PATH Intl. eNews May 19, 2015

sammy, horse of the month Congratulations to Sammy, the SmartPak Horse of the Month for May! Sammy makes a difference in participants' lives at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Read Sammy's story here.

SmartPak is looking to choose the next Horse of the Month, which will receive $100 of SmartPak products for a month. Nominate your horse for a chance to win! Photos are highly encouraged!

Participant Definition Survey

Who is considered a participant at your center? Please take a moment to complete this survey to assist the PATH Intl. Standards Task Force ensure that the PATH Intl. Standards accurately reflect the needs of our membership.

Thank you for your time!

Jackie Stevenson to Be Keynote Speaker at Conference

PATH Intl. is pleased to announce that Jackie Stevenson will be the keynote speaker at the PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting, presented by title sponsor Purina, November 4-7, 2015, in Cleveland, OH. Jackie will speak at the luncheon on November 5 and then will be featured in a special workshop session at the PATH Intl. Horse Expo November 7.

Jackie Stevenson with horse Jackie's talk, "Someday We'll Live Like Horses," will focus on the successful engagement with people and horses that depends on the inner qualities of awareness, attention and intention. This workshop offers experiential learning focusing on the inner place from which we operate within the teaching, coaching and counseling relationship.

Jackie is the founder and CEO of Spirit of Leadership LLC, providing coaching, leadership and team building training and seminars to corporations and nonprofit organizations. She specializes in unique coaching sessions, leadership and team building retreats through experiential learning with horses and nature.

Nominations for 2015 PATH Intl. Recognition Awards DUE TOMORROW

Nominations for certified professionals, equines, volunteers, veterinarians and equestrians to be recognized at the PATH Intl. Awards Banquet, November 6, 2015, is tomorrow, May 20. After tomorrow, all nominations received will be for 2016.

The James Brady nomination forms and award criteria have been updated for 2015. Click here for information about the new criteria and for the nomination forms.

Click here for all the PATH Intl. award nomination forms.

PATH Intl. Announces Position on Backriding

In continued pursuit of excellence in best practices and safety of both riders and equines and as a result of extensive research and member input, PATH Intl. has released the following statement regarding the practice of backriding (does NOT apply to Tandem Hippotherapy).

Due to the increased risk of injury to the equine, the backrider, sidewalkers and the participant, backriding is not recommended to be used in therapeutic horsemanship programs.

Visit the PATH Intl. website to view the full statement, background information and learn how this position might affect your center. As of 2016, Backriding Guidelines will no longer be included in the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation.

Webinar: Voting on Field Test Standards

Reminder: Voting on the field test standards will be handled electronically rather than at the PATH Intl. Conference and Annual Meeting. The first electronic vote, which has been approved by Programs and Standards Oversight Committee and the Strategic Initiatives Review Committee, will take place July 1st through 14th.

As PATH Intl. continues to grow, we want to take advantage of every opportunity, including social media and electronic means, to listen to and keep in touch with our members. An electronic vote gives every member a chance to participate and will provide a greater level of transparency by the association to its members.

A FREE 30-minute informational webinar presented by the Standards Task Force on three standards currently in field test is available now.

Recruit New PATH Intl. Members

PATH Intl. recognizes that our current members are the best possible source for new members who could benefit from all PATH Intl. has to offer.

With the annual Member-Get-A-Member drive, we've made referring colleagues to PATH Intl. easier than ever! Forward an application to them or direct them to the PATH Intl. store to join online. Ask your friend to enter your name as his/her "referred by." Then tell another friend... and another... and another to win prizes.

This year the grand prize drawing is a $250 American Express Gift Card. Second prize is a $100 American Express Gift Card. Every member who makes a referral will be entered into a drawing for $75 PATHBucks.

Thank you for your efforts for all members recruited by
June 30, 2015 !

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.

Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning

GAIT Therapeutic Riding Center Milford, PA June 11-15, 2015	High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. Old Lyme, CT 06371 July 31 - August 3, 2015
Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources Cicero, IN August 10-13, 2015	Maryland Therapeutic Riding Crownsville, MD September 10-13, 2015
Hearts and Horses, Inc. Loveland, CO October 21-24, 2015

Advanced

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center Old Lyme, CT May 27-29, 2015	Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Inc. Stilwell, KS July 13-15, 2015
Healing Strides of VA Boones Mill, VA August 2-4, 2015	Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center Redmond, WA August 29-31, 2015

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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