Ten horses will be inducted into the Horse Stars Hall of Fame on May 21, 2017, in New York.

Dancer is recognized for his inspirational and life-changing impact on people. Dancer serves the participants at JoyRide Center, Inc., a PATH Intl. Member Center in Magnolia, TX.

Click here to read the press release from the EQUUS Foundation. 

The EQUUS Foundation is a PATH Intl. Bronze Sponsor. Also known as Horse Charities of America, it is the only national charity in the United States solely dedicated to horse welfare and fostering the horse-human bond. We thank the EQUUS Foundation for its sponsorship of PATH Intl. and its recognition of the part equine-assisted activities and therapies play in the lives of so many equines who partner with those individuals with special needs.

Congratulations again to Dancer and JoyRide Center! 
RDA International Conference
The RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) International Conference - Exploring the Power of Therapy and Competition will take place in Gloucestershire, UK July 10-13, 2017. The theme of the conference is to explore the relationship between therapeutic and competition riding. The purpose is to demonstrate and discuss some of the approaches taken in the UK and other countries to achieve this, and to consider what (if anything) can be done to help create strong athlete development pathways. PATH Intl. CEO Kathy Alm will be attending as a presenter. Click here for more information. 
Equine Tips From the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee 
5 Essential Preparations for Spring
By Ashley Phelps, DVM, Member of the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee

Time to pack up the blankets; spring has sprung!  Improved weather conditions and extended daylight hours make all equestrians feel like it's their birthday! Before getting back in the saddle, there are a few things we should do to ensure our horses are healthy.  Read more

The PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee is committed to refining and deepening our perspective of equine well-being to include the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our wonderful four-legged partners. Join us on this journey. Please add your thoughts on the PATH Intl. Community Connections page. It is our desire that these tips start a further discussion on Community Connections. Any thoughts? We appreciate hearing from you!
PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting
Git your boots on and join us in San Antonio, TX, November 8-11, for the 2017 PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting. For scholarship, awards and hotel information, visit the website 

About San Antonio - some interesting tidbits about the second most populous city in Texas
    No doubt, you will want to visit the shops along the famous River Walk, and most people know that San Antonio is the home of the Alamo (another attraction you may want to visit). But did you also know that it is the birthplace of one of America's favorite snacks? Although the details differ, all agree that C.E. Doolin bought a recipe for fried corn chips from a Mexican man in San Antonio for $100 in 1932. Doolin soon begin manufacturing the chips as Fritos. 
    And speaking of food, Lanier High School set the Guinness World Record for most tamales made in 12 hours during a massive tamalada (a tamale-making party) on Dec. 6, 2011. A group of 1,300 students and volunteers worked together to make 17,232 tamales. 
    Katherine Stinson, one of the Stinsons for whom the Stinson Municipal Airport is named, was the first female pilot to perform a loop-the-loop maneuver.

Save the date now for San Antonio. You won't want to miss it!
Community Connections Corner
Community Connections logo This Month's featured Community Connections post is addressed to the Equine Welfare Community where a member asks:

At the end of my lessons, I like to let the rider give the horse a treat. I use a small feeding bowl teaching the rider to use a flat hand underneath with thumb and fingers together. This eliminates the hand quickly pulled away as the rider gets scared of being bitten, the tickle of whiskers, the warmth of breath or any other unexpected reactions the rider might have to the horse.

What to use as treats? I usually provide carrots or apples or both. I emphasize that these are healthy foods for the horse. Any fruit or vegetable is allowed, but horses may choose not to eat some foods. I also allow only 8 pieces of baby carrots or large carrots cut into small pieces, also 8 apple pieces which is about a half an apple. If I haven't been to the grocery store lately, I have horse cookies as a backup plan. This allows for counting and simple math skills.

Some of my riders like to bring their own treats & I encourage this. But what if they bring chocolates or chips? Do I allow these occasional treats? Are there any treats which will hurt a horse, even in small amounts?

If you have any advice to help this member, please click here to log into Community Connections and join the discussion.
Register for the PATH Intl. Virtual Conference
virtual conference logo Plan to attend the first ever Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International Virtual Conference! To be held online May 17th and 18th, 2017, this online experience is intended to make professional education more accessible for members. Click here to register.

The Virtual Conference will consist of 10 hour-long educational sessions delivered over two days by a variety of expert speakers. For more information on these first-rate sessions and speakers review the agenda. A total of 12 CEUs is available.

Fees
Member rate: $249
Nonmember rate: $309
Center group rate: $495

We look forward to your participation in the inaugural PATH Intl. Virtual Conference! Click here if you have any questions or contact Ashley Inghram, PATH Intl. Education and Membership Representative.
Current and Upcoming Online Education Opportunities
PATH Intl. is committed to providing quality education to its members. We are excited to announce the launch of four new online courses produced by PATH Intl. coming this spring! Click here for the full list of online course offerings available for spring 2017.

Participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are the most common individuals receiving services at PATH Intl. Member Centers. This course contains a wealth of information about ASD and how it may impact participants involved in EAAT programs. 

The numbers of seniors and participants with forms of dementia are on the rise at PATH Intl. Member Centers. This course has been developed to guide EAAT centers through considerations of developing a program to serve this specialized population.

Over 450 PATH Intl. Member Centers are currently serving youth-at-risk. For instructors serving youth who have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect, this course aims to describe how trauma may affect EAAT participants and guide instructors on how to develop a trauma-informed approach to EAAT.

Developed for PATH Intl. Certified Professionals who are currently providing equine-assisted activities and therapies for veterans and armed services members. As many instructors and centers are providing services for veterans and military personnel, this workshop will give current instructors an opportunity to advance their skills beyond their current certification level.
PATH Intl. Region Conferences
Registration is open for the following regional conferences:
April 21-23, 2017
Portland and Windham, ME
Hosted by: NESAR/Region I and Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center

June 2-4, 2017
Rathdrum, ID
Hosted by Running W Therapeutic Riding Center

May 5-7, 2017
Fort Collins, CO
Hosted by: Front Range Exceptional Equestrians

Exhibiting at regional conferences
Do you have a product equine professionals would be interested in purchasing? Educational materials, books and videos are all great possibilities for selling to the therapeutic horsemanship professionals at the PATH Intl. region conferences. For information, email Kimberly Price or download the region exhibitor flier.
Field Test Standards Electronic Voting
As a reminder, again this year field test standards will be voted on electronically rather than at the PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting. The electronic vote will take place in July (dates to be determined). Click here for information. 
PATH Intl. Events Calendar

Unless otherwise noted, contact Bret Maceyak at (800) 369-7433, ext. 114, with questions. All dates are subject to change. To register for an event, please contact the host site directly. You can locate contact information under Find a Center on the PATH Intl. homepage or on the PATH Intl. events calendar.

For a full list of events, including onsite workshops and certifications, visit the PATH Intl. events calendar.  

Advanced Instructor
Apr. 8-10, 2017

Apr. 27-29, 2017

May 22-24, 2017
June 4, 2017
June 28, 2017

Aug. 6-8, 2017

Sep. 12-15, 2017
Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. *Certification Only*
Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
*Advanced Prep Workshop Only*
Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center
Three Gaits, Inc. *Certification Only*
Hands and Hearts for Horses
*Advanced Prep Workshop Only*
Healing Strides of VA *Advanced Prep Workshop Only*
We Can Ride, Inc.
Tobaccoville, NC

Bucyrus, KS

Augusta, MI
Stoughton, WI
Thomasville, GA

Boones Mill, VA

Minnetonka, MN

Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning  Workshop and Skills Test  
April 5-8, 2017 

April 20-23, 2017
May 1-4, 2017

June 15-18, 2017
July 6-8, 2017
July 8-11, 2017
July 27-30, 2017

Aug. 10-13, 2017
Aug. 16-19, 2017
Nov. 3-6, 2017
Nov. 17-20, 2017
Dream Catchers at the Cori Sikich Riding Center
Calvin Center Therapeutic Riding Program
OUS Ohio Horse Park Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship
GAIT Therapeutic Riding Center
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Wings of Hope Equitherapy
Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA)
Equine Assisted Therapy of NJ
Eagle Mount - Bozeman
Touchstone Farm
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Toano, VA

Hampton, GA
Franklin Furnace, OH

Milford, PA
Redmond, WA
Cleburne, TX
Gretna, NE

Mannington, NJ
Bozeman, MT
Temple, NH
Old Lyme, CT

Driving
June 3-4, 2017

Oct. 10-14, 2017
DreamPower Horsemanship *Driving Demo Workshop Only*
Touchstone Farm - Home of Horse Power
San Martin, CA

Temple, NH

Interactive Vaulting
July 6-9, 2017
Oct. 8-11, 2017
Forward Stride
Ivey Ranch Park
Beaverton, OR
Oceanside, CA

Mentor Training 
May 15-16, 2017
May 19-20, 2017 
June 14-15, 2017
Sep. 16-17, 2017
Healing Strides of VA
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
 
Potter's Ranch
We Can Ride, Inc.
Boones Mill, VA
Old Lyme, CT 
Union, KY
Minnetonka, MN

Please direct correspondence about this newsletter to PATH Intl. eNews coordinator. PATH Intl. eNews is a benefit of Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International membership. No portion of this publication may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, scanned or electronic process without written permission from PATH Intl. PATH Intl. reserves the right to reject, accept and edit submitted material. PATH Intl. eNews is intended as an information exchange and an opportunity for communication for members in the field of equine assisted activities. The opinions, practices or products presented in PATH Intl. eNews do not necessarily reflect PATH Intl. policy, imply PATH Intl. endorsement, or comply with PATH Intl. standards.

 

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