PATH Intl. eNews May 5, 2015

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.

Deadline Approaching for Nominations for PATH Intl. Recognition Awards

The deadline is quickly approaching to nominate certified professionals, equines, volunteers, veterinarians and equestrians to be recognized at the PATH Intl. Awards Banquet, November 6, 2015. Nominations are due May 20.

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.

PATH Intl. Riders Assistance Scholarship Recipient Named

boy and horse at Chastain Horse Park PATH Intl. is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2015 Riders Assistance Scholarship is Daniel Hughes, a participant at Chastain Horse Park, a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Atlanta, GA. The purpose of the PATH Intl. Riders Assistance Fund is to assist a child who would not otherwise be financially able to participate in equine-assisted activities and therapies at a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, in 2015 PATH Intl. was able to fund one $300 needs-based scholarship out of the 29 applications received.

Daniel, who is almost five, has the rarest of Leukodystrophy, called Alexander's Disease, and he will eventually lose his ability to walk, talk, eat or swallow. "Daniel loves riding!" said Sara Tradewell, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor at Chastain Horse Park. "This boy is four years old, almost five, and statistically unlikely to live past age 10. He will experience a gradual neurological decline until he is no longer able to move. It's important that he maintains and improves his strength and coordination, via activities such as therapeutic riding, for as long as possible."

Click here to read the full story. Click here to contribute to PATH Intl. Thank you for your continued generosity. Special thanks go to our independent judges for the difficult decision they had to make.

Equine Tips From the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee

Accountability vs. Tradition
By Cathy Languerand, PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee Chair

Happy Spring All! In the East all our programs are finally in full swing as the weather warms up. I have a spring check list of things to do. From replacing all the batteries in the smoke detectors to reintroducing the horses to all the toys and games. We also have spring health checkups with the vet, have fecal counts to take, have the dentist float the teeth, and have the saddle fitter check to see which saddles fit or need to be restuffed. That is in addition to exercising and teaching lessons. I am both busy and happy.

I can finally put the ideas that have been cooking all winter into action. My number one priority is to look at accountability. To myself, to the horses in my care and to the center I represent. I ask myself, have I given myself the care that I need to do my job to the best of my ability? Have I met all the needs of the animals in my care? Asking questions is an important skill. Read more

The PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee is making a commitment to refine and deepen 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!

Community Connections Corner

If you are interested in meeting other PATH Intl. members, discussing topics of interest, sharing resources, posting events, emailing members directly from the site and supporting each other in the work you do, join Community Connections, the PATH Intl. social media platform and discussion forum! Community Connections will showcase a topic that is new or is generating a lot of discussion. Join in the conversation or create your own!

In the Spotlight
From the Instructor Community:

What different techniques does your center use for mounting/dismounting using the block and/or ramp? I am an instructor who is shorter in stature and a lot of my students weigh more than me. I am having trouble helping them in mounting and dismounting without putting too much strain on my body. Any advice?

Read the responses here and add your feedback.

PATH Intl. Board of Trustees Looks to Recruit Members

PATH Intl. is in the process of recruiting members for the PATH Intl. Board of Trustees and are focused at this time on recruiting from our membership because Members recognize and support the mission and needs of the association. If you have a desire to help advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, and assist with the leadership and general promotion of our association, then consider applying for a board of trustees position.

We are looking for members who are leaders with nonprofit board experience; those who may be lawyers or veterinarians; those who may have experience in the legal or medical fields; or those with marketing and management experience. In the coming years we have several board members who will reach term limits and are looking forward to mentoring new board members who are willing to make a difference in our industry prior to stepping down.

If you are interested, download the board of trustees application and job description and expectations and return them to Cher Smith.

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.

What's New for Instructors and Mentors

Spring is upon us, and in tandem with the season of renewal, PATH Intl. has made many updates to our forms, policies and procedures. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the revamped, user-friendly PATH Intl. Certifications webpage which includes the following:

Reasonable Accommodation Policy
New compliance form
New CEU policy and guidelines
New CPR & First Aid procedures
Separate booklets for Registered Instructor Application, Certification, Criteria, Glossary, and Policies and Procedures

If you have questions, contact Bret Maceyak, PATH Intl. Certification Coordinator.

SmartPak Horse of the Month
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!

Region Conferences Update

Check the Region Conferences Calendar for dates, locations and registration information.

Exhibitors

PATH Intl. is offering exhibitor opportunities at several of the regional conferences. Exhibitors may purchase this regional package, which includes one table, two chairs and listing in region-specific conference eblasts, for $100.

Click below to download the exhibitor flyer and form for regions currently accepting exhibitors. If you know of anyone interested in exhibiting, please share the information with them. If you have questions please contact Jaime Covington, ext. 125.

Region 9 Conference

Region 11 Conference

Silent Auction

If you have items to donate for the region conference silent auctions please bring them with you to the conference. Any revenue generated helps offset region conference expenses, which helps to keep registration fees down. If you have questions, contact Amanda Walters, ext. 105.

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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